What's the best way to cut the dash for Modern Radio??

[cobb_ben]

I was wondering how you would cut the dash out to make the radio hole large enough for the modern box radio, I think that is called a DIMM?? The common aftermaket size. Also how do you remove the dash bezel with the hole for the light switch being to small??? Because like on my 1976 the hole is bigger that the knob on the light switch. Thanks guys any advise would be appriciated.
Thanks
Ben

[raceman6135]

Most people use a Dremel, or an angle grinder with a thin "cut-off" wheel, or a jigsaw to cut the hole to the proper size. Remember: measure twice, cut once!

You have to reach under the dash to the light switch, where you'll find a small button. Push and hold the button, and then pull on the light switch knob. The knob and shaft should pull out of the switch, allowing you to remove the dash bezel.

Darrin

[bodydropped]

the stero installer put the radio holder on my dahs and marked it then used a solder gun that had a flat peice and use that to cut the plastic he took his time and it looks like a factory job installed

[bringit]

I used a air tool with a thin cut off wheel, but a dremel would work great also. My advice is to cut the hole to small first (inside the lines) and slowy trim till it fits tight.

[N2TRUX]

I have a tool you can borrow. It works pretty good if your easy on the trigger....

[badassbowtie81]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

I have a tool you can borrow. It works pretty good if your easy on the trigger....

you laugh i used sawzall on mine....looks really good actually

[screwballl]

a reciprocating saw sometimes is the only way to get a proper cut on these...

[Greenlee]

Alot of them I have seen done by other people have a gap showing where the big square opening is for the factory radio. If you are careful you can avoid that. Mine looks like a factory fit. I marked the hole using the metal sleeve that holds the radio and used an air die grinder with a thin cutting wheel to cut the hole.

If your 76' is like mine (also a 76), you don't need to remove the light switch to get the bezel off. I have seen the bezels with a really small hole, and I guess on those you would have to remove the switch for the light. I think the small hole bezels came on early models (possibly 73-74???).

[bringit]

If you use a resiprocating saw or jigsaw you will rattle loose everything in the dash. Use a rotory tool like a dremel or air tool and you will get better results.

[Ric83]

We just used a hacksaw blade when we did my dad's.

[1985K10]

I used a Dremel and a hacksaw blade.

[old Rusty C10]

ive had great success cutting almost anything with a dremel. ive invested in a extension tool thats flexible that works wonders god i love that tool!!

[75Chevy90Kawi]

the dremel is the best tool ever. i use mine about 20 billion times a day. i would imagine a cutting wheel would be hard to get in the right place though because of the angle and the fact that the blade is a lot smaller than the diameter of the actual dremel. but i didnt do mine, it came with it

[gregbr]

Just did it on my son's 85 K10, looks very similar to 1985k10's picture above. Our Pioneer had the same trim and all, we ended up with the trim flush with the plastic part so the dash panel can be removed without removing the radio. The dremel tool and small cutoff discs worked great.

[C-10volvo]

i used..... a jig saw.... but i built something. i dont like cutting up the dash. food for thought

[cobb_ben]

I liked the box, and I just ended up cutting the dash, is is kind of close, some gap in there but it wil be ok.

[Justins76]

I used a sawzall to cut the metal dash part and a dremel to cut the plastic bezel.

[Russell]

Personally, I'd pick up a factory radio delete plate, and install the radio into that. It removes the possiblity of an unsightly gap that sometimes happens if you don't cut it perfectly.

['78 Fleetside]

Thx guys, i was about to come here and ask the same exact question haha, and 1985k10, i have that EXACT deck lmao, but its only temp. =D i got big big plans. Well thx again guys for you help.

[TexasJeff]

there are plenty of places that sell radios with the knob and new inside's just look on the internet, please dont cut these trucks up

[Bob Gervais]

I actually made an aluminum plate that mounts on top of the old opening, with the DIN size cut into it. The I scribed out the plastic bezel, and cut the metal dash. I used the two original screw holes, and drilled two new ones, and used longer screws to attach everything. I still need to paint the aluminum flat black, after drilling some holes to mount some toggle switches in it. Once it's done, I'll get some pics of it up. It'll look factory once painted, and there's no gaps or anything showing.

I used a jigsaw to cut the plastic, and the dash. I used a Prototrak CNC Bridgeport to cut the aluminum plate.

[Ric83]

Originally Posted by Bob Gervais

I actually made an aluminum plate that mounts on top of the old opening, with the DIN size cut into it. The I scribed out the plastic bezel, and cut the metal dash. I used the two original screw holes, and drilled two new ones, and used longer screws to attach everything. I still need to paint the aluminum flat black, after drilling some holes to mount some toggle switches in it. Once it's done, I'll get some pics of it up. It'll look factory once painted, and there's no gaps or anything showing.

I used a jigsaw to cut the plastic, and the dash. I used a Prototrak CNC Bridgeport to cut the aluminum plate.

I just bought one of those form the sound system place when I bought the rest of my system.

[mhicks]

They have a thing called a body saw. It has a blade like a jigsaw and it runs off of air. It looks like a small sawzall. It works great. They are a very handy tool. I picked mine up for about 25.00 at Harbor Freight.

[truckinbean]

Has anyone seen this or used it before? http://www.scosche.com/scosche.aspx?...B&CategoryID=5

Not sure what's supposed to hold it in place since there aren't any holes for the screws. I was skimming the Summit catalog and found the listing for 73-87s so I looked it up. Only $10 from Summit, might be worth it.

Any thoughts?

Ben