How many people out there actually have cut up their dash for the new modern stereos???/ And just what does that do for your cars worth??
Barry

Anytime you modify a original part value goes down. but if you have a custom, who cares. it adds value to a full blown custom vehical because it is one more thing that it comes with. if it is an original and you want to keep up the value try...customautosound... and use their kit that can be mounted any where (stealth). it utilizes stock locations and won't hurt resale value. just take out the stuff when you want to sell it. try it and tell me what you think???

With the top down, who needs a radio.

I do for one :)

Nothing like the top down and Led Zep on the radio, at the appropriate volume of course. :D

I cut mine up. Value wasn't a concern since the car was having a lot more done to it than just the head unit. :D

I agree Kevin, Nothing like the top down and some good tunes. :cool:

I have the Custom Autosound AM/FM reciever and CD changer controller in the dash with the cd changer in the trunk. I added a small 4 channel amp under the passneger seat to drive 6x9's in the trunk and 4X6's in the kick panels (with stock covers) There wasn't enough clean power to hear the music with the top down. I also have two 4" speakers mounted where the stock 4X10 mounted in the dash powered by the head unit. Sounds great and isn't obvious to thieves and I didn't have to cut up my dash. I think Custom Autosound even has units now that recieve XM or Sirius (cant remember which one)


Hey Hey Mama.......... :D

There are so many guys who want an uncut dash, they would gladly trade their cut one for an uncut one +cash. Of course, if someone wants to crosshatch their dash with a soldering iron, it's OK....it's theirs.

I think it really depends on what your building actually. Upgrades are great and why not radios...or anything for that matter?

My 69 ragtop that I built for my wife is a concoction of new and old. The old is the basic frame, sheetmetal, most suspension parts and so forth. The new is it has a non-stock all leather interior, leather covered console, leather covered aftermarket steering wheel, hotrod door handles (see in pictures...please excuse the pollen/dust and taken in poor lighting) non-numbers matching anything.........and 440hp with air to go and lets' not forget lots of suspension goodies with four wheel discs! Lot's of non-stock "creative stuff" and it's worth is better than a good Z11 anyday!

http://www.indyquest.citymax.com/i/car%20pics/camarofrontsmall2.jpg
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I too, cut my dash out to accept the DIN modern radio mounting and it worked perfectly for the 69 application and the Panasonic head unit looks like it belongs there as a factory job. I get alot of questions about that and the additional speakers. I added a drop-in speaker package tray panel (comes out when the top is down) for two 6X9s that are held there by gravity and unplug when the top comes down.

So, it does not bother me that it is what it is and I could always return the car to pure stock but I want more modern accroutrements. If I had a pure stock numbers correct car.....of course I would not want to change a thing as some of you guys.

I do for one :)

Nothing like the top down and Led Zep on the radio, at the appropriate volume of course. :D

Agree completely, 'cept I'd be blasting some Hendrix... '69's work pretty good with a din radio, 67-68 is tough because the center of the dash is at a 45 degree angle I used a Kenwood KRC3006 head unit, which is a 2 knob style that fits with no cutting, and accepts their 10 disk remote cd changer. This unit is still made, looks factory and goes right in with no cutting or drilling.

Don't NEED a stero with a stout SBC with a Gear Drive and 2 chamber Flow's. That's all the music I need!

Don't NEED a stero with a stout SBC with a Gear Drive and 2 chamber Flow's. That's all the music I need!

Not true Tony, just ask your wife.

Steve, you left out the best shot of all, the TRUNK!

I cut mine up and never looked back!!

I couldn't stand the idea of not being able to fit a DIN CD player in my dash!! I've had CD players in all my cars since they first became available in the eighties and I can't stand trunk mounted changers. (I have a factory Delco in my basement that I took out of the wifes Blazer 7 years ago if anyone wants it!) My car is a '68 RS/Z28ish resti-clone made from a sport coupe that someone gave me in a trade. I figure it's worth what I put into it (about a trillion dollars and a bazillion hours!) or whatever the next guy is willing to pay for it. (If I should ever go completely insane and wanna sell it!!)

If you have a 100pt concourse, numbers matching, yada, yada, yada..... with a working factory AM box it would be sacrilege to cut the dash. If it's a plain jane restification that's already had 35 years worth of "mods" and "hacks" done, I say do what makes you happy!

The fact is that first gen Camaros are now so valuable that even a base V8, sport coupe is a 25K ride when nicely restored. I don't think that cutting a small square out of the dash does much to decrease the value if the modification is done in a conscientious and professional way.

Paul D.

Okay.......per CFunk's request.....we love to post pics! No stock looking trunk here!

http://www.indyquest.citymax.com/i//pict0268.jpg
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Okay, I've got a Sony cassette, "DIN"stereo sitting in my cellar that I installed in my old Laser, Then put the stock radio back in for the trade. And also have a JVC CD player that I had in my wifes Blazer, that I took back out before the trade. The question is ...how do I go about cutting the dash for one of these stereos??? Does anybody have good nstructions or step by step pictures??

well for my 68 I couldn't stand the idea of cutting the virgin dash, so i went with the 200watt unit from ricks as well as the pioneer speakers (2 6x9 3 way rear, and the stock fitting front dual coaxial speakers) Not only does this sound very good and suprisingly well balanced, but it is also loud enough to hear over the gear drive and 40 series flowmasters with turndowns. i own no more than 10 cds so that is not a factor for me, but its an awesome setup for someone on a budget who dosent want to hack up the car, or put on 50lbs of stereo equip.

Well, I did the "unthinkable" and grafted a modern DIN into a stock '67 dash. It took one weekend, and I started with taking off the dash cover and marking & lining everything up, then cutting the dash (cut as little as possible so it is a snug fit, and save the pieces to be tack welded back in later if desired). Then you carefully "sandwich" the DIN sleeve into that "cover" (black or woodgrain), using some sheetmetal to strengthen, and JB weld or good epoxy to keep it all together. Be sure to check on the angle when installed and mount the sleeve accordingly. I used a few rivets and alot of clamps to keep things together. Now, mix up some fiberglass and fill in the gaps and create a nice transition between that cover and the DIN sleeve, and also to fill any other gaps (rivet holes). Sand and paint. You also need some way to support all of this in back-I made some custom bracketry for support. The most important part is to always mock things up to make sure there is the proper clearances. I'll take some digital photos, but don't know how to get 'em on here.....

Hey, guys. I got something that I think that the majority of you will like. I have a 69 SS/RS 396 car that I have restored back to stock (smog, exhaust manifolds, the works) but, I still wanted to have the ability to crank up some good tunes when I take it out. I wanted to run four speakers and the stock AM/FM radio that I bought only ran one speaker in the dash. Well that wasn't going to work for me. So,I did a little research and found a place that would take your stock AM radios and take the guts out and install modern equipment so that you can hook up four speakers and still have the stock appearance along with an AM/FM radio. You can also get it hooked us so that you can run an MP3 player, XM radio, or a disc changer. It's a pretty sweet deal if you are trying to keep that stock appearance and still be able to listen to some quality tunes. This company had a place that was located here in the Minneapolis, MN area that built mine but they also have other facilities that you might be interested in checking into. I don't have there website information with me today but I can get it for anyone who is interested in checking into it. Otherwise you can try and look up the place that I went through. I don't have there number right now but, there name is S&M electro tech in Blaine, MN. I will try and post mor information as soon as I can.

If you are going to convert an AM radio (DONT use a AM/FM!) go with Joe. He is a member here.

http://www.geocities.com/joesclassiccarradio/

Kevin, I agree, Joe is a good guy with quality stuff. To bad Pioneer shut down his remote stereo product.

I wondered what happened to his new product. Why did pioneer pull it?

This is a copy of the email he sent to me last week.

"Unfortunately I had to stop. Pioneer contacted me and had a problem since I didnt change the appearance of the faceplate so I had to pull it. Its unfortunate but I dont have the money to fight with them so I will maybe look into another unit. I am trying to find a way to use the Pioneer unit in the regular digital conversion but no luck."

Thanks. That is a shame too. I was going to get one for my driver. Now I have to go back to my original plan of having him convert an original AM with the new guts. Oh well, it is just money :)