Originally Posted by 12V Guy

I mean a radio that is serially compatible with Maestro RR (http://maestro.idatalink.com/compatible-radios/). By definition that means it will also allow you to retain Sync, but mentioned earlier, you can flash the module NOT to retain Sync if you prefer and you will still get clock and audio data in your factory display.

Originally Posted by Flubyu

If I missed it I apologize. How does the rear view integration work?

Originally Posted by LUVmyDUX

Great info, I want to get ride of my Sync and will buy a new stereo with Blue tooth. I wish I can use my factory mic instead of running a new mic but its easy to do. I wonder how I can connect my factory reverse camera? Anyone know?

Originally Posted by Toddman34

Scrap that shifty Metra bezel, and get the Scosche! 10x cleaner looking, without the crappy recessed trim piece!


Thank me later, they're only 19.99 on Amazon!

Originally Posted by Mattwrotethis

I actually scrapped the whole install after the truck got broken into for the 2nd time from junkies trying to steal the stereo (they did $3500 in damage the 2nd time, and putting the stock stuff back in didn't stop them from a 3rd attempt).

That said, I had zero problems with the Metra bezel. I installed two of them in this truck (one with the original install, one with the replacement radio State Farm sent) and in both cases it went in very easily and looked nice. Don't get me wrong, the Scosche does have a cleaner look around the stereo, but the Metra's material looked and felt more like the stock dash material, and matched the contours better.

Originally Posted by Mattwrotethis

(continued)

When pulling the panels behind the door handles to get to the bolts holding the door panel on, I found none of my 15 or so trim removal tools to be capable of getting in there. However, the can opener/screwdriver blade on my Swiss Army knife was perfect for the job.

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(They must pay the guy that greases Ford's door handles by the ounce! All four were like this on the inside!)
I also hadn't grabbed any of my picks out of my toolbox for the screw covers on my suicide rear doors (Supercab), but discovered that the corkscrew from my Swiss Army knife made an awesome removal tool for them. Simply push on the cover on the opposite side of the hole with a finger (either hole, there are two) and put the tip of the corkscrew in the other and turn, voila, the cover pops right off, and not a scratch to either the door panel or the cover!

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Here's the finalized installation while watching Serenity after it was all said-and-done. Why Serenity? Because new stereo systems are shiny, and it's my gorram truck! That's why!

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When it was done, my sole complaint (because I LOOOOOOOVE complaining, look at my post history, no joke... maybe I should get help... ), is that with the PAC adapter, the LCD display that used to have your music info, channel info, station info, etc. now just displays the most recent steering wheel control you pressed. It's nice that it confirms for you that the steering wheel controls are still working properly, but if I turn the volume down, that's all I'm going to see there until I hit another button, just kinda weird. Honestly, if that's the only thing I can complain about with my new setup, it's already beating the hell out of the stock radio and Sync.

You'll see my old, dingy, beat-to-hell amp (had it 12 years and in five or six cars at this point) a slightly less dingy and beat-to-hell 12" sub (bought used and had in my previous truck for two years), and a nice new tailgate-handle backup camera among the things I bought or had for installation in the truck. I didn't get to them yet, but if there's interest in how that's done by me (either for the "hey! watch this idiot do this!" or the "hey, I'm interested in those, can you show me?" factor, I'll add them later this week or sometime next week when I actually get them done.

In the end, the Sync module is still in the dash. After seeing that it didn't interfere with anything at this point, I chose to leave it since I wasn't sure what, if any, other CAN communications were being routed through it, and it saved me a ton of work, and left me in a good position for re-installation of the stock components if I choose to do so when taking the truck in for warranty work, or if I choose to sell it. The new Pioneer head unit does everything I want and need it to do, and with the steering wheel controls still working, the only thing I'm missing that I had with Sync is voice command, and that failed to work correctly on a nearly daily basis toward the end there, so I can't say that I miss it much.

I hope you enjoyed my little write-up, such as it is, and if you have any questions, concerns, comments, criticisms, jokes at my expense, or kudos to give, feel free to leave comments.