the cut the radio hole or not?

[67cheby]

if you do cut it there was a guy on this website making a billet surround plate to level everything off it looked killer and wasnt very expensive

[68jewel]

You can please some of the people some of the time. But, you can't please all of the people all of the time. That is a loaded question. You can tell by my signature, I'm more of a customize-type guy, so I say cut it if that's what you want. I can tell by the question you don't want that old, two knob radio look so cut it. It's your truck. My philosphy is...whenever and if-ever I decide to sell any of my toys, the new buyer can spend his money fixing it up the way he likes it. Until then I'll fix it up the way I like it.

[70k52wd]

I've always put Kenwood krc3006. It's a shaft am/fm cassette with cd changer hook ups and at least one pre out. Not sure if they make em anymore. Maybe a google search. I love it, never any issues.

[Trip59]

Originally Posted by Shane

Cut it. It's a truck, not a Ferrari.

I just bought a patch panel to repair what someone hacked out of the dash (before I bought it) to stuff a contemporary radio. I also just bought an original 1972 AM radio to resto and modify. I'll be doing a Frankenstein cross between what FizzleFry did and my own creation. I don't use the radio, tape deck, CD, whatever, just my iPhone. I'm making a custom insert for the ashtray (since I quit 4 yrs ago YAY) that holds a universal dock with a back support for the iPhone and jacks into the contemporary unit behind the dash. The left knob will control the volume on the new unit and will look stock, and the radio will appear stock to those walking by (AM Only).

Yah, will document the project.

Trip

[bsm78]

if people wont mind the tank missing from behind the seat they surely wont mind a larger hole for a modern stereo system.

[Nova70]

Originally Posted by 68jewel

whenever and if-ever I decide to sell any of my toys, the new buyer can spend his money fixing it up the way he likes it. Until then I'll fix it up the way I like it.

I love this quote.

[srea76]

Anyone have some pictures of the radio installed with the under dash kits?

[COACHMEASON]

I found a nice chrome original AM radio that will rest in its proper place...and when I get to the stereo (which is WAY down on the list) I will mount it under the dash...Something about new CD players in the dash that rubs me the wrong way...Seems I am in the minority on this one...

[harrdawg54]

I cut my perfect A/C dash to fit my new stereo. I even bought some 6x9's to put in the doors, but couldn't get myself to justify cutting up the doors.

[john02fxdl]

Had the same problem deciding whether or not to cut the dash. Now that I did, I am very satisfied. Bought the polished aluminum bezel from a board member. Perfect fit and it looks like it's supposed to be there. Just my .02

[young grasshoppa]

This is all about preference. I wanted the look of original gauges and radio in mine. Plus. I have a remote to reach the modern deck in the glove box and also "out of sight, out of mind" for the people looking in my cab.

[COACHMEASON]

the bezel is a nice touch...

[Dan in Pasadena]

DON'T cut it.

[k2rm]

This was my solution:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=370004

[LockDoc]

-
I say it depends on what you want. I've done it both ways depending on what I wanted in a finished truck. I would never have cut the dash in the Red/White '71 4x4 I built last year, but I didn't think twice about cutting the one in my White '67 SWB hot rod truck..

LockDoc

[yellow70GMC]

Originally Posted by young grasshoppa

This is all about preference. I wanted the look of original gauges and radio in mine. Plus. I have a remote to reach the modern deck in the glove box and also "out of sight, out of mind" for the people looking in my cab.

that's exactly what i'm in the process of doing. it's incredibly easy to break into these trucks, but if someone sees a nice stereo in the dash they're probably just gonna smash the window anyway. i've had several decks stolen like that. plus, i think modern electronics look really goofy in the dashboard of a vintage truck. but it's your truck, and it's all about what you want. as others have already said, build it how YOU want it because you're the one driving it. with that said, i really doubt cutting the dash would make any impact on resale value.

[grs]

I cut my dash. I made a plate so it looks good. I messed up the paint on the trim plate. I put 6x9 speakers in the doors.

[Leviticus]

Originally Posted by srea76

I want the truck to look semi stock on the inside, and I do not think I want to cut the dash, but the radios that fit the dash just do not appeal to me. I may go with an original and put something in the glove box. Thanks for the input everyone.

The glove box was going to be my recommendation, only down side is you have to reach across to use it, but this can be solved by a remote equipped unit, you just have to drive around with the glove box open lol.

[ohsocountry86]

Dont forget you can take a 2 knobber and ad a disk changer and hide it somewhere just did that in the nova

[72step]

I cut mine years ago when I first got the truck and kinda regretted it but now I don't. Those two knobbers suck and the custom auto sound ones are so expensive for the piss poor quality they are that you'd be better off with no tunes at all; if you're that desperate to leave the original radio in there. What I've come to notice, is that with a regular din modern radio in there it just looks "right". It actually follows all the rectangular shapes on the dash. Personally an underdash radio or glove box radio along with a non functioning original radio is more of an abortion in my opinion (looks more jerry-rigged).

[bad6772]

I agree with what other people have said....Cut it, its just a truck. And one think I think some forget.........Its metal,its not like you can't un-cut it....I have been called everything for cutting mine...Its a Cheyenne, Not the Holy Grail.......

[truckdude239]

i cut my dash and now i wish i hadn;t they was someone making gove box mounts for the radios

[junkyardjohn]

WOW.. THIS DISCUSSION IS OLDER THAN DINOSAUR TURDS. YOU GUYS MUST BE PRETTY BORED. JOHN

[Leviticus]

Originally Posted by bad6772

I agree with what other people have said....Cut it, its just a truck. And one think I think some forget.........Its metal,its not like you can't un-cut it....I have been called everything for cutting mine...Its a Cheyenne, Not the Holy Grail.......


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I am not a big fan of cutting into original steel (Unless there is rot), but I have to say, that dash is sweet! Nice work

[dznucks]

for what its worth.....i left the old style radio in the dash, to act as a clock and a decoy.

i used the under dash unit that msgross posted, but i didnt mount it under the dash. if you have a stock bench seat, that underdash bracket can be wedged under the center section of the seat, leaving the face of the radio flush with the front of the bench. My cd player has been that way for 11 years. it has never come loose.

You will not be able to see the face of the radio, but you can easily remember the buttons or most come with remotes now. if you do it this way you dont have to cut or drill anything, until you figure out what you really want to do. i ran my wires under the carpet for a cleaner look.