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I installed a new stereo into the 86 but I couldn't get the head unit trim piece to fit with the truck trim.
What to do? Leave it out and see the gap?
A couple of ideas but someone who has been down this road might have a better one.
Attempt to sand plastic down enough to get it to fit?
Not sure that would work but looks like it might be possible. Might look like crap on the sides though.
Try to move the Head unit out towards the cab space to give enough room for it to click on?
I'm not sure if that is possible.
It's a digital media HU, so it's fairly shallow. I wouldn't be too concerned with the weight if slid forward.
I don't think that would work either though as it might not lock into the metal bracket.
It looks ok like it is, but that trim piece would be the nice finish touch.
Got a picture of what you are talking of?
I just picked up a 85/ Ford radio and looking up wiring colors I found the later year trucks use a different radio (din?) with a larger square opening than the early ones, small square opening & 2 holes for the *****.
Because of this the later 85/ trucks have different bezel with the large square opening.
Now it just happens the PO of my 2 trucks cut the radio bezels for an after market head unit and the one I want to use only needs a little fixing to look good.
Dave ----
Got a picture of what you are talking of?
I just picked up a 85/ Ford radio and looking up wiring colors I found the later year trucks use a different radio (din?) with a larger square opening than the early ones, small square opening & 2 holes for the *****.
Because of this the later 85/ trucks have different bezel with the large square opening.
Now it just happens the PO of my 2 trucks cut the radio bezels for an after market head unit and the one I want to use only needs a little fixing to look good.
Dave ----
To me it sounds like he has the problem I have with the radio sitting too far in away from the bezel. That's what my ford radio does, mine I think is for a car but the bracket I think is for a truck so there is a considerable gap between the bezel and the face of the radio. No way to really move it forward without spacing the mount bracket forward on mine which prevents the centering nubs from aligning with the dash centering ports.
Here is what I mean about the HU trim piece. The 1st pic is without the trim,
The 2nd pic is with the trim just overlaid to get an idea.
Without the trim you can see the metal bracket the HU mounts to. The trim covers that.
This is a metra install kit as a FYI.
Last edited by dustyroad; Aug 3, 2019 at 08:15 PM.
Reason: added install kit infor
I think they make different trim widths. I thought I saw a kit that came with 3 of them some time ago.. Short of that I'd say sand down the trim to see if you can make it fit. I'd go ahead and plan on ordering another trim piece as the first one may be trial and error.
There wont be anything for that outside of cutting your factory bezel to get the aftermarket bezel to fit.
I was afraid of that, I don't know if I want to do that either.
The one mounting tab is broke off on it so I wouldn't be destroying it by much, but it still is nice enough.
Might just need to live with it.
Another possible option would be to file the trim down to make it work, not really worrying about being perfect with the looks. Then draw it out in cad and have someone 3d print it. This is the route I am taking with my double din (someone already cut up my bezel to fit a non-**** version)
Another possible option would be to file the trim down to make it work, not really worrying about being perfect with the looks. Then draw it out in cad and have someone 3d print it. This is the route I am taking with my double din (someone already cut up my bezel to fit a non-**** version)
3D printing is an option if he can make the bezel he has to fit the oem bezel. 3D printed version he could have a few copies printed out and kept incase they fail over time as well.
I take it you tried pulling the bezel off and then installing the trim then the bezel back on?
This way the trim is behind the bezel to fill the gap.
If need be trim the trim to sit farther in so the bezel will fit better.
I am guessing the factory bracket was the flat plate type?
The radio I just got uses 3 brackets, 1 either side up front and 1 from the back that fits under the radio that has like a "C" that fits into a bracket that is part of the dash frame to support the radio.
I did not know the later radios used this type of bracket.
Good luck and keep us posted what you end up doing.
Dave ----
ps: might try painting the part you see black as it would not stand out as much.
I believe I did that, it pushes the bezel out, but maybe I didn't. It won't take but a few minutes to try again though.
I am already considering hitting the shiny parts with black paint if nothing else
I don't think it looks too bad now but yea it could be better.
Yes just a flat plate. My install kit came with that adapter you described.
But mine was super simple, take bezel off, remove 4 screws and pull stereo out.
And let me add, it is SO nice to have more than 1 radio station and 1 speaker to listen to now
For some reason the PO took the passenger side speaker out, no idea why. If it was blown they could have just disconnected the wire.
Should I toss the stereo and speaker out or offer it up for someone if they want that factory sound?
I don't know why anyone would but before it hits the garbage..
You could toss the speaker but someone would likely take the stereo.
Yea maybe someone crazy like me that may want the stock look? And I have 2 NIB and 1 used with CD rack radios I could have used.
It is for a 85/ truck from what the Ebay add said and it had the brackets that I needed.
The bezel opening is too large for the wood grain that I have but the black weave is also cut but too small. I could cut it a little larger to fit nice and I would not have the openings above like this one has for the clock etc that I dont have.
I did not test the tape deck yet but other than speakers and ant. the radio works.
Truck is still all apart, almost ready for paint but got to have tunes!
BTW what size speakers you put in the doors?
The ones I pulled out have paint on them and today I saw 1 has a broken wire. I have think 6" or 6.5" and they seam a little to big for the door openings but they did not sound to bad when bench testing the radio.
Dave ----
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