I need help mounting my aftermarket stereo in my 86 f-150. I was able to use the many forums here to get it wired up correctly but I need ideas on how to mount the new head unit into my dash. Any help is appreciated.

 

I was able to install mine with a Metra 99-5700 install kit. Back in 2014, Staples (yeah) had one for about $7. Amazon has it for $15; may also want to check Sonic, Crutchfield, etc.

 

I got one at Best Buy. Buy two, they're getting harder to find i' on y second in twelve years tabs break fro bouncing/vibration.

 

M's not working to well on keyboard!

 

So, go hit and fix it!

 

Yes, but aking so any odifications like that can be tireso e and proble atic, not to ention ti e consu ing.

 

Odifications, indeed.....

 

Yes, I know... but if you want soebody to read your post and aybe help you, it'b be a good thing....

 

Any pictures of what you're talking about? On all mine they've just had the sleeve that the head unit clips into in the middle dash plate. Just mounted with tabs bent to hold it in place on the plastic face plate. There isn't an easy way to support the rear of the head unit given the plastic ducts and such directly above it, but I'd prefer a more secure mounting.

This kind of shows how mine is mounted...

 

If I recall, there's a sort of bracket attached to the dash structure at the back of the radio, and I was able to attach the back of the aftermarket radio to it. I might have had to use some slotted flat stock to connect it all; just going from memory....

 

So, the Bullnose trucks don't have the metal 'track' above the radio and a 'C' shaped plastic hanger screwed to the back of the radio?

​​​​​​​I thought I remembered this from those weird din and a half units.

 

i'm sure you've got it figured out by now .. but

i always use the scoche adapter kit from walmart - about 10 bucks
for the wiring .

and fab up the mounting tabs without a premade kit .. they never fit right - well rarely

a 64ths slide rule and careful drilling is very helpful ..

precision fit is paramount a/v equipment denotes audio visual .. and hacking up a bezel is the most horrible thing ever to do ..

uninstall and measure + compare the old unit and the new one .. to determine just how it will look when in place .. measure 10x cut and drill once ..

unscrew the mounting tabs on the side of the stock stereo and line them up to the aftermarket unit .. carefully measure how far you need to drill holes to get the tabs to line up in the center of the bezel / so that unit juts out of the center of the dash bezel about 1/4 inch or however far it will be to take up the difference once the stereo snap bezel is put in place ..

drill (carefully) into the install rack or stereo unit and blow out any metal shavings .. use the appropriate length screws and spacers and or nuts to mount the factory mounting tabs onto the aftermarket stereo unit .. and bolt in just the same as the factory unit ..

a single din will fit perfectly out the stock stereo opening and the snap on bezel for the stereo installed after the dash bezel is installed will perfectly cover the opening for clean like factory appearance install ..

my truck has an older kenwood and also the little tabs that hold the stereo face bezel were aged and too far to grab the stereo securely any longer .. i used a drop of 3m emblem adhesive for exterior autobody emblem installation - it's just right for this type of application .. it's crystal clear .. strong and slightly flexible .. but if you pull on it it with force it will pull away clean and remove easily .. plus dry time is 30 minutes and it gets kind of a soft gel set not a hard fast one you can slightly move it while setting to get it lined up precisely..