Sorry for the (very slightly) misleading title. I'm not actually curious about IF I can replace the amp, as I have seen several threads here mentioning aftermarket amps that fit snugly into the space provided for the factory one, etc.

The problem is that in the "look here first for questions about installing stereos" section, there is a post (with no contradictory replies) which mentions that the factory amp has controls on it for all manner of other car systems. I'm not just talking about speed-sensitive volume control, either.

So my question is this: Since I'm interested in putting a fully after-market stereo system in my baby, is it safe to completely remove the factory amp, or isn't it?

There is so much bizarre wiring involved with the factory unit (just yesterday, I did the mod to get power to my back speakers through the factory amp with an aftermarket head unit, having to clip/splice an RCA cable into the factory amp pin), that I would prefer to just remove it, replace it with a small aftermarket one, and run the wires directly into it. Is my car going to go bonkers when I do this?

I apologize if this has been concisely answered elsewhere on the board. I've done several searches, but keep finding (seemingly) conflicting information.