Radio options, to cut or not to cut the dash

[binford]

I want to replace the radio. I would like to get one with a CD player. The problem being I would need to cut up my dash to fit a cd player. I have a sweet 71 all original. I am looking for ideas. I thought about putting the radio under the seat or in the glove box, or cutting a bigger hole in the dash. There is not much room in these old truck for a lot of equipment. Looking to find out what others have done.
Any help would be appriceated.

[krue]

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi! You could go the way I did, a tape deck in the dash, controlling a disc changer under the seat. Post some pics of your truck.

[donkey69]

Welcome from MN! Where are you at?

My projects are a ways from the tunes......but totally up to you-I think if a guy wanted easy access to radio,cut it in and make it look nice--then again,hide it and keep stock?? (Not much help-but wanted to say welcome!)

[71chevydude]

i bought a radio as well for cd controll...works great and you dont have to cut the dash.....

[Longhorn Man]

welcome to the forums.




Do you yhink you'll be putting the AM radio back in it?

[Mudder]

I cut mine.......... You can always fix it if ya ever wanna go back. I dont think they'll be making shaft type radios again anytime soon.

[Joe67]

Mount it in the glovebox or a remote unit under the seat IMO.

[Stocker]

Welcome from NorCal!

Look here http://www.custom-autosound.com/ for radios that fit the OEM opening...

[64fleetside]

I went back & forth w/mine the same way, I even put in an AM radio & speaker. After 6 mos of nothing but Rush Limbaugh I got out the cutoff wheel & installed a CD player in the dash like its supposed to be. I put two 4x6 plates in the OE location & two 5x7s in boxes under the seat. AM radio will cease to exist in a few years(gov't mandate), then all old AM radios will be obsolete. I sold mine to a restorer. Brian

[Davy]

Another welcome from MN.

You will get opinions on both sides here. It really depends on what is important to YOU. If your truck is original, you might want to hold off on cutting. If you are going to make other changes (like shaving the door handles as an example) then cut away.

Originally Posted by 64fleetside

AM radio will cease to exist in a few years(gov't mandate), then all old AM radios will be obsolete. Brian

You might be confusing AM radio with "analog" vs "digital" broadcasts. The FCC has mandated a fazing-out of analog broadcasts in favor of the compressible digital broadcasts in an attempt to create more "space" for all the new technology and to clean up some of the noise floating around out there. I haven't heard anything mandating the end of AM radio. Market forces may eventually make it obsolete, but not sure the FCC has said so.


Davy

[CPNE]

Originally Posted by Mudder67

I cut mine.......... You can always fix it if ya ever wanna go back. I dont think they'll be making shaft type radios again anytime soon.

They're making new ones every day

Originally Posted by Stocker

Look here http://www.custom-autosound.com/ for radios that fit the OEM opening...

Here's the rub ... when buying a CustomAutoSound or equivalent unit, you pay more for an inferior product (inferior as in features/performance, not component quality). However, in order to actually hear/enjoy the benefits of that concert/surround-sound/state of the art stereo DIN stereo you cut your dash to install you'll need to turn your 35 year old truck (with the acoustics of a garbage can) into a rolling Carnegie Hall. To do that will cost 1000's of $$, so are you really saving the $100 or so when purchasing the Wall-Mart DIN radio over a CustomAutoSound model?

I didn't think so.

Plus with the CustomAutoSound or equivalent Shaft-style radio you'll have the added benefit of knowing you didn't hack up a piece of Americana...and since you posed the question, you didn't want to to that anyway

You could always get an IPod too

[binford]

Thanks for everones input. It looks to be 5 don't cut and 4 to cut. My gut feeling says don't cut the dash, your truck will be worth more as a collector item. But is it really a collector item? 147,000 miles. I use the truck to get lumber and other supplies, so it's not a daily driver. This site is cool since I can see a lot of truck pic with dash photos.

[crustysarge]

I bought a Pyle marine (boat) cd palyer/tuner and it has a wired remote. Lots of boat players do. Out in the glove box and route remot to where you want and attach with velcro. I think a lot of wireless remotes may not work well through the glove box door.

[71Blazer]

Welcome... I put a cd player in the glovebox and found an original AM radio to put back in the dash. I favor a stock appearance with updated performance- afterall it was the look and feel of these 30-year-old trucks that first got my attention.

When the whole interior is stock except for a flashy plastic stereo it looks out of place, at least to me. However, I can appreciate the hard work in any well-done custom job and I've seen plenty of that here.

You'll find lots of differing opinions and lots of good examples of it done both ways. Have fun with your decision, let's see some pics when you have them!

[64fleetside]

You might be comfusing AM radio with "analog" vs "digital" broadcasts. The FCC has mandated a fazing-out of analog broadcasts in favor of the compressible digital broadcasts in an attempt to create more "space" for all the new technology and to clean up some of the noise floating around out there. I haven't heard anything mandating the end of AM radio. Market forces may eventually make it obsolete, but not sure the FCC has said so.



I can assure you digital is the end of AM, small local AM stations will not upgrade to digital broadcast, & will disappear. Most FM stations will likely invest in upgrades as most are owned by national conglomerates. I just hate the gov't mandating upgrades, maybe I don't want to buy a new TV or radio. Brian

[mocwon]

If originality is most important to you, don't cut it. If you are building a truck for the show circuit trying to obtain the elusive 100 point score then don't cut it. If the two items above are not important to you and you want a convenient, high performance, modern, set up then cut it. These trucks are not terribly valuable commodities (unless building a show truck) like many cars and besides if you later change your mind it's not terribly difficult to put it back in original looking condition.

[Perchjerker]

Does any of you know when these "mysterious government mandates" will happen?

[barn9]

I have a Custom Autosound, and I am very happy with it. It works great, sounds good, and my dash is original and un-cut!

[flatblackclassic]

I say cut away! I'll be hacking up my dash real good and adding some goodies to it but it will mantain the old school look.

[boraxman]

I say cut it too. Unless your truck is in mint/show original condition whos gonna really care?

[MMGOODIE]

put in a tape player and the do the cd changer. no cutting needed. Or like 71 Blazer said, hide it all and then put the OE radio or some $10 HU in. If you live in an area were peoples gear has been stolen this will help keep your stuff safe.

BTW...lets see some pics.

[nate68]

what's a cassette? hehe j/k

cut it and put a regular size cd deck in. cd changers are not fast enough for me. if you want a lot of music get a cd deck that reads mp3s. the prices on them should be affordable for most people now

[gr8scott51]

Originally Posted by barn9

I have a Custom Autosound, and I am very happy with it. It works great, sounds good, and my dash is original and un-cut!

I'm glad someone likes Custom Autosound, because I can't wait to rip mine out and find some sucker to buy it!! What a waste of money. Now I get spend more money to replace it. I don't think you can put enough sound deadener in your truck to make their equipment sound like todays low end OEM units.

[Jemost 72]

I'm a Custom Autosound fan. USA-6 and love it!