Audio system identification and radio/climate control faceplate removal.

[CIK7]

Hello! I'm a newbie on here, so excited to be here! I'm a proud owner of a non-running 1998 Volvo V70 XC, first time owner of Volvo period, got mine 1 week ago. Got it for free! I know whats wrong with it. Got a few questions, more to come I'm sure.
1. Does anybody know if the Diamond Audio CM361 speakers are factory or not? Are they any good?
2. How do I remove the faceplate of the radio/climate control? Its that wood grain trim panel around the radio.
Please note: I have been watching ROBERTDIY on YT for a VERY long time and can't find any video that demonstrates removing the wood grain trim/faceplate. Might have overlooked. Need to remove to design a new wooden console.

I hope telling my Volvo story here is ok.
So I was looking at buying my first car after so long. I searched for about 8 months, obsessing over a 2006-2009 S60. I found a black 06 2.5T in Dallas. Turned out that the engine was severely weak, no-go. So i had to come up with something fast and i was convinced by someone that I prob should get something not a Volvo. So i did some searching and got an 08 Impala LTZ midnight blue. It was a lemon so I returned that and then found an 09 Impala LT. Nice (full size) car but simple and NOT executive as they say is categorized. S60 (mid-size) is more executive. Been driving my Impala since 10/24/2017. Been obsessing over getting a Volvo despite that. So shortly after resuming my obsession, I realized how much i hated the factory rear bench (foldable is available on upgrade, 3LT or LTZ) and had to unbolt and remove rear seatANY time I wanted to take a trip (becauze i sleep in my car, no hotels, need more room to move around). I switched from Volvo saloon to Volvo estate, and they are so much cooler! I realized i wanted something older that was not as electronic as the s60 or impala. I looked for the 90s gen, 850 and v70. Found this XC fs for $400 10 miles NE of me. He was sick of the car so he gave it to me for free! Gonna put about $500 in to fix it and then later down the road I'll do a manual tranny swap. Rn I'm gonna make it the ultimate taxi cab experience (starting statewide taxi service)! So excited! So far i have stripped out entire interior and gonna clean it good! I'm building a new wooden middle console to accomodate my tech, storage, and taxi customer needs. Also I'm replacing all the carpet pad and carpet with some shag/plush from Lowes.

[scot850]

I certainly admire your enthusiasm! I wish you luck with the project. I have to say an AWD would not be my recommendation unless you really want an AWD.

Your car has taken a fairly hard shunt on the PS front corner. It has been hit hard enough to bend the fender behind the front wheel. I would look carefully at the frame and sub-frame for then being bent.

As for your request on removing the wood panel, I do remember having removed one at PnP but cant recall how much the dash was disassembled. If I recall it is bolted from the back around the edge with Torx screws. If you have a mirror you may be able to look around the edge and see the screws. I think you may have to remove the dash top, but as you already have the glove box out it is fairly quick from there.

You can remove the A/C control panel easily. Wear gloves and put a hand in the radio slot and feel toward the back edge of the unit and raise the back edge slightly and it should come loose and slide out the front. 2 multi-connectors on the back to remove and you will have more room.

Neil.

[BEJinFbk]

“Diamond Audio”? Definitely not stock.

Unless you REALLY want to change the wood grain console facia, leave it.
The entire dash is assembled before it’s installed in the car and all of the
screws that hold that trim to the main dash are installed from the firewall
side. It can be done without pulling the entire dash out, but it’s no fun...

Like Neil said, once you remove the aftermarket HU, it’s mounting sleeve
and the pocket below it that appears to have a couple of switches in it, you’ll
have plenty of room to reach up and nudge the ECC module out from behind.

[CIK7]

Thank you Neil and BEJin! Yall wouldnt happen to know the quality of Diamond Audio would yall? Ive had my eyes set on 2 pairs of Infinity Kappa 6.5" with the included pairs of tweeters and the crossovers. Wiring in an additional standalone single din radio (for the rear, for taxi customers).
I have been considering just leaving that part of the console original. It does look to be in decent shape. I'm definitely constructing a new lower middle console. This is the custom design vs factory (pictured). I'm using 1/4" plywood and going to buy wood stain to make it THE color, of which idk what that color is yet. I must say the fake walnut color is nice. I'll also be using the original screws and armrest/armrest hinge.

[tranone]

Hello, I am interested in the Diamond audio cm361 if you are not using them.