This is the correct method of making your stock GM radio CD, MP3, or iPod ready. Its very simple but takes a steady hand and a little craftsmanship. Soldering the wires to the 1/8 inch plug is very tedious and skilled work. Parts and/or tools are readily available at Radio Shack and Home Depot. Total cost of parts is less than 10 bucks and it takes about 2 hours or so to assemble. You will be able to retain your factory stereo without crazy switches or hacking up your dash or radio. It it 100% plug-n-play. Plug the cord into your radio and iPod, CD,or MP3 player, and the radio feed cuts out and the iPod feed is injected in its place. Pull the cord out, and it goes back to the radio. If your cassette player still works, it will not be affected in any way. You will not mess with the tape deck at all with this modification.
I used to sell these "kits" on Ebay and Craigslist, but I don't have the time to make them anymore. This is the same method that others use and will sell it to you pre-installed in a factory GM radio for several hundred dollars. You can go that route if you wish. This project is for the Do-It-Yourselfer who wants to save a few bucks and who has a few hours to kill.
Make sure you insulate the ground wire(shield) from all other wires. Failure to do so could fry your devices!!!!
These solder connections are VERY small, so only strip back about 1/16(or less!)of an inch of the covering on the wire! You only need a small "nub" of the wire to make the solder joint.
After you are done and confident of your work, cover the plug in shrink tube or electrical tape.
Actual cord length may vary. You can mount the plug directly into the face of your radio if you wish or make the cord long enough to reach all the way to the inside of your console. Its up to you where you put it, but choose carefully before drilling a hole!
CLICK HERE to go to the next page which shows you how to make the final connections inside your radio.