stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I never liked the factory AD radio location, it is like they designed the dash the realized they forgot a spot for the radio. I welded it up years ago.
I want a modern stereo, but I don't want to spoil the look and feel of the truck installing it.

I've posted the first part before: a reworked glove box door skin to replace the speaker grill and have a flip up door to hide a stereo:
Attachment 2247185
Attachment 2247186

Next I needed to find a place for speakers. Rear cab corners are an obvious choice, but welding in flat metal there does not appeal, the truck is curvy. I also don't want to block access to get to the lower cab corners so I can keep them clean and dry, I've already replaced them twice, that is enough!

so 6.5 round speakers will fit here at an angle, and mocked up in CAD I like the curvy look. The next post will be building that in metal.
Attachment 2247187
Attachment 2247188

For front speakers, the kick panels are out. Park brake from a 90s chev on one side, heater on the other plus some curtesy lights. I really like the bead rolled inner door skin, not going to hack it up. That leaves the lower access panel / hinge bolt cover. At 4x9 will fit in there if you recess it into the door, and angling it up seems to make sense to get the sound to the ears. (I'm no audiophile, no idea if this is true but it is more interesting to build)
Another post will be how I made this work.
Attachment 2247189

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

OK, for those rear speakers.
I bent flanges to follow the curve of cab top and bottom and the rear cab brace to inside. The outer edge follows wind lace channel. The panel angles towards the cab skin as it goes down, to keep good access to lower cab corners.
Attachment 2247190
Attachment 2247191
Attachment 2247192

need a disk to mount speaker to
Attachment 2247193
Attachment 2247194

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Attachment 2247195
Attachment 2247196
Attachment 2247197

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

still needs a bit of tweaking, but I need to run wires next and need to pull the seats to do it.
Move on to the door speakers

this is the angle I want the speakers at
Attachment 2247198
so I made a box to hold it there
Attachment 2247199
Attachment 2247200
Attachment 2247201
Attachment 2247202

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I did not want a plastic and chrome speaker grill.
I used this piece of stainless as a template and drilled a bunch of holes.
Anyone know what this sort of drilled sheet metal is called?
Attachment 2247203

and here is my 'speaker grill'
Attachment 2247204

that is all for now. I need to finish the other door, figure out how to get wires into the doors, get wires to rear speakers etc.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Pretty slick, I was thinking that a person could hinge the middle to drop down to expose the radio and what ever else you wanted to tuck in behind it. Maybe AC controls or air bag controls or power outlets.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

that metal is called perforated metal sheet.
nice job LG.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Wow! Great work. I just don't have your energy anymore so this is mine. Hung speakers off back of cab just below top of seat.

FWIW these new units are only like 3" deep and easy to fit in tight areas like AD dashs.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

nice work.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

nice work.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I made a metal dash that attaches under the middle and I added a 60's style face plate that hides a newer style unit. I also added 2 3 inch round speakers behind the original speaker grill, and added 2 6x9's to the rear corners.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Been asked about controlling radio when behind glove door or other enclosure. I used a remote controller that fits up on the dash and is wired to a sensor that fits over the radios IR receiver. This allows the remote that came with the radio to fully control it when the glove box door is closed.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I'm thinking that most of the hidden in the dash setups just have a flip up/flip down door of some sort. As Leegreen showed it is all about what your imigination and your personal skills allow for.
I've been thinking about mounting the head unit below the dash and using what looks like the cover off a tissue box that my grandmother had in her 54 Chevy and had transferred to her 61 Brookwood wagon (or had a new one installed in the wagon).

They are way too expensive used unless a guy just happens to find one somewhere now . This one on Ebay right now. https://www.ebay.com/itm/28509708035...Bk9SR5bwseazYQ

I think the second one that is plainer and swung out is what my grandmother had in her 61.

I'm not using a stock dash in my 48 though. I am using the dash out of a car that I used to own. Period correct for the build.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

That is an interesting idea. How do those boxes open? It looks like it hinges down. I like repurposing things like that.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

My grandmothers swung out hinged at the corner. I'd just use the face plate but those are real collectors pieces now. They do reproduce them but they aren't inexpensive either. https://www.google.com/search?q=chev...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Nice work

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Attachment 2248159

the face of this looks like a hammer forming project, then stick an emblem on the front.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I found this one with the speaker panel hinged with a piano hinge while snooping for something else.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

yeah that is someone on here. I have a floor shifter and sooner or later would ram my fist into that setup.
I see they cut out the divider between the speaker and ash tray in dash and made room for a gauge. This is something I thought about doing, but I need a place for two small gauges (Tach and AF ratio) and that would have been too tight.

I'm still undecided on those gauge locations, either below lower left edge of dash or above rear view mirror. Leaning towards a small roof console, probably incorporate a couple reading lights. But it would be nice to house a screen for camera system there too and suddenly it is not a small console any more.
This dilemma of where to put gauges is what led to me starting on stereo install....once I determined gauges would not fit there I went ahead and built that spot for a head unit in my dash, but then let speaker mounts distract me from the gauge question.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

LG, personally I would think hard on whether or not to install anything below the dash on the left side. I had something down there on an old truck, a hand throttle possibly?, and recall banging my leg on it a few times. it seemed like a good idea at the time but it seems like when you like something enough in the planning mode your brain makes you move differently than normal when you are mocking it up. then you fab stuff and mount it but at some point down the road practicality sets in and wham, sore knee from impact.
I kinda like the tach to be somewhere it is easily seen, possibly overhead would work better than down by the knee but it seems like the gauge would still be small so not easy for eye to find in a hurry. I realise your cluster is likely completed and you've been driving for awhile but thats the spot that I would put the tach. maybe substitute a volt or amp gauge for a tach there and put the other gauge overhead. one that you need but don't look at a whole lot. just my view, everybody is different (especially me, according to the wife. haha)

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

thanks for the feedback, I do have some concerns about under the dash for the reasons you state.
I have been driving manual trans for ever and the tach is not something I look at often. This is a 250 with a T5, I wont be racing, I have no need for a 4" tach on the dash with a huge red shift light. My use is more for 'if I hold this gear/speed on this hill how hard am I cooking it', or when family members drive it.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Not to repeat myself but these remote extenders really mean you can easily and cheaply put a radio/player anywhere in the cab. Even the cheapest radio with a remote can be used anywhere unless you really need to see the screen or have immediate access to it. I find that with a sd player i rarely use the radio.

https://www.amazon.com/remote-contro...&node=11039361

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I used the stereo metal from a 57 chevy.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

that's nice. better than the factory AD location.

What did you use for your indicator lights between gauges? I did not find anything so discrete so for now mine are sharing an old speedometer housing with a smaller GPS Speedo.
And what is the 4th somewhat larger thing between the two gauges? Another indicator?

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

To me it looks like a 'check engine' light.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

check engine.....seems obvious now, had me stumped.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Well here is Plan A for the gauge locations. No layout I tried with only 2 gauges made me happy, so I put three holes. Tach, wideband and maybe a clock. Gauges in picture were just handy in the horde.
Attachment 2252394
Attachment 2252395
The headliner will follow a curve something like the lower blue line at right side. I'll probably tip a curved flange on this piece and make companion pieces to transition out to door top windlace at either side.

The bead rolled details more or less match the bottom of dash. The face may get some detail later, once the headliner location is mapped.

I'm happy with the visibility, it is right above the rear view mirror. I might in future angle them towards driver, just for the cool factor.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

more progress:
Attachment 2255485
This is aluminum, probably do a brushed finish with satin clear on top to keep fingerprints off. The two end pieces were tricky, there is a lot of curves going on there. The ends will be more or less permanent behind the headliner future me will figure out. The center piece will be removable without disturbing headliner.

I'd like to incorporate two small gimble mounted reading lights, like in a airplane or RV, but haven't spotted ones I like yet, most options are about 4", I want 2" or less. So far the best option seems to be those little 1" penny clearance lights with clear lens.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Looks great. It really like the way you made the speaker mounts behind the seat.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

thanks for sharing, I enjoy seeing everyone's custom touches.

keep us posted.

also, those 1 inch penny lights (Princess Auto) are bright

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

great to see a pic with it sitting in place and the rest of the cab as well. that puts it into perspective better.
will you hinge the panel and use screws or dzus fasteners to keep it closed?
good choice to use aluminum, its easier to do the sheet metal bending.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

There needs to be a flange at the top of these pieces to support the edge of the headliner, the flange will be more or less parallel to the roof. I'll back that flange with a strip of steel for rigidity and screw holding power.
The two outer pieces slip under the windshield trim and windlace, and will get a couple pop rivets. The center does not fit under window trim, screws into windshield header where you see the clecos. Removal will be undoing screws then dropping front and sliding out from above headliner.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

slip a strip of plastic or thin weatherstrip between the aluminum and steel and it will stop a bunch of electrolysis from causing erosion. otherwie great planning. looks awesome.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

stainlwss fasteners may also help. plastic washer under their heads helps with them trying to remove the clear coat. some of those C clip body fasrener may be an idea so the screws simply screw into those instead of the aluminum.
sorry, I am sure you knew all this, as you seem like a seasoned veteran and obviously know your way around old vehicles, but sometimes the lurkers gain the knowledge so it does somebody some good somewhere. lol.
keep posrting those pics. I am currently away from home so appreciate the pics from you guys.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I hadn't even considered electrolysis, but I was going to paint any steel parts.

Do think it is much of a concern inside the cab?

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I was involved in a new fire truck purchase and it was specified on every point of contact between aluminum and steel that a plastic shield be used between the parts. some of those got missed on the steel door handles that fit up to the aluminum doors and the paint was peeling off all around them due to electrolysis that started there. it doesn't matter if it is inside or outside as the metal doesn't know the difference. you have probably tried to remove a steel bolt that was installed into an aluminum housing, at some point in years past, and noticed it had "white powdery stuff" in the threads. thats the stuff that forms from electrolysis. if building it from scratch it doesn't take much extra to include some sort of deterrant. a thin sheet of plastic or rubber is all it takes. rubber would help curb any rattles that may come up.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I do have some corrosion experience, rebuilding a 70 year old truck and all!. Had not thought much about aluminum to painted metal contact, but I can easily put some of that paint protective plastic film between pieces. Thanks

Kind of OT for this thread, thinking about making door cards with this pattern:Attachment 2255904
I think black is out for the color, looked good in sunlight but it just disappears inside the cab where I already have too much black.
The other sample is aluminum. I'm finding it a bit to shiny although it does not show much glare in the picture here.

The back of the black piece is the satin of new steel sheet, did not take a picture, but I keep looking at that side and thinking maybe a dull silver paint. Then I could do the piece on dash that hides stereo and the center of glove box beads to match.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

I would def use a satin finish on the dash area, it has less glare. for the door panels I like the satin aluminum look on a black interior. like you said, too much black inside makes it a dark area and light gets sucked up. you can't find anything you drop. I would suggest to do a clear on the bare aluminum, if you go that route, so it doesn't rub off on everything and then have shiny spots or leave your elbow black. a lighter shade of charcoal may offset the black well too.
nice job on the beading, looks great. do you use a soft roller underneath, like a skateboard wheel or something? Lazze had a video that showed him doing a motorcycle tank side where he used that technique with what looked like a fairly pointed upper die, like a tipping die.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Attachment 2256151

Princess auto carries this, they call it an art die. They carry a reasonable selection of dies now.
My roller is from them as well, just the usual cheap 18" thing like harbour freight used to sell.
You have to make them more rigid so the two arms don't walk back and forth under load or you wont get nice results. I also strongly recommend replacing the crank with a steering wheel, unless you have a 7+ foot arm span. With the wheel, motorizing no longer seems like the priority I initially thought it was.
Lots of info online on modifying these.

Re: stereo install in AD cab, my ideas
 

Had some perforated 1/8" aluminum, hammer formed some speaker grills for the rear:
Attachment 2256851
Attachment 2256852

I was surprised how easily it shrank around the hammer form. You can see some of the holes at the edge changed shape.
Attachment 2256853

Got a support flange behind the console. Getting the rolling, twisting shape close enough really kicked my butt.
Attachment 2256854