Need your input please....

[ChevyDude]

Ok I know this has been hashed over more than once,,,,Cutting the dash for a modern CD Player. I have always been on the side of "NOT" to cut the dash if it had not been done by the PO and to re-locate your modern radio somewhere else. Well, I've got to the point where I am installing a nice modern high powered stereo system and the more I look at it the more I keep telling myself to "Just go ahead and cut the dash for the radio". This is a 71' SWB that orignally came with no radio and still has the cowl without the antenna hole. I am not going to drill out the cowl by any means, the antenna will be placed somewhere else. The deck I purchased is a Pioneer Premier DEH-P960MP which in a single DIN unit. Should I carefully remove enough metal to fit it in the dash....or should I mount it somewhere else and preserve the orginal look with the delete plate that I have??? I was thinking if I carefully cut the dash I could save the pieces and they could always be welded back in???

Thanks for you input.