New Ulm Client Gets GMC Savana Van Technology Makeover

A client from New Ulm recently contacted Sweet Sounds to discuss a GMC Savana van technology upgrade project. The owner and his wife picked up this 2000 GMC conversion van with only 60,000 miles on the odometer. It’s in great shape, but the entertainment system is quite outdated. The couple had a detailed list of the upgrades they wanted for the van, and we were happy to work with them to ensure their vacation cruiser would have modern features and technology.

Alpine Conversion Van Radio Upgrade

The original radio needed to go to make room for some new technology!

The new radio and dash modifications looked great in the GMC van.

USB ports were added in the center console.

The speaker upgrades had this van sounding great!

A convenient USB port was added at the back of the van too.

To mount a new Double-DIN radio in the dash, we ordered a replacement dash trim panel and set to work on modifying the radio opening to make room for the larger unit. Using plastic, fillers and hours of sanding, we removed the plastic divider that was originally below the radio to create space for the Alpine INE-W960HDMI unit. With the panel reshaped and sanded smooth, we applied a textured paint to give it a factory look.

The new Alpine radio includes GPS-based navigation to make traveling the country more efficient, and it will connect to the clients’ iPod so they can listen to whatever music they want. We also added an Alpine HCE-C125 backup camera to the rear of the van to make maneuvering and parking easier and safer.

The Alpine radio powers a set of new Digital Designs EC6.5 component speakers in the doors of the van and a set of EX6x9 speakers in the rear.

We replaced the cigarette lighter sockets in the center console with a USB port for the radio and a dual USB charging port so they can keep their phone batteries topped up.

Video Entertainment System

The old TV had served its purpose and it was time for it to go.

The new overhead monitor has a much better picture than the old TV.

Our new monitor video signal also feeds the existing overhead monitor.

Wireless headphones allow the passengers to watch video sources without disturbing the driver.

The van came with a VCR, DVD player and small-tube TV mounted in an overhead entertainment center. Although awesome two decades ago, this equipment had to go for current use. We installed a 10.2-inch Alpine PKG-RSE3DVD overhead monitor on the ceiling and created a cover panel for the old TV location. The video output of the Alpine unit is connected to the existing FlexVision monitor in the center of the van. The Alpine overhead monitor has a built-in DVD mechanism and can also play audio files. The new video unit comes with a pair of wireless headphones, and we fed the audio output to an Alpine KTP-445U four-channel amp to drive the rear speakers. A Rockford PLCU level control makes adjusting the volume of the video system easy.

Finally, we installed a Compustar CS691-K keyless entry system to allow Tim and his wife to unlock the van using a remote control.

GMC Savana Van Technology Upgrade Project is a Success

After a few days of work, the couple returned to Sweet Sounds to check out the upgrades we performed. We spent about an hour reviewing the work we did and explained in detail how all the new equipment functions. Tim and his wife were very pleased with the results.

If your vacation vehicle needs a technology upgrade, drop by Sweet Sounds in Mankato and speak with a member of our team. We’d be happy to work with you. For more information, give us a call at 507-345-8863 or send us an e-mail using our online contact page.