Car Stereos: car audio, chevy silverado, line output converter

Question
how do i install the line level converter to connect an amp to the stock head unit in my friends 2004 chevy silverado??

Answer
Hi Jimmy,

If your Silverado is not equipped with a Bose audio system, then the easiest way to connect the line output converter is to remove the factory radio.  You'll need to connect your line output converter to the factory speaker wires, and the radio harness is the best place to find them.

The factory wire colors are:

front left: tan (+) and gray (-)
front right: light green (+) and dark green (-)
rear left: dark brown (+) and yellow (-)
rear right: dark blue (+) and light blue (-)

Be careful, as some of these wire colors are used more than once in the radio harness.  The speaker wires should be pinned side by side in the harness.

To connect a line output converter, strip some of the insulation from the wire without cutting the wire.  Use a pick tool to poke a hole in the middle of the wire.  Strip about 1/2" from the end of the wire on the line output converter, and poke it through the hole in the factory wire.  Then wrap the LOC wire around the stock wire, and cover it with high quality electrical tape (don't use cheap tape--it will turn brittle and fall off over time).  Then secure the LOC wire to the factory wire with a small cable tie.  This type of connection is sometimes called a "military splice"; it doesn't hurt to solder the connection before taping it up.

If your Silverado is equipped with a Bose system, you'll need to tap the speaker wires at the Bose amplifier outputs, rather than behind the radio.  The amplifier should be located behind the glove box.

Hope this helps!

Brian