radio options
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 140
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From: Watertown
radio options
OK, so I am planning on adding a "modern" radio to my '66 at some point in the future. I see the thread on adding a radio pod to the headliner and that got me thinking.
Why would someone just not cut a new hole in the dash. The only thing that comes to mind is that you want to keep the original look of the vehicle, but adding a headliner radio pod is not "original" either. I was either going to cut a DIN slot into my dash or find a remote mounted radio and install the control on the face of my dash with a few screws. The other option I see a lot of people do is add it to the glove box, but again why keep the original radio if it does not work.
Please try to pursuade me one way or the other as I am trying to figure it out before I go too far.
Mark
Why would someone just not cut a new hole in the dash. The only thing that comes to mind is that you want to keep the original look of the vehicle, but adding a headliner radio pod is not "original" either. I was either going to cut a DIN slot into my dash or find a remote mounted radio and install the control on the face of my dash with a few screws. The other option I see a lot of people do is add it to the glove box, but again why keep the original radio if it does not work.
Please try to pursuade me one way or the other as I am trying to figure it out before I go too far.
Mark
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
If there's no radio in the dash, please do not butcher it by installing something aftermarket.
Hide whatever you install inside the glovebox or under the seat.
Some peeps cut a HUGE hole in the dash for an aftermarket radio, why I dunno.
Patching that hole in the dash is a time consuming chore for purists.
The AM radios used in these trucks had tubes thru 1963. Transistors introduced in 1964.
The same radio was used in 1966/77 Bronco's. Having a radio repaired is EZ, just take it to a radio shop.
Hide whatever you install inside the glovebox or under the seat.
Some peeps cut a HUGE hole in the dash for an aftermarket radio, why I dunno.
Patching that hole in the dash is a time consuming chore for purists.
The AM radios used in these trucks had tubes thru 1963. Transistors introduced in 1964.
The same radio was used in 1966/77 Bronco's. Having a radio repaired is EZ, just take it to a radio shop.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,651
Likes: 60
From: Hemet ca.
It's your truck do as you wish. If and when you plan to sell it the big hole in the dash is a turn off. As was said earlier, purists don't like it and when new buyers look at the gaping hole they turn there head. There is a lot of work needed to patch a hole in the dash.
After all it is your truck and what ever you do to it should be done neatly and with some thought.
The original radio weather working or not looks better than an after market radio in these trucks.
We don't want to see a post later asking how to patch a hole in the dash because you wanted to butcher it for an after market radio.
It is your truck!!
After all it is your truck and what ever you do to it should be done neatly and with some thought.
The original radio weather working or not looks better than an after market radio in these trucks.
We don't want to see a post later asking how to patch a hole in the dash because you wanted to butcher it for an after market radio.
It is your truck!!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,390
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From: placer county usa?
It's your truck do as you wish. If and when you plan to sell it the big hole in the dash is a turn off. As was said earlier, purists don't like it and when new buyers look at the gaping hole they turn there head. There is a lot of work needed to patch a hole in the dash.
After all it is your truck and what ever you do to it should be done neatly and with some thought.
The original radio weather working or not looks better than an after market radio in these trucks.
We don't want to see a post later asking how to patch a hole in the dash because you wanted to butcher it for an after market radio.
It is your truck!!
After all it is your truck and what ever you do to it should be done neatly and with some thought.
The original radio weather working or not looks better than an after market radio in these trucks.
We don't want to see a post later asking how to patch a hole in the dash because you wanted to butcher it for an after market radio.
It is your truck!!
also their are threads posted that i have read that people have modified the radio to work like a new radio(mp3 ect) and look original.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 274
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From: Wichita, KS
I recently had the radio from my Unibody refurbished and they added a 1/8" aux jack. So now I can run my mp3 player through the glorious 1963 tubes and circuitry with an 80% loss in fidelity! Woo Hoo!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
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I'd say that cutting a new hole in the dash may be harder than it seems. At least...that's what i HAVE to think while staring at the massive, ragged hole in the dash of my poor '65.
i didn't do it...but i'd like to smack whoever did.
i didn't do it...but i'd like to smack whoever did.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: placer county usa?
spair) toweld up the hole from a large radio
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Watertown
I am not saying I am going to cut a huge hole in my dash. I am just playing devil's advocate. We as "slick" truck people add power steering, power disk brakes, tilt steering columns, drop beams, electronic ignition, small block engines, ect to improve driveability. I look at a good stereo as an improvement to the driveability of a vehicle also.
I have plans to make a custom bezel to mount the new Retrosound's new Zuma radio. It has a small display and 5 push buttons much like the radio's of old. I was looking at the installation tips for their radio's and they show the display and control being removed from the main body for a more advanced installation. I am thinking that I can design a custom bezel to house the controls/display and ***** that would look just like our 61-66 radio's. But this is a lot of work for a radio when I could simply buy the Secret Audio unit and mount it to the dash but that would not look as authentic as my plan.
Mark
I have plans to make a custom bezel to mount the new Retrosound's new Zuma radio. It has a small display and 5 push buttons much like the radio's of old. I was looking at the installation tips for their radio's and they show the display and control being removed from the main body for a more advanced installation. I am thinking that I can design a custom bezel to house the controls/display and ***** that would look just like our 61-66 radio's. But this is a lot of work for a radio when I could simply buy the Secret Audio unit and mount it to the dash but that would not look as authentic as my plan.
Mark
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,651
Likes: 60
From: Hemet ca.
I am not saying I am going to cut a huge hole in my dash. I am just playing devil's advocate. We as "slick" truck people add power steering, power disk brakes, tilt steering columns, drop beams, electronic ignition, small block engines, ect to improve driveability. I look at a good stereo as an improvement to the driveability of a vehicle also.
I have plans to make a custom bezel to mount the new Retrosound's new Zuma radio. It has a small display and 5 push buttons much like the radio's of old. I was looking at the installation tips for their radio's and they show the display and control being removed from the main body for a more advanced installation. I am thinking that I can design a custom bezel to house the controls/display and ***** that would look just like our 61-66 radio's. But this is a lot of work for a radio when I could simply buy the Secret Audio unit and mount it to the dash but that would not look as authentic as my plan.
Mark
I have plans to make a custom bezel to mount the new Retrosound's new Zuma radio. It has a small display and 5 push buttons much like the radio's of old. I was looking at the installation tips for their radio's and they show the display and control being removed from the main body for a more advanced installation. I am thinking that I can design a custom bezel to house the controls/display and ***** that would look just like our 61-66 radio's. But this is a lot of work for a radio when I could simply buy the Secret Audio unit and mount it to the dash but that would not look as authentic as my plan.
Mark
Do your truck like you want just do it tastefully.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 9
From: Thornton, Colorado
This is the hole I had in my dash the day I bought my truck. I found a great sheet metal welder, and now it looks like it never had a hole. As soon as I finish painting it, I will post picts. So cutting a regretful hole is not as bad as it sounds.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
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i'll take a pic this weekend.
to the OP- i'm not against a modern stereo at all. i will absolutely have one in my truck before i put it back on the road. my cautionary statement is this: be careful. measure twice, cut once, and all that.
the difference between this modification and power steering, power brakes, ignition is that the dash is very, very noticeable.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: Nanaimo, BC
Just thinking out loud here, but what if one found a spare glove box door and butchered the hole into the face of the door rather than the dash itself? It would cause you to lose most of the space in the glovee and you'd have to reach farther for the controls (or get a remote control unit), but you would spare yourself from being labelled "the idiot who butchered the dash" by others. Then if you wanted everything back to original someday, just replace the door with the original.