FRANKENTRUCK stereo phase II

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Y'all!
WELL,...
This is gonna take some doing. Yeah, cut the dash,...been there, done that, bought the T shirt and wore it out. BUT! FRANKENTRUCKs' dash does not have a large enough area:



to place the Crutchfield supplied trimplate without overlapping on the outside of the contour in that spot:



the DIN sleeve just fits within the sliver trim area:



I believe the most aesthetically pleasing solution will be to remove the surrounding silver trim ridge on the dash (to allow the trimplate to lie flush), round the upper right corner of the trimplate (and repaint it). I'm afraid that if I try to MAKE the Kenwood fit inside the silver trim without the trimplate, that it's face plate will need to fit into a cutout in the lower right corner and will look like it's crammed in there.
Any pics of DINs in this same dash? Any other ideas?
This will take just a LITTLE longer than I'd thought,...just need to do it right the first time!
Todd.

[cochino12]

Lose the crutchfield template and go and get a 1/4" ring, trim off the bottom corner. I have done a lot that way (I was an installer for about 5 yrs) and it looks great.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! cochino!
Unsure what you mean re: the 1/4" ring,...must be a 1/4" trim ring (like a spacer). Purchased at a stereo installation place? Would you, or anyone else reading, have a pic?
Thanks! Todd.
P.S. Again thanks for steering me to these FINE Foose Spanks!!

[Driveway Dreams]

Originally Posted by cochino12

Lose the crutchfield template and go and get a 1/4" ring, trim off the bottom corner. I have done a lot that way (I was an installer for about 5 yrs) and it looks great.

Adam, you always have ideas. I need to get with you to put one in my truck. I don't know that it has ever had a stereo.

Todd I don't think the Crutchfield thing looked that good there anyway.

[Stitch]

if you don't use that crutchfield template, I'll take it off your hands...

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Fat Hoe!
I'll let you know, just waiting to hear back from cochino12. I was disappointed to find that it didn't fit within the contour of the dash that's trimmed with silver,...my Camaros' is that way. It would look acceptable that way,...but in THIS application, I agree with Driveway Dreams. I've done alot of installations that required extensive custom work and the secret is to plan everything out before making that first cut.
I'd like the appearance of the DIN sleeve without the use of a trimplate but it's not feasable to recess the Kenwood into that space due to it's width, and I think what cochino has in mind will accomplish that.
Todd.

[Driveway Dreams]

Did you figure out what Adam was talking about? That trim ring? I tried to get you a pic of the one in my wife's Jeep, but could not get a good pic.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Gerald!
Is it a thin, rectangular spacer that spaces the DIN sleeve 1/4" away from the surface that it mounts too? THAT would do the trick nicely. The appearance would be better than what I'd origonally planned since most of the dash (in the sliver trimmed area) would appear origonal. I only slightly don't like the idea of the 1/4" protrusion from the dash surface, but it would be the best compromise.
Todd.

[cochino12]

Todd you really dont even see the trim ring once it's mounted, it's just barely noticable behind the removable ring on your new deck. Here is a pic

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by Driveway Dreams

Adam, you always have ideas. I need to get with you to put one in my truck. I don't know that it has ever had a stereo.

Todd I don't think the Crutchfield thing looked that good there anyway.

Just let me know when you are ready.

I might be calling you to do some of the body work on my K5 this winter if I end up keeping it. How about I buy materials for paint, install your stereo and you do all of the body work, spray the blazer and we'll call it a straight trade

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Adam!
Purchased from a stereo installation place? And I know the corner you mention, lower right.
Thanks again, man!
Todd.

[74 C-30]

the picture is kinda hard to see but the radio does fit in the silver area, but it is hacked up, im going to make a piece to fix that

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Thanks 74C-30!
Mine might even be a tighter fit than that, but only by millimeters. And that's just what I'd thought would be the other option. My only worry with this installation is just what you describe, the possibility of "hacking up" this small area in the dash (which usually happens when no trim is used). I'll pursue the 1/4" spacer that cochino has posted about first, then if I'm unable to plan an installation in that manner, I'm going to do what I see in your truck, but VERY carefully removing a too-small amount of material around the area with a hacksaw blade, and then filing it by hand slowly and carefully to open it up to accept the DIN sleeve. Hopefully I can get the edges flat and smooth with no gaps. I'll still have the option of using the Crutchfield trimplate if all this fails. And I'll not cut metal until I have the dash bezel planned out properly. I'd like to have my installation done, but my iPod works well with earphones and my iM7 Ipod boombox in the meantime.
If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right! No rush.
Thanks, again! I'll take all the examples I can get folks to post!
Todd.

[Driveway Dreams]

Originally Posted by cochino12

Just let me know when you are ready.

I might be calling you to do some of the body work on my K5 this winter if I end up keeping it. How about I buy materials for paint, install your stereo and you do all of the body work, spray the blazer and we'll call it a straight trade

We got a comedian in the house folks!
Lets do figure something out to do them. I really need some tunes. I have a cheap deck, cd changer, set of 3 way 6x9's, and a sub. All sitting in boxes in the garage. I just need to get them all in.
Todd I am watching close to see how this all turns out. This is gonna be nice, and I can't wait to see it in person.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! I'll be sure to be there, just hope I can get installation done prior! Gotta start looking for installation shops tomorrow so I can locate the spacer.
You KNOW I'll love showing it off!
Todd.

[68 TT]

I didn't have time to go get one of the spacer rings and I wanted to make the DIN stereo hide the factory opening so I centered the mount box over the existing hole and managed to make it fit.

All it required was trimming about 1/16" off the left side of the snap on trim ring for the stereo. I ran out of time so I haven't had a chance to clean up the cut but it hides the factory opening completely.

[Driveway Dreams]

Your picture there has the trim ring we were talking about. The black plastic surounding the face of your stereo.

[68 TT]

I thought they were talking about the 1/4" thick spacer that goes between the dash and the DIN cage and pushes the face of the stereo out away from the dash for more clearance.

The one in my picture is just the face plate trim ring that snaps on over the top of the DIN mounting cage. The stereo in the picture is flush with the face of the stock plastic dash panel.

I have used the 1/4" spacer before on my old truck and it worked great but this time I didn't have time to go get one so I improvised with what I had on hand - nothing.

[68 TT]

Here is a picture of the stereo without the trim ring in place.

When I have the dash panel off doing the Camaro tach & diesel temp / oil pressure gauge & clock install I will clean up the cut with some black plastic filler to make it look better around the edges.

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by Driveway Dreams

Your picture there has the trim ring we were talking about. The black plastic surounding the face of your stereo.

Originally Posted by 68 TT

I thought they were talking about the 1/4" thick spacer that goes between the dash and the DIN cage and pushes the face of the stereo out away from the dash for more clearance.

The one in my picture is just the face plate trim ring that snaps on over the top of the DIN mounting cage. The stereo in the picture is flush with the face of the stock plastic dash panel.

I have used the 1/4" spacer before on my old truck and it worked great but this time I didn't have time to go get one so I improvised with what I had on hand - nothing.

68 TT that is correct

[Driveway Dreams]

Duh...err...um...M-O-R-O-N!

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Y'all!
The 1/4" spacer will do the trick. I'll start making calls to locate one to installation shops in Greeley and Ft Collins tomorrow. My hat's off to cochino (again!) for the suggestion, and to all of you for the pics and input!! THANKS ALL!
Cool beans, I'll be in fat city in no time!
Todd.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Yeah, that's just how Crutchfield intended that trim plate to be installed, yuk! Checked with them today.
So I'll be givin' it to the Fat Hoe!
Woops, shouldn't have said THAT!
Todd.

[staggerd86c-10]

http://retailer.installationexcellen...3-F1CAD1EB0D7A

try that link find someone that sells metra and they should be able to get that for you. let me know how it works i know my truck has a small edge that needs to be covered up and now that you mentioned it i looked it up.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! staggerd86c-10!
COOL! Thanks! I'll get off early tomorrow and start my search. I'll post my results and any info I can derive from it.
Todd.