I have a '76 shortbed and it has an older RadioShack two-shaft style cassette player. I was wondering if there is much modification to put a new cd player in? and if there are any kits to help do so? It's already got 4 speakers and a subwoofer i put behind the seat, so my speakers are ready, i just cant figure out how to mount it. It looks like I'd have to do some considerable grinding on the plastic dash. I've considered mounting it under the dash, but I just don't think it'd look right. thanks

 

Yea, it takes some grinding and welding (I tend to over build everything). I made a metal square the size of the cd player and welded it to the old radio bracket. Then cut out the center to mount the cd player and then covered it with black plastic to match the dash. It's very solid and looks read good. Do a search of past threads, there will be lots of methods and ideas for you (most don't require a welder)... Sorry, no kits for this install.

Marty

 

thanks alot... i've been looking at pepboys but all they had was the dual shaft install kit...

 

Howdy, yes it will take a bit of tinkering to get one to fit in the same radio slot, ive got a pioneer supertuner III in my 76. yes you will have to cut in to the dash, i would suggest first that you get a backup faceplate for your dash in case it breaks. after you remove the plastic face your heater controls and your radio will be held by one bracket. my plan is to make a new one to hold the controls and the radio more sturdy, right now all i did was cut the hole in the plastic to fit the new sterio and that bracket (since i have a spare) i just bent it backward set the sleeve in an used a fair amount of zip straps. now my plastic was broke to begin with so i have an empty cigarette pack wedged in the keep it from bounceing. hope this helps for a start, i will someday actually finish it and post the procedure with pics (if santa is nice and brings me a digital camera) anyway Good luck

 

i just cut of from the bottom of the of the heater controls off and it wedejes in there pretty good the took and cut my dash bezel with a copeing saw (used for trim work) and slid it in. i can take the cd player out with out taking the dash apart and i looks great

 

Take a look at how Ken did it at http://198.77.81.220:11036/. He has some other good ideas also.

 

Their are radios that will fit your 2 post mounting so you do not have to cut your dash. They don't cost much more than a good stereo. Some come with cassette players some don't. some are set up for cd's. If I remember right for the radio and a 5 or 6 disc changer, it runs about $5oo. they have a Ford logo on the face. you can find them in lmc, acme and other parts catalogs. I think the companies name is Classic radio,I don't remember now, but I am going to get one for my 74 f100 when I get to that point in the rebuild. good luck.

 

I used an underdash kit to mount my Kenwood and it fit perfectly right below the ash tray.

 

thanks for all the input, i just recently got my computer repaired... after i posted last it just completely shut down on me... anyway i already have a DIN type CD Player, right now i have some aluminum brakets holding it under the dash, but as soon as it gets a little warmer I'll be making a complete console out of wood... at least for now... thanks

-dan

 

You've probably already completed your install by now , but just in case someone else searches this out I've got a couple suggestions that worked great for me .

About the plastic dash panel , (of course remove it) - you'll notice the raised chrome rectangle around the radio is pretty much the proper size for din . You can easily remove that section by "scoring" the outside of the chrome lip and then snaping it off with pliers. Use a utlitity knife with a fresh SHARP blade and score it several times . You don't need to press super hard - take your little time and be careful . No need to cut clean through , 1/4 to 1/2 way through is fine . Now working carfully break out bits of the area to be removed with pliers . ( I used offset pliers like channel-locks , it's not a bad idea to make some test scores on the inner area to get a feel for the way it snaps apart with the pliers.) Be especially careful at the corners. That's it - just clean up the edge to fit with a flat file (or sandpaper glued to a flat stick) and a small round file for the corners .

About the old radio/heater control steel mount . Humm , well , I just cut off the bottom half where the radio goes . Mounting the new din sleeve to the dash plastic works fine if supported properly at the back of the new unit . The heater controls are solid with just the top 2 screws , really . After finishing the dash cutout , remount the dash panel and slide in the new din 'sleeve' till it touches the steel mount , Mark the steel and disassemble the dash again . Unscrew the 4 steel mount screws and cut off the mount above the upper line to clear radio . Install the upper mount with heater controls with only the top 2 screws .
If you really want you could cut the lower (removed) bracket at the din bottom line and reinstall for more support but I didn't bother (mine is 2wd driven easy , i might for 4wheeling , or better yet build a neat new bracket around the radio like gregm did !)

About the rear radio support bracket . You may have noticed the 2 mounting screws in the area of the plastic dash that was removed . Well that used to hold the in dash tight but now they are gone , anyway , the bracket section they screwed to is now also gone . SO now we need to solve two problems : 1) support the rear of the radio and 2) hold the dash tight . A simple solution is to make a bracket that goes from the ashtray mount forward and up to the back of the new radio . This way , if the radio back tries to push down (because of a bump) the bracket just forces the dash tighter .
There are 4 ashtray mount screws - I used the top right (passengerside) . Made the support from a piece of 3/4" x 1/16" aluminum (around a foot long ) .To get proper alignment I fit the bracket to the back of the radio 1st , bent it toward the ashtray , then while holding the dash/radio in tight mark the hole for the ashtray mounting screw . Remove the bracket to drill and re-install . It may take a couple installations/removals to get the bracket fit right before the final install . Try to make it perfectly straight with only 2 bends , one at bottom back of radio - straight to ashtray mount - then another smaller bend to fit ashtray mount . To make things even easier I just mounted the bracket between the ashtray and ashtray threaded hole in dash . This lowered the ashtray 1/16" but it's not very noticable . Also used a small piece of bracket material as a "spacer" for the left top ashtray mount to keep it even .

 

good idea, i have a small box it's mounted in under the dash, and any little bump i hit it skips like crazy, so i'm definitly putting it in-dash this summer. thanks

-dan

 

I had to cut the plastic dash, truck did not come with a radio, and the heater bracket, then formed a new radio bracket for the bottom with a lip that backs-up the plastic dash and drilled 2 holes,counter sunk them and used black screws, just under the radio faceplate
Its is solid and looks "factory" according to my sons, who are most critical when it comes to the way things look in a vehicle