so, I’m yanking stock am radio out, and dash pad had such huge hole above it, I slightly enlarged and lifted out the dash speaker after unbolting the 4 Phillips with shorty Phillips driver. Want to install new dash speaker and door speakers and a modern head unit (already have newer jvc from different truck). To fit modern unit in similar spot to old, I’d have to reinforce and cutout different shape thinner and wider, and of course without **** cutouts.
So, I’m seeing if anyone went that direction, like epoxying a piece of 1/4” thick plastic onto front and back of area stock radio was in, and recutting to fit modern style head unit. I think I’ll bend some metal pieces to bolt to the lower dash frame where the old head unit slid in and out? So, the exposed part of modern unit is seen, but not structurally supported by plastic of the radio fascia. The structural support will be metal pieces fastened to stock metal lower dash, as mentioned.
OR!,,,is there a better way, hanging a newer unit below dash around ashtray area, or ? Like to see what your recourse was in fitting newer head unit into older dash and retaining stock plastic radio and hvac fascia.

Something like a radio delete plate, but need to recut for modern stereo head unit thinner and wider rectangular profile.

I’m leaning toward electric bass guitar black uncut plastic picguard material that’s 1/4” thick, epoxied to front and back of stock ford radio fascia, then cutting that out with jigsaw to fit modern unit. But I’ll have to wait for delivery. Looking around shop now cause I wanted to knock out most of it this weekend. Needs to be black plastic to blend in on front side.

I’ve also considered how much wasted space there is in that fascia, with slimmer unit. I’m not married to the stock electronic clock and it’s control buttons. So, anything above the hvac control panel could also go storage, and radio unit could even wind up where ashtray and cigarette lighter is. Alsthough, despite not smoking, it’s nice to have a plug in available for charging stuff. So, I have considered boxing that in for more dash storage and hanging unit lower.

there is also a spot beside steering column that appears to have been a garage remote control storage spot, I guess. That’s wasted space too. It’s a little plastic cubby. I’m considering areas I might want to install gauges, or maybe a tach also, as I go.

I found a piece of quarter inch thick black plastic acrylic I’d ordered but forgot I had. Cut it to fit from backside and it’s curing with SEam sealer and a weight on it. Then I’ll cut and seal another plate n front and make my short wide rectangle for modern unit.
i got excited for a minute when I realized clock was nearly exact match for modern unit, but when removed, there’s plastic defrost vents or hvac vent pipe right behind the little clock. If it weren’t for that defrost tube, with dash speaker removed, the modern stereo unit would fit right in, and a large dash pocket or speaker could be added below. Finished mowing now it’s on to taking door panel off to see what my factory hole size is for new Speakers.

Yes. And I have SEam sealed a thick piece of black plastic to back side, gonna do similar on front and recut for the short and wide jvc head unit I have. So, I lose my round holes for old am radio, and have modern opening.
Stock had a metal clip on bottom of radio. It was not hooked to anything at back the clip at the bottom pulls straight out intact on the radio. You just pull hard. I moved that clip from my stock am to another stock am/fm and cassette. Was gonna do that but decided I like my cds too much. Not much on fm I want to hear either. So, I have to move to modern size hole and I’ll rig a fastening means to the lower dash frame which is what the stock clip slid into. On to my door panel and speaker figurin

I have not replaced dash speaker yet. Only have it removed. I intend to shop speakers online late today. Or, I might skip dash speaker and jump on craigslist and find some used box speakers to sit on floor behind bench. Already have pair of nearly new clarion 6” round speakers that should fit doors, if I want to put speakers there. Open for ideas at this point but definitely modding stock radio cover late with more black plastic and recutting the head unit slot for modern no **** head unit.
my son just starting with a major electronics retailer and whatever I pick out new, I can get his employee discount, but really only need speakers. Don’t want window rattling bass, I’m 54, and listen to moderate volume and oddly enough my truck is super quiet even without flooring right now.

Well, the 12 v key on for radio is yellow and interrupted black stripe right? I recall that and an orange wire for illumination. Yet my unit has nothing.

Here is my problem, I had a stock am radio in my 84 f150. It worked, but it had but 2 wires in stock appearing plastic connector. The yellow with black hash was power, and the sky blue with red tracer for illumination. There is no green yellow tracer anywhere close. I checked lighter, was going to rob there, but it also is yellow with black hash wire, which I already have hooked to the JVC KD-r760 cd receiver from am radio connector.
i have jvc box in front of me, shows red for 12v, which I have to yellow with black hash on f150. And it shows Illumination jvc is orange, which I have connected to stock sky blue with red tracer.
i know I don’t have memory wire hooked up, and I was ok with that, because all I listen to is CDs. I’m guessing it must refuse to work without memory wire.....can I run a wire with fused terminal off starter solenoid in lug? I don’t really like the idea of that, even fused, but maybe that’s whats wrong, it won’t work with keyed on power alone, like the stock am radio did?