radio install

[clemson71guy]

well i got my radio today and i havent cut my dash yet but i dont see anyway for it to stay in place.
Is there sopposed to be a mounting kit for it or what?

[68gmsee]

Dude, don't cut your dash! If it's stock and hasn't been butchered yet, please find you another place to mount your radio if it doesn't fit. You wont regret it.

Maybe manufacture a mounting bracket that you can bolt up to the existing a/c control mounting screws. Some guys are even using the glove compartment.

I've seen several nice trucks that have a big nasty hole where some previous owner cut it up to mount a stereo.

[clemson71guy]

i dont plan on butchering it, my dad cuts and welds stuff for a living so it will be a neat and nice job and i plan on saving the peices that are cut out so if i ever sell it can be put back in.

[1971ChevyTruck]

I just bought a aftermarket tape player with all the bells and whistles of a cd player--cd controls you name it--not cheap at all but well worth saving the dash.

[corn]

All you have to do is remove the head unit from the sleeve. Then once the hole is cut, you slide the sleeve into the hole & bend over as many of the tabs as you can. Then slide the unit back into the sleeve. I recommend a support strap on the back of it too.

Here are the tabs that need to be bent over...

[clemson71guy]

corn thanks, that what i was thinking but i just dont see what the tabs would hold onto to hold it up..

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by clemson71guy

i dont plan on butchering it, my dad cuts and welds stuff for a living so it will be a neat and nice job and i plan on saving the peices that are cut out so if i ever sell it can be put back in.

clemson71guy, don't get me wrong... I didn't say you were going to butcher it... I did say that I've seen some that have been butchered, though. Even a nice job of cutting will diminish the value for some future prospective buyer.

Now, if you're going to change the truck from stock anyway, I guess some minor cutting wouldn't make any difference at this time. Good luck...

[clemson71guy]

68gmsee, yeah i get what your saying. and i have seen some messed up dashes to, but i will never sell this truck anyways (i hope) lol

[boogie67]

Cut It dude!!You won't regret it

[shifty]

Just cut the damned dash and keep the panel in case you need to weld it back in later.

People make such a big deal about the dash - it's overhyped. It's reactionary.

Moreover, it's your damn truck. Do whatever you damned well please with it!

(damn, that's a lot of damns!!)

[71tahoe]

The factory radio hole is too tall for a DIN sized radio and the shaft holes are too large widthwise. You will have a gap at the top or bottom and 2 crescents on each end if you cut the dash to exactly fit the sleeve. To get a clean install you should probably patch it before you cut it. Then you could put it back to stock and it wouldn't look hacked.

The tabs will hold the flange on the sleeve tight against the face of the dash if the hole you cut is just barely big enough to slide it in.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by shifty

Just cut the damned dash and keep the panel in case you need to weld it back in later.

People make such a big deal about the dash - it's overhyped. It's reactionary.

Moreover, it's your damn truck. Do whatever you damned well please with it!

(damn, that's a lot of damns!!)

I couldn't have said it better myself.

The tabs will do a fiine job of holding it.

For the record, of the 4 trucks I've had, I wrecked one before I had the chance to 'hack' the dash... 'hacked' 2 dashes... and haven't had the chance to 'hack' the 4th one.
I never for a single moment... regretted 'hacking' any of them.
so on the cut or don't cut thread jacking and drama. Do it... don't do it... it's your truck.

[ccd3]

Seriously- cut the dash if you want. So many people fuss about cutting the dash- but then they turn-around and C-notch the frame or put 20's on all fours. I love my truck- but it's not a priceless piece of art. Feel free to do whatever you see fit for YOUR vehicle.

That said- I didn't cut my dash for a radio- I bought one of the "classic" radio CD's. Why? Because I don;t have the skills to do a quality job on the dash... and my truck is too loud for a nice sound system anyway.

[clemson71guy]

the dash was getting cut no matter what i just dident know what held the radio in. and the thing that goes around the faceplate will fit perfect with no gap.
so if i got it right just bend the tabs back and it will hold it and maybe get a support strap for the back.

[dave2953]

That's right. I don't even have a support strap for mine, but it does help to keep it a little more sturdy, plus it will make it harder for some bozo to rip it out should they decide to try and steal it.

[WorkinLonghorn]

For what it's worth,I took mine into a stereo shop once and asked them if they could install one and they said there is a kit they use to adapt the hole size to modern units. I would check with an experienced shop before I started cutting just to see about this kit.

[HomerJ]

Originally Posted by ccd3

Seriously- cut the dash if you want. So many people fuss about cutting the dash- but then they turn-around and C-notch the frame or put 20's on all fours. I love my truck- but it's not a priceless piece of art. Feel free to do whatever you see fit for YOUR vehicle.

That said- I didn't cut my dash for a radio- I bought one of the "classic" radio CD's. Why? Because I don;t have the skills to do a quality job on the dash... and my truck is too loud for a nice sound system anyway.

My point of view, exactly.

HomerJ

[Andy4639]

Just do it right the first time. Cutting a dash ant no worse than putting a aftermarket part on a motor or any other part of the truck.
I just don't understand all these guy's worring about a dash... but have lowered there truck put all kinds of aftermarket parts on them and are worried about the radio!

[djracer]

their isn't a kit except for a small 1/4 inch trim ring. If its cut properly you won't have any gaps. You will see the indentions for the shafts on each side unless you get the trim ring. If you guys need these I can sell these for about 3.00 each shipped!

[clemson71guy]

by trim ring i guss u mean this:

and were goin to cut the dash today and see how it fits.
ill put pictures of it on here after.

[djracer]

no that is the radio trim ring. the ring I'm talking about goes behind the cage to coverup what that doesn't.

[clemson71guy]

oh ok gotcha
thanks for the help

[68gmsee]

Don't mean to start any cut or not cut wars on here but clemson71guy asked for an opinion and I gave it. I don't judge and I don't flame anyone for doing what they want to do.

Looks like everyone seems to have an opinion and mine is to not cut the dash if it's stock. It is one of the most visible parts of the vehicle other than the outside.

What he does is his prerogative. What anyone does with their vehicle is also their prerogative.

I leave mine uncut but I'm also a lot older than most of you guys out there. In my younger years I did my share of modifying cars- like cutting up a perfectly good 56 Mercury two door hardtop in 1972 to make a beach buggy...

[streetstar]

If you are a little bit patient - you could order a radio-delete plate from one of the resto. warehouses (the kind they put in trucks that didnt have radios) - and then cut that.

It would go on right over your cut dash and may look cleaner than the typical piece of black plastic.

Heck, order 2 and paint both to match - that waay if you ever return it to stock, you can just use the plate and not worry about re-welding it back up.

I am wanting to use one that goes under the seat and is controlled via remote --- since i figured out how to use an ipod -- i dont want to even deal with cd's anymore (except for loading the ipod of course)

[Boog]

Kevin. That looks good. I'd go for that.