I have a 97 Grand Marquis with the stock cassette
player, this is not the type that has the cd
button and prewiring for a CD changer in the trunk
(sad to say) or id just buy one of the Mercury
changers off ebay and that would be that...

But anyways this is the bone stock cassette radio
Mercury put in these, what I want to do is buy a
mercury stock cd player (off ebay) and pop that
into the car, is this as simple as I am hoping
(are the wire harnesses the same for a cassette or
cd player on this car), If not how much hassle
will this be to do?

I don't like the look of an aftermarket stereo
blank face kit type thing, and I dont like the
idea of the remote FM cd changer with wired remote
up front, id just like to pull the stock cassette
player and add a stock cd player for this same
model/year car (i see them on ebay all the time
for my year/car), yet I don't know if the wiring
harness's will just be plug and play (just hoping
maybe it is)...

Anyone who can answer or help me on this?

Bill :)