radio install question

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

How well do these kits fit?

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_176GM16...it.html?tp=861

[54Caddy]

thats like the kit have. too me you have to sand it down till it fits snug in the hole where the deck goes. then drill out the holes for the screws.

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by us111

hello,just wanted to say if u cut it there is no return,depends on what you are doing with truck

yes there is a return, i will get some pics of my bosses truck

[Hubscrub]

I got my radio from crutchfield several years ago and they sent me all the stuff to install and finish it out the plate fits well and has texture on it to help match the dash i just made the screw holes in it

[low86c10]

i cut mine and made it work..... i will get pics

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Check my installation,...easy to do and I've got stepwise pics. I called my thread "Proper DIN stereo installation" because it came out perfect. Standard dash bezel with the DIN stereo sleeve located as best as can be within the space allowed in the factory bezel.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...per+DIN+stereo
I also had Crutchfield's plate, but was disappointed in the final appearance (since it would not lie flush with the dash panel), so I decided to cut my own openning. Take a look, I think you'll be impressed. And it was REALLY easy to do!
Todd.

[3r!c84]

i made one out of a plasic lid from a contaner.cut it all out.scuffed it up painted it black and put some velcrow on the back looks pretty good

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Here's a pic that's not in the thread that shows the cut very nicely:



I completed the stereo with foam-filled, wood cab-corner boxes containing two 6 1/2" three way Kenwoods, stacked:



Covered with Crutchfield speaker box carpet and set on the diagonal, they sound just great!
Todd.

[sharpmotors]

thanx for all the info guys but i deided i want to keep it stock appering so i will be going with either the retro sound stereo or custom auto sound.

[impalamark]

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC

Agreed. Even if you do cut the dash, it's nothing that a welder and a scrap piece of steel can't fix down the road.

The problem is that every time somebody puts a 1 DIN head unit into one of these trucks, they surface mount it or build some silly trim plate that looks like hell. If you take a few minutes to set the radio back in the opening and build a trim plate that fits snug to the radio faceplate, it'll look like it was meant to be there.

Exibit A: The radio in the truck when I bought it:


And exibit b: The radio I installed:


To do this properly, you need to build a mounting plate and attach it to the backside of the dash so that the radio sits back a little bit. Since the previous owner hacked my dash up good, this was pretty much my only option anyway. Depending on your specific radio and how "flush" you want it, you can use washers to set the mounting plate back deeper.

Mounting plate:


mounting plate installed in my hacked up dash:

One thing that would really make it look stock would be to use some duplicolor black wrinkle finish paint put it on heavy and the new plate you made will match the wrinkle finish on the dash bezel almost perfect
I have done several of these an they look stock
MArk

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by Big Port Jimmy 6

How well do these kits fit?

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_176GM16...it.html?tp=861

What's the point of that? just cut the hole neatly in your dash bezel and nobody will know. All aftermarket DIN radios have a trim bezel of their own that covers around the edge so even then you don't have to do a perfect job.

[tapeworm]

I had just seen one of the 2 knob "retro" radios the other day. It had a USB port on the front for your ipod.

No, you can't use CDs (obvously), but when I finally got an ipod, I have hardly used a CD since.

A nice, but slightly expensive more expensive option to cutting your dash for a DIN radio

[Jim85IROC]

Originally Posted by impalamark

One thing that would really make it look stock would be to use some duplicolor black wrinkle finish paint put it on heavy and the new plate you made will match the wrinkle finish on the dash bezel almost perfect
I have done several of these an they look stock
MArk

Actually, the flat area around the factory radio on my factory dash trim is smooth, not textured. I intentionally used the smooth backside of my ABS plastic for that reason.

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

yes there is a return, i will get some pics of my bosses truck

finally got a pic, when my boss bought the truck it had a din sized radio in it, i just made a trim piece out of sheetmetal. it supports the front of the new radio and i think it looks better with 4 screws instead of 2

[sharpmotors]

i finally recived my custom auto sound radio and i could'nt be happier,i ended up getting a usa5 with the ipod hook up so i can leave the ipod in the glove box and control it from the radio.i would definatly go with this unit if you are looking to keep a stock apperance.

[oldschool18]

If you flip cd's in and out all the time while you are driving cutting your bezel might be a good idea, but if you listin to the radio alot and have all your tunes on and ipod a factory style with a cd changer under the seat and a hook up for your ipod is the way to go and if your dash bezel is in great shape I wouldnt cut it either

[TexasJeff]

Here is my 2 cents for what it is worth, I have an old school Jensen in my truck that I think I bought at Auto Zone or Wal Mart 4 or 5 years ago, I just got the new LMC catalog and I love the new one they have in there.
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=104

[MR .T]

if its an all original #s matching show truck with 1000miles on it then dont cut i,t if its an averidge truck cut away. Just my 2cents worth.

[S10Fan]

I recently installed a unit from Retro Sound in the Heap. I absolutely love it. The rear AUX input is connected to my XM receiver, and I have a 4 Gig thumb drive plugged into the USB cable.

[MR .T]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

I recently installed a unit from Retro Sound in the Heap. I absolutely love it. The rear AUX input is connected to my XM receiver, and I have a 4 Gig thumb drive plugged into the USB cable.

that does sound awesome. Mine only does cds.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! Just got a VERY useful device! Monster iCarPlay Wireless 300. It plugs into any dockable iPod/iPhone and transmits over three tuneable FM frequencies to the car stereo,...Imagine all the FM receivers you can use THIS on! Mobile or not! And your stock indash AM/FM requires NO alteration!
Sounds fantastic!
Todd.

[truckfan]

why cut the dash if you have an iPod? i have not used a CD in a car in a long time....