I want to install a new style radio in my pickup and was wondering if anyone has done it and how you wire one in? My pickup is a 1978 F-150 custom with a basic am radio and dash speaker, I also have speakers for the doors and behind the seat.

 

BluecreekGT,

Do you need a radio (AM/FM) or do you just play music from your phone? If you're a downloaded music/pandora type of guy or girl, consider just putting an amp with an audio input. No need to cut the dash, you can leave your AM radio intact and keep the stock look.

Just a thought . . .

 

Here's how I did it.

For my switched 12V, I used the wire coming from the factory radio harness. It was a 2 prong connector, I believe you want a Yellow wire with a black trace.

For constant 12V I tapped into one of the loose Courtesy circuit connectors in my instance I found a blade connector on the side of my cigarette lighter.

Ground just went to the first bolt i could easily get to.

As far as door speaker wires go, I followed to the best of my ability, the factory routing. inside the dash assembly, to the left and right are cut outs for the routing of wires, If your truck was like mine, and didnt come with door speakers, You'll have to drill a hole in your cab right behind the door jamb light switch, and your door edge to route wires. To finish up the work and to protect the wire insulation from getting skinned up, I went to auto zone and got the smallest PCV grommets I could find, and popped them into the holes. It also helps on water coming in the door there.

As far as rear speakers go, I passed them through the dash cut out on either side, but I fished them through the seam of the dash and the cab, and ran them under the rubber foam and the sill plate for the doors.

For mounting the stereo, just mark out your plastic dash plate to fit the mounting bracket and slowly dremel it out. then bend out the tabs to get it to hold tight. I had to glue some thin strips of wood to the back side of my dash plate to build it up enough to let the mounting plate tabs bite. I used Popsicle sticks.

that should get you started.

 

Well I want to hook up my subwoofer also.

 

For a subwoofer, run your blue remote wire and RCA cables down the other side under the sill plate. Run your power, pass it through the firewall through a hole, or make one. Run your ground from the amp to a seat bracket bolt.

if your truck is anything like mine, you'll rethink the subwoofer, Door panel rattle will drive you insane. I'd also put lock washers on your interior door handle bolt, as mine would vibrate loose from the sub. Dynamat everything.

 

Ok thanks for the help could you show me some pictures if you have any.

 

I put a newer unit in my truck as well. I went with a motorized flip screen cause I thought a touch screen in my truck would be nice. I'm not sure if I'll ever add the backup camera or GPS, but I know I can.

I followed the same process Ordnance described. In addition to that, I had to cut the plastic bezel a bit to fit the newer and larger head unit. I also had to cut the metal bracket that supports the head unit for the same reason. While I had it out, I spot welded the new metal sleeve into the OEM bracket and this made for a better support, I believe.

You can see my photos here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-build-12.html

 

OEM stereo wiring and diagrams in here. Get your power where you are suppose to.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...then-some.html

 

Good catch, I'd completely forgot I had to do that. Take your dremel with a cutoff wheel and cut off the bottom half of the heater control/radio bracket. The heater controls are more than stable by just being screwed in in the top. A DIN sized radio will only leave thin strips of metal on either side, and not really worth trying to leave on there.

I'd post pictures, but I've done mine about a year ago and I'd rather not pull my dash apart again.

 

Here you go ..... from the above info thread link.

 

Thanks for the pictures and the help! I'm slowly working on building everything to make it look really nice, and I will get some pictures up so you guys can see how much you helped me!

 

I do have a 1978 f150. I received a newer style radio for my birthday from a buddy, my dad and I did some research on youtube and found a video of a guy that owns a mechanic shop that had a customer with the same pickup that needed a radio put in. After tracing the radio he found that if he installed it after cutting it that there would be less than a width of 1/16 metal on either side so he then got a piece of metal and then riveted it to the dash bezel for added reinforcement.