After market radios

[terry b]

Looking for input on a good after market stereo for my truck. Would like in the dash replacement. Any ideas?

[Johoevasmatrix]

I got a retro sound cause that is what my truck has in it when I got it and I wanted a few more horns and bells. I will never ever buy or install a retro sound head unit again. I will cut sand and repaint the whole inside of a truck before I will install one of those head units.

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by terry b

Looking for input on a good after market stereo for my truck. Would like in the dash replacement. Any ideas?

Camshaft and twice pipes makes damn good music..it's all I need anyway.

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by Johoevasmatrix

I got a retro sound cause that is what my truck has in it when I got it and I wanted a few more horns and bells. I will never ever buy or install a retro sound head unit again. I will cut sand and repaint the whole inside of a truck before I will install one of those head units.

What was the problem with it? They seem to have good reviews on this site from what I recall.

[p0508]

The retro sound and classic whatever sound are super cheap. You will need to run an amp with them. Not to mention they are stupid expensive compared to what you can get with a conventional single din. I was all up in arms about cutting my dash and told myself I never would and all I wanted was a retrosound to fill the stock holes. I cut my dash and don't regret it one bit.

If you decide to cut your dash:

Buy the brothers billet radio bezel.
Buy a body saw (super small sawzall) from a place like northern tool. They carry an in house brand and an ingersol brand, their cheap in house worked fine for this job.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/suN7jsh4uRJqrdzN8

Photos of my install can be found in the link above. Below you will find links to everything I used in my stereo install, you can opt for a cheaper head unit than I did, I should have went with the KMM -bt325. Also the retrosound speaker kick panels are nearly worthless. You will have to cut them and trim them to fit which was fine, but the material is so flimsy and cheap it cracked on me in one spot and doesn't secure the speaker very well. You will also have to move your bright switch. I thought I had found a brand that someone was saying was good and you didn't have to move the bright switch but I guess I ordered the retro-sounds on accident. Also, if you don't need a cd player all of the kenwood media player only head units are half the size depth wise than CD player units, which worked out great for me cause I have my vent ducting up in there. Now all said and done, I have perfect bluetooth auto pairing, hands free calling with the included microphone, and I think I picked the less gaudy of aftermarket head units so I'm satisfied, not to mention it sounds pretty good for a tin can.

https://www.brotherstrucks.com/67-72...tinfo/brb6772/

http://www.73-87.com/Parts/6772Speak...20Brackets.htm

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Andy4639]

Cut the dash install a good sounding radio and forget about it. It's your truck and I have never seen a truck not sell because the radio had been changed.
Anyone who has said it did is kidding themselves.
It's like wheels & tires it all about personal choice.
I like good music and sound quality.
I like this one. I have it in all 3 vehicles now. I have the remote in the 71 also.

Another idea and this one can be mounted wherever you want it to be. It will sound pretty good also for 2 speakers. I have one in my golf cart and it sounds good. You can leave the stock radio in place.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kentiger-HY...4AAOSwSQFaHCBg

[custom10nut]

I just put a Custom Autosound Radio in mine. I like the stock appearance, and the option to hook up my iPod for tunes. There’s lots of options on different models. I’ve also heard the Retro sound units work well too.

[Johoevasmatrix]

Originally Posted by derotoreut

What was the problem with it? They seem to have good reviews on this site from what I recall.

The way they mount sucks. The fit sucks and I’m about to find out how their customer support is cause the wire harness doesn’t hold the wires in place. I had to install the unit at least 6 times before it set right. Then I got a couple house tracking an open ground that was in the back on the unit.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Cut the dash install a good sounding radio and forget about it. It's your truck and I have never seen a truck not sell because the radio had been changed.
Anyone who has said it did is kidding themselves.

While I've never passed on a truck that didn't have the stock radio, I have indeed passed on a truck with a totally hacked dash.
The decision is truck and asking price dependent, of course, but mostly depends on the state of completion of the truck.

On a truck that will need paint and restoration, I don't think a cut dash affects value (much) or the buyer pool. On a finished truck, however, it definitely thins the buyer pool down to only those buyers that don't care one way or the other about the dash being cut. Someone seeking a bone stock restored truck that is already complete, however, is less likely to buy one that is totally restored and gorgeous, yet has a single din radio in it. It may not thin the pool of buyers much - so, no I wouldn't let it be the only guide in the decision to hack - but it does affect some folks' buying decision.

Terry, you might just consider a stock radio, even an AM unit, and then sending it to one of several reputable conversion shops so you can have the bone stock look and all the bells and whistles of bluetooth, ipod/mp3 etc. Or consider it a decoration and consider the hidden radio/stereo units. Lots of options out there. Everyone has different tastes, I tend to like the look of a stock radio with a little extra performance hidden up its sleeve. A sleeper of sorts....
Some options:
http://www.garytayman.com/
http://67-7https://www.joesclassicca...d.php?t=617011
https://www.classiccarstereos.com/secretaudio-sst.html
https://redirad.com/

[Andy4639]

You pay big money for having the stock unit's converted to all the latest upgrades though. I checked on the unit I have. I thought about putting it in the ramp truck but having it upgraded. $350.00 for basic upgrade by the time I figured all the upgrades for it I was over $400.00.

I'll buy another Alpine.

[71gmcC15]

I say do what you whant but if you ask me the aftermarkit radios look awful. With glowing face and fake chrome looks like it's frome the year 3000. they stick out like a sore thumb. That's what's nice about the retosound. It takes a second to see it not the original. And no cutting. Ether way is it better sounding then the original.

[Auroch]

Was looking at this kit today... not a bad deal. And bluetooth

https://www.classiccarstereos.com/ki...tereo-kit.html

[OhCookie]

I have a Retrosound in my '70 Camaro and it looks great and sounds fine. Installed it about 5-6 years ago and haven't had any issues. Have one for the truck too but haven't installed it yet.

[tim71]

I went with the lower end Retro Sound. I wasn't looking for some " exceptional sound system", just a decent sounding and nice looking AM/FM radio. I've been pleased with the results. However, I will mention that I originally purchased the Custom Auto Sound "Slidebar Radio" due to it's appearance, but had numerous issues with it and returned it.

[Linz]

I also went with a retrosound unit. Like the others I was after a decent sounding radio with a few mod cons. I never had the original radio so the retrosound seemed like a nice compromise

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by tim71

I went with the lower end Retro Sound. I wasn't looking for some " exceptional sound system", just a decent sounding and nice looking AM/FM radio. I've been pleased with the results. However, I will mention that I originally purchased the Custom Auto Sound "Slidebar Radio" due to it's appearance, but had numerous issues with it and returned it.

After reading several different forum posts, this seems to be the general consensus on these systems. I have not read many negative reports about Retro Sound (until this thread from OP). I have seen numerous negative issues about Custom Autosound though.

[MySons68C20]

Subbed, I will be making this decision soon too.

[sick472]

Marine Stereo Housings/Enclosures are a good alternative. They except modern radios, easily mount under the dash, affordable, and look clean.

Something like this...

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by sick472

Marine Stereo Housings/Enclosures are a good alternative. They except modern radios, easily mount under the dash, affordable, and look clean.

Something like this...

Imho I think that looks like a cylon in Battlestar Gallactica (sp)

Better than cutting the dash maybe....

I guess I'd need to see one installed to be fair.

Blake

[jocko]

Might also be a good way to mount it under the seat or against the back wall (if a truck has a relocated tank) if the single DIN you buy has a remote.

[HO455]

On the top of my list of reasons against a DIN radio is they are too easy to steal and sell. Have one and every other crackhead needing $20 bucks is tempted. Turn your back for 2 minutes and it is gone. I know as that's how long mine was turned. It meant replacing the door window, radio surround and ash tray in my Blazer.
I'm a fan of the Aurora Design conversion for a stock radio.

http://www.tech-retro.com/Aurora_Design/Home.html

[sick472]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

Imho I think that looks like a cylon in Battlestar Gallactica (sp)Blake

Here's one in a 67 F@rd (at least there is a Chevy in the background)...

I opted to recondition the original radio hole for gages n this build. The install was stupid easy compared to trying to get it up in the dash,,,,BUT stealing it would be alot easier too!

[MySons68C20]

Nice car!!

I'm not a fan of the location but appreciate you not cutting up the Ford
Blake