Let's Talk Aftermarket Stereos

[Joshw0000]

I've talked about this before but I think I found almost everything needed to swap the stereo on my 2012 SHO. According to Idatalink, I can swap my factory Sync 1 (MyTouch) radio with the following and keep all of the factory compatability:

https://a.co/d/6L4Ft5G - Pioneer DMHW4660NEX (6.8")

https://a.co/d/hSqG75h - Maestro ADS-MRR Universal Module

https://a.co/d/4Xt40eg - Maestro HRN-HRR-F01 Plug and Play Harness

https://a.co/d/i02HVg4 - Maestro ACC-HU-PI01 T-Harness for Pioneer (optional)

Since my car has more physical buttons than the newer cars, I don't think I'll lose any functionality at all.

My problem is that the stereo is 6.8" and the factory unit is 8" so I'll need to adapt it to fit. Crutchfield basically says don't replace the factory unit and iDatalink says they can only provide info on compatibility, not mounting hardware.

I was looking at the Maestro KIT-MFT1 (https://a.co/d/53HL4Cx) and it comes with a trim kit. So I'm wondering if that trim kit would fit in my car or if the 2010-2012 stereo is somehow shaped differently than the 2013+? Idatalink won't sell just the trim kit / brackets separately so I'd have to buy the whole wiring harness. And they've told me that the wiring harness won't work for my car.

Maybe someone knows if it'll fit my car and if so, can I buy just the trim and brackets separately? Perhaps there's another Ford vehicle that shares our stereo that Maestro offers separately.

I'm also wondering if I could simply buy a universal kit like one of these. I may have to modify the tabs to mount it but my main concern is it not filling the hole properly (i.e too short or long on one side or too thick/thin).

1 - https://a.co/d/3w1oViM
2 - https://a.co/d/bwgnla2
3 - https://a.co/d/6Z8CCzy

Who all has replaced their factory stereo with something aftermarket? I'm looking for any/all feedback as Sync 1 is, and has been, my biggest complaint about this car.

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[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

So I'm spitballing here, im not sure on the 10-12 cars dash being different from the 13-up, i know you have buttons at the top near the speaker grille and we dont, but the explorer that shares our platform came out in 11 with sync 2 so to my knowledge never had sync 1 to share a radio with and the flex had a different dash I believe but may have had a sync 1 variant. That's as much as I can offer for a platform mate that might have a kit but considering the market all of these cars are aimed at and their age I think an existing kit to adapt an aftermarket unit into the dash is a non starter.

That said, 3d printing is something that might get you out of the woods on this. It'd be a good deal of design work and maybe some trial and error. I'd be willing to put some time into it if you're interested or if you know someone near you that could do it might make the trial and error part easier. Mine is a 13 so unfortunately I couldn't mimic your set up to test on my own car but depending on what you're needing exactly we could possibly make something work. PM me if you're interested

 

[Joshw0000]

So I'm spitballing here, im not sure on the 10-12 cars dash being different from the 13-up, i know you have buttons at the top near the speaker grille and we dont, but the explorer that shares our platform came out in 11 with sync 2 so to my knowledge never had sync 1 to share a radio with and the flex had a different dash I believe but may have had a sync 1 variant. That's as much as I can offer for a platform mate that might have a kit but considering the market all of these cars are aimed at and their age I think an existing kit to adapt an aftermarket unit into the dash is a non starter.

That said, 3d printing is something that might get you out of the woods on this. It'd be a good deal of design work and maybe some trial and error. I'd be willing to put some time into it if you're interested or if you know someone near you that could do it might make the trial and error part easier. Mine is a 13 so unfortunately I couldn't mimic your set up to test on my own car but depending on what you're needing exactly we could possibly make something work. PM me if you're interested

Thats sounds great, thanks. Let me confirm for sure that's the route I'm going to go and I'll reach out to you.

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[LilCop2002]

So I'm spitballing here, im not sure on the 10-12 cars dash being different from the 13-up, i know you have buttons at the top near the speaker grille and we dont, but the explorer that shares our platform came out in 11 with sync 2 so to my knowledge never had sync 1 to share a radio with and the flex had a different dash I believe but may have had a sync 1 variant. That's as much as I can offer for a platform mate that might have a kit but considering the market all of these cars are aimed at and their age I think an existing kit to adapt an aftermarket unit into the dash is a non starter.

That said, 3d printing is something that might get you out of the woods on this. It'd be a good deal of design work and maybe some trial and error. I'd be willing to put some time into it if you're interested or if you know someone near you that could do it might make the trial and error part easier. Mine is a 13 so unfortunately I couldn't mimic your set up to test on my own car but depending on what you're needing exactly we could possibly make something work. PM me if you're interested

If you're willing, send me your city via PM as I might be closer than Josh.