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#1 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Pace, FL
Posts: 2,155
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For those of you dash-hackers-
I have decided to cut the dash. I had the Custom Autosound cassette player but it didn't work well at all, cassette controls were weird and there was lots of static. Anyway, when I got my floor sandblasted, the radio died. I was researching the Kenwood from Chevy Duty, GMC Pauls etc with CD controller, but I would fork out $300 for the radio and then another $300 for the CD player when I can spend a few hours cutting the dash and installing a high-quality Pioneer or JVC with the CD player built in for $200-$300. My question- what setup do you hackers use, brand etc. Pics would be greatly appreciated. At my local truck shop, they have flip face JVC and Pioneer both.
P.S. I know there are a lot of threads on this subject, I did a search on it, but all the pictures were expired. Thanks, John
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1942 Master Deluxe 1969 C/10 1985 Blazer CUCV 1987 Jimmy 2004 Tahoe 2005 Silverado 1500 2005 Silverado 3500 |
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#2 |
Used to have a truck
Join Date: May 2002
Location: port orchard WA
Posts: 1,552
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I am a certified dash hacker who runs a Kenwood KDC-MP 8017. I can play conventional CD'd and CD's in an MP3 format that I record on my computer. Its nice being able to fit 180 or so songs on a single CD especially when I am going on long trips over the mountain passes or I just get tired of the same 12 songs getting repeated on the radio all the time. Its a 47 watt per channel and has Kenwoods typical clarity and lack of distortion at higher volumes.
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No truck :-( |
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#3 |
Some like em' long!
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Grace, Idaho
Posts: 69
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i have done alot of car stereo in my days, and i would greatly recommend buying Alpine brand equipment. Alpine is by far higher quality than anything else out there. Even the cheapest Alpine cd player would sound better, perform better, and last longer than the most expensive pioneer etc... they are really easy to install in any vehicle, the best way to hack at the metal dash is to use a jigsaw with a blade made for cutting thin metal. sorry but right now i don't have any pics on it, but if i remember right, i found a website with some good pics on it. if i find it i will let u know!
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1971 chevy c10 lwb- 300 hp 350 crate motor, soon to be more with ported and polished 62cc chamber 461 double humps, TH400, 3.73 posi, used to be my uncle's truck 1972 chevy k10 lwb- 350,4 spd, old and tired, dad bought brand new and is now mine 1968 chevy c20 lwb- 327, 4 spd, was originally a 50th anniversary truck 1990 GMC K1500-just my runaround truck 1982 Chevy K10 shortbed, new motor and new paint, another project in the mix of the others. IMPORTS SUCK! |
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Valley Center KS
Posts: 3,525
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I've got a sony head unit, pioneer speakers, and a JBL 10" sub in the custom center console with a 160 W amp.
When I started to cut the dash, I was like "here goes nothing". I used a mini hack saw to do it. |
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#5 |
love my truck
Join Date: May 2001
Location: aylmer QC
Posts: 648
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I just instaled a JVC CD #KD-SX780 $260 tax in cd. I cut my dash with a air grinder, went verry well. I got the JVC cause of the rotery nob for the volume( I hate push-button) and the price is write.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: huntington,texas,united states
Posts: 399
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heres my dash..its a sorry pic but you get the idea..all i did was take a jig saw with metal blade and cut the dash the same size as the metal box that goes around the cd player..then slip that in the hole bend the tabs to keep it from coming back out and your set..also i put some maskin tap around the hole to protect my paint from the jig saw..
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1972 chevy long bed. Currently under construction!! Bagged, 383/700r4. |
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#7 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Measure twice...cut once.
Heck, better to need to remove more a second time. You don't wanna mess this up! I did it on mine, and I gotta say, don't get a pioneer. They suck. I used a hack saw blade to trim mine. There will be a little bit of original hole left after you trim for the DIN hole, I started by cutting along the top of the opening, that way the slight gap would be on the bottom, and therefor unnoticable. |
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#8 |
14.1 @ 96MPH
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 2,811
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Mine is cut out just like longhornmail's but I fabbed a piece of aluminum to cover up the gaps, spray-painted it black, looks nice...I'll snag a pic of it but it won't be up until Sunday night at the earliest.
I've got an Aiwa CDC-MP3 in mine. Replaced my CDC-X136 with it...it's absolutely awesome. Sounds great with my 2 Infinity 652i 6.5" speakers, and getting 140-180 songs on an MP3 disc is awesome. My brother has their newer CDC-MP32, which looks even cooler (sounds about the same though) but also has a motorized, unremovable faceplate. He's had one stolen and I don't like the risk (which is VERY high, Aiwas tend to have gimpy motors) of a broken motor disabling the unit.
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Project1970 - LS1 Swap Complete! ![]() |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 8,855
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Pioneer is a great brand if it's the premier line. I run a cheapo Kenwood on mine right noe because i Never drive it, but I would love to get an Alpine. They are the highest quality deck on the market and have come down considerably in price.
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My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795 |
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#10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Shelbyville, KY
Posts: 3,269
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Longhornmail, what is that behind the opening for radio? Looks like a vegatable garden or maybe that dope smoking old man left a few seeds laying around and they started to grow!!
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Georgetown, KY, USA
Posts: 631
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different approch
Well I got a 68 with a cut dash. Someone really butchered it. They had put an AM FORD Radio in the dash. Crap for brains for sure! I pulled it out of threw it in the trash!!!!!!!!
Anyway I needed a radio quickly for my hunting trip, 110 miles and no tunes sucks, so theres what I did. Sorry no pics but I had a bunch of kitchen cabnet drawer fronts. It was about 4" x 16" x 3/4" thick. I cut out a square hole by drilling the corners with a 1/2" drill then used a jig saw (Hack saw will work) to cut the 4 sides hole to hole. Then after shaping with a rasp/file a little Slid the metal box for a cd player right into the hole folded the tabs and slid in the cd player. Next I got a pair of 'L' brackets and longer screws for the Heater controls and mounted the L brackets to the heater control screws onthe bottom of the dash. Then mounted the drawer front to the L brackets. Clears the heater box and everything nicely. Next (I don't recommend this part), I mounted a short black antenna in the right radio knob hole in the dash. It doesn't pick up as good as it should but I was in a hurry and this was a quick fix without having to remove the cowl to run an antenna coax. Anyway the Oak lower dash with the cd player really looks good. If I finish the wood it would look Great. I'll see if I can get a pic sometime next week.. |
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#12 | |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Quote:
That is the remains of some fiberglass insulation after a small fire the truck has lived through. I dunno who nor when, but they sure as heck didn't repair everything they way they should have. |
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#13 |
Seņor Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Edge of the world
Posts: 5,367
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Hack away...
![]() As for equipment choices, that boils down to needs, personal preference, and budget here's what I'm using... ![]() Kenneth
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#14 |
Spank 'em if you got 'em!
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 628
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Starting from scratch, good idea! Did you de-profile the front yourself or did you buy the blank from somewhere?
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Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick |
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#15 | |
Seņor Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Edge of the world
Posts: 5,367
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Quote:
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Center Point, IA
Posts: 502
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I got a Sanyo. It's a single din (the only one I could find) size unit that has both a CD and a cassette.
The install guys at Best Buy sold me a plastic/rubber piece that fits around the opening that I cut. It covers up the round indentations you still have on each side after you cut the opening for the single din head unit. I used a jig (saber?) saw to cut out the longest sections of the opening. I put duct tape on the bottom runners of the saw. I also used a broken off hack saw blade held with a pair of vise grips for the corners. Be careful if you use the saber saw. If you pull it out too far from where you are cutting, the blade will kick out and snarf up the dash. |
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#17 |
Old Skool Club
![]() Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas"
Posts: 10,880
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My son wanted a CD unit in his '69. I agonized about cutting the dash for him, but used a Dremel tool. I recommend using one, over any other tool mentioned in this thread.
I used the mouning sleeve from his JVC for a template and cut the opening to match it. The sleeve slid in perfectly (much tighter than putting a golf ball in a cup). The radio unit mounted in it and the face plate covered the edges very nicely. I am now considering the same with my '69. Besides, if I ever sell it, it will be to someone else who shares my feelings. If it ain't butchered, it will be okay. All that really has to be cut is the corners. The height of the opening is fine for the DIN mountings.
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Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was. |
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Gower, MO.
Posts: 219
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123
Quote:
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If patience is truely a virtue, Then I am so screwed 1970 Chevy SWB 331 sbc and all the goodies. Under resurection 2001 Vette |
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#19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Hughesville, MD
Posts: 1,350
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The dash in my 68 was cut when I bought it so i filled it with a Pioneer. He cut a bit much out so I made a backing plate out of pine and stained it to match my console.
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Mario and Mandy Hughesville, MD 20637 69 C10 305/350 71 K5 Basket case 75 K10 Rescue **Parting out** 77 MG Midget **Parting out** 15 6.7L Cummins |
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#20 |
14.1 @ 96MPH
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 2,811
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Wornbrakes - that looks JUST like mine, with the exception that mine is held on by two allen-head bolts, one on either side of the radio.
One good thing for additional security - hook up the metal strap to the back of the radio to somewhere under the dash. Someone tried to steal my old headunit once...they bent that strap, dinged up the case, and scratched the filler plate, but they didn't get the stereo...
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Project1970 - LS1 Swap Complete! ![]() |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Muncie, IN U.S.A.
Posts: 60
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I currently have a radio delete in my truck, but plan to cut it to add a head unit later. If I can figure out how, I am going to hinge the radio delete plate and mount the stereo deep enough that it will still look like there is not radio. Then I can flip down the plate and turn it on.
OCB |
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#22 |
Spank 'em if you got 'em!
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 628
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Radio cover blanks are great.
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Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick Last edited by Long Knight; 11-19-2002 at 12:43 PM. |
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#23 |
So Many Ideas, So Little Money
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Marshalltown, IA
Posts: 1,610
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old car buff I've thought that same thing up, I have a couple radio deletes and I think to hold teh radio in behind the dash a bit I will use my faceplate adapter for my 93 cutlass supreme, i sticks out from the dash some so I figur, mount t backwards and there I go!
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72 Blazer 3/4 ton running gear 4.10s NP205/TH350 350 4in lift half doors 71 C10 with 454 99 S-10 5.1L SBC 700R4 09 Malibu ![]() Marshalltown, Iowa |
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#24 | |
Seņor Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Edge of the world
Posts: 5,367
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Quote:
Kenneth
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#25 |
State of Confusion!
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Gulfport, MS USA
Posts: 46,923
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WornBrakes. Love the look on your dash. Love the look of your glove box door. What did you do to the glove box door to get that effect?
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Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God! |
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