Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I just picked up a Pioneer CD player that I would love to install in my dash. The only problem is that my dash hasn't been cut yet. I am wondering how hard is it to cut to make the new radio fit or if I should just settle for the cassette player that is in the truck.........

Jeremy

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

go ahead and cut it, people will tell you not to, but don't make a huge hole, use a dremel, and it shouldn't take that long

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Hack it now regret it later......

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

There's more to hacking then ya think. You'll need to Dremel the bezel and cut, grind, drill or hack the metal dash behind it to accomodate the DIN mounting box.

I've seen nice jobs and total thrashes. Mines in the middle somewhere. You can always hides the new unit and remote it and keep the stock look.

Your choice though. But, To quote RestroRob "Hack it now regret it later......"

- Dave

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

i wish i didnt cut mine

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

What my freind did was locate another intrument insert, so he didnt have to cut up the original. Then for the metal dash he cut the top and the bottom and not the side so it could be folded behind, so if he ever wanted to change it back all he had to do was fold it back (weld it of course) and put the original instrument insert back in.

just a thought so u dont have to regret it so much

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

ya my brother in his 69 chevelle.... didnt want to hack it up for a stereo so he mounted it in the glovebox, works good there and hidden too

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

IMO, CD's are outdated.

Have your original radio refurbished with brand new guts/internals, have them add a MP3 hookup, and run an MP3 player off your radio. I will be doing this with my 73, don't want to lug around CD's, a CD case, and don't want to change out a CD everytime I want to listen to something different.

Just my .02 :)

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I agree, Cds are on there way out. set up or buy a 2 knob srereo,I know LMC carries them new that works with IPODS & MP3s. I wouldnt cut it myself.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

good idea whit the mp3s ill do that with my chevelle. my trucks allready cut when i got it. (awsome no more cds)

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

2 minutes to cut, 2 hours to fix...and it's never quite the same.

Plus, it's not like our trucks are really secure. Nothing says "Come get me" like having a nice stereo in the dash.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

ha this topic comes up alot on here. The Po of my truck hacked it to install a cd which he removed on selling it to me. so i slapped in a really nice tape deck i had laying around. works great for me and i can plugg my i pod right into one of those tapes with the chord. I hate cd's because they skip. If it were me i would think twice before hacking it but it is not as bad as hacking a 67 to 72 dash bcause it can eb fixed easly.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

id go to the junkyard and find one thats allready hacked, save ur good one.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Are you referring to the dash (which is what we are talking about) or dash bezel? The actual dash doesn't junt unbolt...it is welded and bolted in.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I would not cut it, just my opinion. My blazer was already set up for a cd player and so was my yellow '79 so. Neither have one in them right now but they are set up. I would say stash a cd player somewhere hidden or go MP3 Player.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

don't cut,
go here http://www.customautosound.com/
and get their secretaudio

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Hack it. Unless your truck is a cherry and you wish it to remain 100% original, there's no reason to not hack it. its just as much a PITA to put it elsewhere or go with some less functional alternative. Cutting the bezel and the dash isn't THAT hard, we did it in the middle of the night on my truck and it came out great. Unless you're looking to spend beaucoup $$ and time to hide it or go with an MP3 alternative, just cut the dash. Glovebox isn't viable if you have A/C or if you wish to say, use the thing while driving. Under the seat, ditto, unless the remote is THAT good (and my Pio remotes sure aren't). Regutting your tapedeck might be a good option but that costs $$ and you have to buy an MP3 player (assuming you don't have one).

BTW: MP3 CDs do exist folks, as do WMA. I have about 3 WMA discs and they each have, oh, 92847384 hours of music at HIGH bitrate (192). I carry no more than 4 discs at a time.

Just my .02

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Some PO hacked my dash. Very poor job. Having a blazer I have the luxury of the stock console that works very well at concealing the stereo.

So to fix my PO's hack job I got creative. I got a decent used instrument panel bezel (the plastic part) off of EBAY. A factory radio delete plate from my Dad (aka the organized pack rat), A GM sized Pioneer cd player (out of the pack rats garage) and $5.00 worth of angle iron and 1/4 bolts.

The Refurbished dash:
http://www.chevytruckworld.com/galle...5K5/142686.jpg

The hidden Stereo:

http://www.chevytruckworld.com/galle...5K5/142687.jpg

Mine even has a remote that fits on the steering wheel, but wont work with the radio being further back. Plus it kind of kills the steath I was going for.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Who does all that?? Do they have a web site?

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

http://www.antiqueautomobileradio.com/ or http://taymanelectrical.com

If you are interested in Custom Autosound, I can get those also....

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I bought this radio from Wal-mart http://walmart.com(put 001025711 in the search)

It uses sd cards, usb flash sticks, and takes mp3 disks.

I hacked my '69 chevy because I'm not going for 100% original

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

The linky took me to wallyworlds homepage, but not to the stereo.
Im not going for 100% original either...but I dont see any point in ME cutting up my dash... just my thoughts is all.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Why? You already dropped it and put on a cowl hood and painted it different, its not original, why inconvenience yourself by putting it anywhere else other than right in the dash? Its not that big of a deal there are 2394873204724 of these trucks, it won't depreciate (sp?) the value that much if any.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

oh, Ill keep the stereo in the dash, I wont put it anywhere else. Ill use a 2 knob that is MP3 & Ipod compatible. I know its lowered, & has a cowl hood, & custom paint etc. This truck is a factory 454 ,factory air Sierra Grande, there arent that many of these around. But anyway I dont like the look of a CD stereo in an older or classic vehicle dash.
I have alot of friends who have cut there dashes on there Novas, Chevelles,Coronets,other trucks to name a few who now regret doing it. Heck, I have all my CD music that I want on IPOD anyway.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Clifsta is right on!! The dash on a 67 to 72 is diffrent or on a real classic car/truck. but with the bezil and all why not hack it?? hidding the radio is a pain and not worth it on one of these trucks. true i would not have hacked mine but the po did so that is how it stays. it is your truck do what you want

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

just my opioion.but if it isn't all stock now.and,your not going to return it to totally stock.i wouldn't worry about it.do a good job and don't tear it all up.i don't think were going to see our model truck at the pebble beach "concourse de elegance" anytime soon.so do whatever's cool to you,your footin the bill.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I'm never "right on", go ask that bent rod in my motor why I didn't pull the spark plugs BEFORE trying to start the motor... :banghead:

These trucks are a dime a dozen no matter HOW rare of the options it may have. They aren't exactly "classic" yet (nor any time soon). Its not hard to do and SOO cool to have a modern CD sound system in your truck. Now if it were an older truck like 60s, or a more rare vehicle like a Chevelle/Nova/Camaro, then DEFINATELY I wouldn't chop the dash. But these trucks just aren't THAT special.

At least that's what I tell myself every day when I see my disaster under the carport...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...k/100_1892.jpg

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I drive a 76 malibu CLASSIC daily. I can't for the life of me hack the dash in it. I have installed another 2 knob cassette player in it. I didn't come with the original one anyway. I've only had one truck with the original radio. All the others had aftermarket decks. My two current trucks are hacked. One doesn't work right now. The other has no deck in the hacked part. I will drive a vehicle with no radio. It's no biggie to me. I've done it for years. I have a 10' Kicker in a truck box in my garage right now, but I wonder if it will ever be used (by me). If your not one that likes quality sound why not just keep the factory style deck.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

The Chevells/Nova/Camaro were a dime a dozen too at one point in their life, now look at how hard it is to find a clean one that isn't all hacked up, remember, they were just cars back then too. While I agree these trucks aren't quite as collectable yet, they may someday be. With sooo many options out there for stereos or music playing devices, there is no need to cut the dash apart to fit in a radio...besides, you will be doing the next owner, or the owner after that a favor...believe me.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

That is true, its your truck, do what you want. If you regret it later.....that was your choice

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I'm with boatpuller...unless your planning on staying original then do as you like. Your call. If its a "regular" truck then have at it. I didn't cut mine because it's fairly stock and a semi rare model. I wouldn't think twice about cutting something else though. Just cut slots above and below the holes and fold back. Easy to replace bezel and unfold tabs for the stock look. Your call.:alky:

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

question about radio...

Maybe I don't know the specifics but couldn't you use a instrument cluster from like a 90-91 blazer that already had the full size radio (1 and a half din) and then cut the metal behind it and put in a factory gm cd-player from a later model truck... I think that would look pretty nice/factory... wouldn't this fit?

Thanks.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I just installed a new Pioneer head unit in my truck that plays MP3's and removed the changer from under the seat. I've learned to make MP3's now (easy) and a friend of mine from work just turned me onto about 1500 cd's he had on his external hard drive. They are on my external hard drive now. :)

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

My dash is stock with a aftermarket shaft radio/cassette player in it. Here are just a couple of my thoughts:

It was said that cd's are a thing of the past, and buy a shaft style with an auxilary input for a mp3 player. This is true, but din style head units are not out of style and I don't forsee it to be in the near future. What about DVD player's that feed to monitor's, what about dvd players with built in/ motorized pop out screens, what about navigation systems w/ gps. All these types of head units are single or double din units.

So it is my opinion, that if the pickup is a daily driver, and not a trailer queen going from car show to car show. Cut it, and enjoy the newer electonic conforts of life.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

Um guys Is there anyway to get the Boss 612ua installation photos? so i dont mess up? Installing the new Boss deck in the dash not where the stock radio goes. I will fix that later with my CB unit.

Re: Hack Dash for aftermarket Radio???
 

I started with a plain jane 86 shortbox with a trashed interior. The radio opening was already hacked for a CD player-so to clean it up and go with a "don't steal me, I'm not worth it" Delco Theftlok CD player from a 1999 Blazer so I could at least still listen to CD's. I carefully trimmed the dash to mimic the opening on 88-91 Suburbans, then used an LMC brushed aluminum overlay for the Suburban 1.5 DIN faceplate I had. The bezel is unmodified and looks factory. This is the only pic I can find showing a fairly decent interior shot of the stereo for some reason...my overall goal is to update a lot of features on the truck while maintaining a stock appearance.

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps62688d27.jpg

If I ever decide to part with the truck, I hope the next owner doesn't mind me making due with an already hacked radio opening-van power mirror upgrade, power seat mod/upgrade on stock Suburban buckets (coming soon!), auto-dimming rearview mirror/auto headlights w/dash mounted light sensor and auto Express Down windows.

My next mod includes tracking down an electric rear slider with an Express Open feature...these trucks are too much fun to just leave alone imo