Sirius/XM "Roady" with original GM truck radio

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

PeteJr

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2021
Posts
1,006
Reaction score
3,686
Location
NW MS
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
GMC Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
Wondering if adding the Sirius/XM "Roady" to an original GM squarebody 2700 truck radio is possible?
I had one in one of my S-10s years ago. Worked great.

Anyone have experience with the connection and difficulty of doing this?
I understand the subscription part.
 

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
12,816
Reaction score
59,448
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
This has nothing to do with what you want to do, but I know an electronics nerd that has free Sirius in all 3 of his cars. He buys the radio, subscribes, pulls the radio, cancels the subscription and waits a year. Apparently Sirius pings the unit-specific shut off signal for a year then moves on.

Sounded like fun, but I probably have more music than Sirius. Have a thumb drive with 5 different folders / genres, each with about 300-400 songs. Am willing to share. lol

Dont need no stinkin' Sirius. :hat:
 

Midnightmoon

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2020
Posts
1,107
Reaction score
3,184
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
Justin
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
305
Assuming that your radio is AM/FM, you can simply use the Roady's broadcast function to transmit to your radio. I usually use 88.300 with mine since that frequency normally doesn't have any interference in my local area. You can set transmit frequency in the Roady's menu. So, just find a an empty FM station and adjust accordingly.

If it is an AM only radio (sorry for not being fully familiar with the GM 2700 offering), then you can use a classic FM converter to interface with your factory radio and simply follow the above procedure.
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,875
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Assuming that your radio is AM/FM, you can simply use the Roady's broadcast function to transmit to your radio. I usually use 88.300 with mine since that frequency normally doesn't have any interference in my local area. You can set transmit frequency in the Roady's menu. So, just find a an empty FM station and adjust accordingly.

If it is an AM only radio (sorry for not being fully familiar with the GM 2700 offering), then you can use a classic FM converter to interface with your factory radio and simply follow the above procedure.
if he wanted to hardline to the thing, i think the best way to do that is with a tape variant of the radio, and essentially the Sirius would be utilizing that function

no idea in the slightest how to do it tho
 

WebMonkey

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2020
Posts
727
Reaction score
1,572
Location
Missouri Ozarks
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Wondering if adding the Sirius/XM "Roady" to an original GM squarebody 2700 truck radio is possible?
I had one in one of my S-10s years ago. Worked great.

Anyone have experience with the connection and difficulty of doing this?
I understand the subscription part.
the user manual says it'll play 'through' the fm receiver.
(inline with antenna)

i ran a 12 disc changer that had an inline antenna 'box' and i never had any trouble out of it.

the inline 'box' type of gadgets have far less issue with interference than gadgets that emit a signal relying on the vehicle antenna to 'pick up' out of the air.

good luck
'monkey
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,611
Reaction score
28,840
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
This has nothing to do with what you want to do, but I know an electronics nerd that has free Sirius in all 3 of his cars. He buys the radio, subscribes, pulls the radio, cancels the subscription and waits a year. Apparently Sirius pings the unit-specific shut off signal for a year then moves on.

Sounded like fun, but I probably have more music than Sirius. Have a thumb drive with 5 different folders / genres, each with about 300-400 songs. Am willing to share. lol

Dont need no stinkin' Sirius. :hat:

My dad found out that trick after he bought his Corvette. He got the first year free I believe and didn't renew it. But the car spent all the cold months in the steel barn, along with much of the time in the warmer months too. It never had signal to shut off the service and I believe it still works to this day.
 

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
11,324
Reaction score
17,369
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350
This has nothing to do with what you want to do, but I know an electronics nerd that has free Sirius in all 3 of his cars. He buys the radio, subscribes, pulls the radio, cancels the subscription and waits a year. Apparently Sirius pings the unit-specific shut off signal for a year then moves on.

Sounded like fun, but I probably have more music than Sirius. Have a thumb drive with 5 different folders / genres, each with about 300-400 songs. Am willing to share. lol

Dont need no stinkin' Sirius. :hat:
I approve this message.

I have 1423 tracks on my SD card, all from my cd collection, and I still have about 25-30 cd's to transfer songs from.

Don't need no stinking sirius is right!...lol...
 

Poodlehead

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2023
Posts
17
Reaction score
16
Location
College Station, TX
First Name
Pat
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
350
I installed an FM modulator from Crutchfield for under $30 in another car and it works well. It was easy to install and use. When you want to listen to XM, you just tune the radio to a specific station.

The only difference would be is if it would work as well with an old analog radio as compared to a newer digital radio as I have. Crutchfield support could answer that question...
 

84GMCSierra

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2023
Posts
382
Reaction score
452
Location
Central Arizona
First Name
Paul
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C2500
Engine Size
350
Funny this article came up. I have a roadyxt that was in my 65 Suburban years ago and now want it in my 84 Sierra. I just need to get aFM Direct Adapter. Found one on Amazon so will get it and install it when I get the truck running again. I have an aftermarket AM/FM CD player in it.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20241028_163112007_AE.jpg
    IMG_20241028_163112007_AE.jpg
    114.5 KB · Views: 14

84GMCSierra

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2023
Posts
382
Reaction score
452
Location
Central Arizona
First Name
Paul
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C2500
Engine Size
350
Funny this article came up. I have a roadyxt that was in my 65 Suburban years ago and now want it in my 84 Sierra. I just need to get aFM Direct Adapter. Found one on Amazon so will get it and install it when I get the truck running again. I have an aftermarket AM/FM CD player in it.
I have the cassette adapter but no cassette player. Here's the adapter kit. I messed up and left the adapter in the burb when I sold it. Ooops
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20241028_163616848_AE.jpg
    IMG_20241028_163616848_AE.jpg
    142.9 KB · Views: 14

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,875
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
I have the cassette adapter but no cassette player. Here's the adapter kit. I messed up and left the adapter in the burb when I sold it. Ooops
It looks like any cassette adapter with a 3.5mm (maybe 2.5mm?) jack could work in place of the original?

The only 2 things about casette adapters:

1) A delco radio with auto-reverse DOES NOT LIKE these, it will keep attempting to reverse the tape, which obviously doesnt do anything.
2)
They are noisy, maybe name brand ones are better. Some delco radios had Dolphy noise reduction, and it helps immensely. But I only know of this feature on 95+ radios, not the 1980s. Maybe cadillacs had some?

Quick search shows up a 2din 1984-1985 cadillac radio with the feature:

You must be registered for see images attach


Possibly worth trying to get a 2din delco in your square? I think people have done it, but i would imagine you need to make a custom rear brace/bracket and the bezel for the dash obviously would need to be hacked up to be that large.

Another ebay search found this:
You must be registered for see images attach


So maybe a period correct radio will work if you found the right one? Just ideas. note the radio above says auto reverse https://www.ebay.com/itm/284926297695
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,611
Reaction score
28,840
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
All this talk of cassette adapters is bringing back some memories I had forgotten about. It was probably 1999 when I last used a cassette adapter. I used it in GM radios with the auto reverse... for some reason I remember there was a very easy way to cancel the auto reverse feature. I also remember a lot of noise, that varied with engine rpm.
 

Ron Sebastian

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Posts
279
Reaction score
337
Location
Vero Beach
First Name
Ron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Custom Deluxe V10
Engine Size
350
Wondering if adding the Sirius/XM "Roady" to an original GM squarebody 2700 truck radio is possible?
I had one in one of my S-10s years ago. Worked great.

Anyone have experience with the connection and difficulty of doing this?
I understand the subscription part.
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
9,108
Reaction score
15,456
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502

THIS

THIS is how i keep stock radios in everything i own, AND listen to whatever i want, whenever
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,411
Posts
956,925
Members
36,733
Latest member
rjshope2007
Top