Thanks everyone...I really appreciate all the advice. I did find some devices on the net that allow for specific brands of head units to work with factory redundant controls, but the whole ohms, impediance, blah blah blah stuff is so fricken over my head. I'm a car stereo simpleton.

I really don't want to compromise the sound of the current stock system (R&T said it was one of the best stock audio systems they've ever tested) It really sounds great, but I'm so F'ing sick of the stock unit. I've replaced it 5 times (under warranty)!!!!
Anyway....I do appreciate your input, if anyone knows a reputable shop that can do good, clean work that might be able to help, I'm all ears. Most of the Car Audio people I run into at the big retail-giant stores seem to be dissiminating unreliable info. So I'm sort of lost right now. And I'm really sick of the radio.