I own a 1970 SS 396. Currently I dont have any stereo system in it but my question was: Has anyone put a new model head unit in it. Like a Clarion, Pioneer, kenwood etc. I was looking at it and it doesn't look like there's a good place to mount it. Where did you buy the adapter that fit's into the dash for the larger unit? Where are some other places besides the panel where some of you mounted it? What does it cost? Thanks for all your help guys. I love the classic muscle cars but also need to enjoy the tunes that newer technology makes available today.

Regardless of what anybody says, DON'T CUT UP YOUR DASH!!

Several of the major parts distributors have the "post" type radios available. These are the type that have the two knobs. The other type is called a "din" mount and would require a large rectangular hole to be cut.

Although the opening for a post type will only allow you to have a cassette type player, some have the ability to control a remote CD disk player. You could mount a CD stack loader in the trunk.

Here is a trick that I just recently heard of. If you get a unit with a infra-red "remote", you could mount it down under the dash where it's not that noticable. Normally, you would have to have the remote such that it works the unit by "line of sight". The trick is that you can get fiber-optic units that can transmit (or re-route) the signal. This means that all you would be able to see is the "head" of the fiber-optic unit (the other end is pointed at the infra-red "reciever" on the player).



------------------
Wes. Vann
Technical Reference & Wagons sections
Gold Member #5

I agree with wes don't cut the dash! There are a couple things you can do one a lota people tell me I should do to mine is get the tissue box holder to mount it in. Chances are I will get a Kenwood that fits the factory hole one even has a pre-amp output. And then get a crossover to handle the front and rear channel amps. Hang on to the original stereo if its still in the car wheter or not it works.

------------------
JT
71 SS 350 soon to be Vortec 355 then a 454
www.angelfire.com/co/KellyMotorsports (http://www.angelfire.com/co/KellyMotorsports)

Kenwood is about the only shaft mount (name brand) left out there that fits the original hole. It does have a CD input on the back. However it doesn't have RCA jacks for front & rear input into an amp. It only has RCA for the rear.

I used the front output (50W) for front speakers in the dash, and the rear RCA went to a 100W amp (under the seat) for the speakers that I installed in the kick panels, and 2 box speakers behind the seat, and a subwoofer behind the seat.

I also installed a 10 CD unit on the back wall.

Works wonderful. There are features in other stereos that I would love to have, but I was unwilling to cut the hole for a DIN unit.

But you got to do what you want.

>>>Rod<<<

I bought a Custom Autosound stereo to put in my 1965's dash but I couldn't make it fit. Eventually I returned the unit and found out later they sent the wrong unit for my car. What I ended up doing was attaching a regular DIN mount stereo under my dash. There are only a couple of screw holes and they are totally out of sight - I bought a Custom Autosound stereo speaker which fit my factory speaker mounting in the front, and since someone had already hacked up my package shelf I mounted two Radio Shack surface mount speakers in it - again, only a screw hole and a wire hole for each. It sounds pretty good except for the lack of bass response - I may put a sub - woofer under the front seat whe I have a little spare cash (I don't right now). Best thing is I've done nothing to the car which can't be fixed easily and cheaply. Hope this is of some use;

Steve

[This message has been edited by swild (edited 08-02-99).]

Hey guys, too late to tell me to not cut my dash!!! Av8torboy- If you don't want to cut your dash, buy the Kenwood shaft mount as 68Elky said. But as for me, I took the existing area, measured the width of the DIN stereo, marked it off, then cut it out with a hot wire cutter. The cut on mine didn't come out too clean, so I sanded the edges smooth with a Dremel. Then I mounted the sleeve to slide the stereo in. Normally, you only have to fold over a couple of tabs, but I wanted a sturdy installation, so I went ahead and put in a couple of screws. I had to put a 2X4 below the sleeve to support the sleeve from sagging. Then I just slid in the stereo and it snapped it, then snapped on the faceplate on the Pioneer head unit!! I bought a set of Rockford Fosgate component speakers, and mounted them on the doors, and mounted the tweeters on the A-pillars. I also made a custom box in the rear that houses two 10 inch MTX blue thunder subs, and a 750watt MTX Blue thunder amp. I also installed two crossovers, one in each kick panel. My dad knows a lot about stereos and tuning them, and he said that this is the best sound system he's ever heard!! Unfortunately, the grand total came to about $2,000, but its the best damn stereo you could ever want, and I think it was worth it. I can tell you a lot more if you want, just e-mail me if you have questions!! Otherwise, good luck!!!

[This message has been edited by 72Elky (edited 08-02-99).]

[This message has been edited by 72Elky (edited 08-02-99).]

Well, it is an SS 396, BUT, it's YOUR car so if you want to cut the dash then go ahead and do it. I cut the hole in the dash out in my '71 Malibu to put in a full face CD player, Kenwood, and it looks excellent. It doesn't stick out or anything, I thought it might look kinda goofy because it's an old car but my dash is black already and it fit right in. If I had to do it again I wouldn't think twice about cutting another dash, but that is from the mouth of a guy who will never bring a car to 100% original. (But I wouldn't hack a classic either, I just wouldn't buy it)


------------------
Chris Dagenais
CST Kelsey
'71 Malibu soon to be 454!
http://member.xoom.com/Gandalf80/Chris'sPage

I have a dash that is already cut (to a point) that I would trade you. That way, you wouldn't need to wory about it. Theres only so many good dashes out there anymore, and it's only going to get harder to find them as time goes on.

You might consider the new autosound secret audio rf radio instead of the infrared. you don't have to point the remote at the receiver so you can put everything out of view. looks pretty trick to me.

I just could not cut up the dash on a 72 nova I bought for my daughter. The shaft units were not on her menu. I got a nice under dash mount from circuit city (~ $15)and mounted a nice pioneer cd player. Everyone was happy. Good luck.

the million $$$$ ? did you buy the car for you to enjoy and have it your way or did you buy it for collector value
if you bought it for yourself then why should you care what you do as long as you do it right if you dont have time or you seem to rig everthing you touchdont get a stereo i hate buying a car that someone touched rigged or cut the wiring harness
whatever you do do it right or dont do it no matter what you do cut or no cut you will alway not be able to please everyone you will hear i cant belive you cut your dash for a newer stereo and those that will say get with the time if you cut the dash then you have a bigger choice of stereos so do what you think is best other wise we will have a miller lite commercial
great taste/less feeling

I know this has been beat around for a while but now upgrading my 1970 Chevelle radio is a topic de jour. I just purchase a new (modified?) Kenwood radio which does indeed fit into my dash but I'm wondering whether the following 2 issues are normal.

1) The bottom of the new face plate was ground down as if someone took a grinder to it. Is this how yours looked? I can see why this was probably done (clearance), but it seems kinda ugly. Especially since I spent alot of time restoring the dash.

2) The radio knobs do not fit into the recess in the dash. Did you have to get replacement knobs or did yours not have this problem?

If you had the same experience, are you aware of a different radio setup which ended up with a cleaner install (AutoSound?)


As always... thanks for the input.

I've seen some really cool stereo's mounted in the glove box using a remote. Personnely I think it would be a pain to use, but it looked cool anyway

I Have a Custom Autosound stereo in my 1968 Chevelle, no cutting, easy install.

I have a 69 chevelle, when i bought it there was already an after market cd player in there, i guess he had to cut the dash but im not sure, i recently up graded to a new clarion deck, i have two 6x9 in the back seet up on the rear dash by the window, i put some other speakers in the kick panels down at your feet, if you have someone really good doing it, it looks really good and you cant tell, i guess if your going for original, then dont cut, but mine is cut and other places were cut for speakers and it looks and sounds really good, i would cut. i hope you figure someting out
Keep crusen

I also did not want to cut the dash on my '70
so I search and found a stereo that would fit the hole. I found a Jenson XCC7220 at Sears on sale for $50. It sounds pretty good,I have 6 speakers hooked up to it. Only had to do minor filing to get it in.

I agree with those that recommend not cutting the dash. I just spent many hours reconstructing the radio cutout in my otherwise perfect '69 dash with black ABS sheet. I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. But before I did the work, I checked with a few resto-suppliers to see if a retro-fit radio cut out plate was being made. Of course I found none, but if any suppliers are reading this...... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
Rich

Im gonna cut my dash. How much more is it to get a modern one where you dont have to cut the dash? anyways im gonna also have 4 tweeters along with 2 mids in the front, 2 mids in the back, and 3 JL 12" W-6's. Im gonna need around 2500 watts to power all the speakers in the car. Not only am i gonna kill hondas on the line but also with the sound.