[Baby68RS]

I own a 1968 Camaro Ralley Sport. I just put the speakers in and here's my update.

The 6x9 Cerwin Vega's for the back window dash went into the slots like a glove after 3 metal cuts and some minor grinding. They lined up perfectly. Then I followed the brake light wires right to the dash.

The front 5 1/2 Cerwin Vegas were a perfect fit. On the Passenger side I was able to slide the speaker wire through a hole I drilled half about three quarters of the way from the bottom of the door, inside the door jam. then, there was already a speaker hole at about that same location on the otherside on the inside body around the top of the kick panel.

The drivers side did not have this luxury and I was forced to remove the door to drill holes. Then I slid the speaker wire over the kick panel right to the stereo area. All done with speakers.

Now, the stereo. This is what Im going to do, and I need your reactions. I've got a really super nice pioneer 3100 DIN CD/Tuner. I want it in the stereo area. So I am going to cut out the area needed to get the square outer brace plate that the tuner slides into, out of the stereo area. Then, I am going to go to a welder and have them spot weld small tin plates to make a square area so there is no visible space from the old knob hole area. Then I will grind the little bumps off, filler for the seams and then match paint. Then slide the stereo in without even having to cut the simulated wood finish.

This should almost look like a stock setup to the untrained eye when Im done. What do you think. I will take pictures and update you to this "DIN Stereo Conversion".

[Austin]

Personally I would not cut up the dash. You can get very nice modern aftermarket stereos that will fit the factory location. They still look older but have all the modern googies (tape deck, RCA outputs, CD changer controlers, ect.) I'm not sure of all the brands that offer the older dual knob stereos, but I know KENWOOD has a few of them. Its your car but there are other ways around cutting the dash.

[Chris396]

I agree with Austin. Stick the radio in the glovebox if it doesn't fit.

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'69 RS SS 396 375hp L78 Convertible, M22, 3.31 posi, deluxe interior, gauges, rosewood wheel, AM-FM,fold down seat, tilt wheel, SS wheels, console mounted 8 track player

[Baby68RS]

OK im listening..no cuts yet. But common were talking a space that is probably less then one inch altogether. Im doing some ground breaking things here. Actually modifiying the Camaro to suit modern technology. How ever stupid it seems. But think of it. Puttinq a perfect square DIN setup where "knob" type stereo's would go. Spot welding tin and color matching so it looks natural.

[Austin]

Again its your car and you can do what you want, but cutting your dash is not ground breaking. People have been doing it for years, and then the guy who buys that car trys to figure out how to put it back to stock. Thats the cool part about the stereos I mentioned above. They ARE modern stereos with todays electronics they just look older with two knobs. If you install that then sell your car or decide to restore it all you have to do is replace the new stereo for the old GM one (R&I stereo instead of R&I stereo and dash). I won't knock you either way I'm just saying what I would do. (Compromise looks old sounds new)
P.S. I do know people who have done what your thinking of doing. It looks fine just not in my car.

[Baby68RS]

Roger that Austin, Im going forward. Im not planning on selling this car ever. They are starting to get rare now. But I dont think that cutting and modifying will affect the looks adversly or drop the car value. And indeed with the stereo I have if it went with the car. It would increase the value. And it was just a figure of speech, "ground breaking". Just jokin around. Cheers.
www.geocities.com/macgse/68CamaroRS.html

[Austin]

Good luck! Looks like you live not too far away, maybe I'll see your car sometime when I'm in the metro area.

[Baby68RS]

austin give me your phone number...i have this dream of like 5 Camaros driving around like the harleys do.

[Chris Edwards]

Powers!


I just couldnt resist that one.. Man I would go with one of those Hideaway setups. that way my sterio would stay the same,.

My dash was cut, and I cannot find a replacement center piece anywhere.. there all junked.. so many people cut them or modify them only to really regret it a few years down the road.

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Chris's 67 RS can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/macphreak4evr/index.html JOIN THE CAMARO NET WEBRING! www.geocities.com/macphreak4evr/webring/webringjoin.htm !!!

[Severe]

I mounted a cd player on the center console under the ashtray. it looks real nice if you can do this to yours I think you would like it as much as I do.

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Severe 67

[cardude]

Severe, Good idea. I was going to build an enclosure out of tin, paint it the same as the dash and mount it between the tunnel and the dash. I can't see cutting up my dash just for a stereo.

Baby68, Do you have any pics of your install? I was going to modify my kicks for a CD Tech 1" tweet and 4" midbase driver and then install the 6" driver in the door. My package tray would hold 5-1/4" rear fill speakers and then a 12" sub mounted in a sealed enclosure right behind the rear seat firing rearward. As soon as I get my website up I'll post pics of the install.

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67 Camaro LS6 454/TH400/12bolt 3.73

[Baby68RS]

If your going to tangle with those kicks goodluck. I was going to take them out just to work the door speaker wires easier. I dont know what they use but that gunk holding those kicks in place is tough. I stopped short of breaking the seal and kick panels. As for the rear speakers, I have just a typical 6x9 setup. The acoustics of the Camaro are such that with this setup its perfect. One plus about notchbacks, you dont really need alot of amps, speakers, ect. Thats why a 4 speaker system 45 watt is just fine for me. I will have pics but I am taking my time on the stereo modification, the dash holes are cut (Big deal) and Im about ready to fine grind and spot weld. Im going to have a perfect fit. I will definitely have pics because a guy like me (and Im sure you) would not have it any differently then a sharp looking system. Cheers.

[cardude]

I have a set of kicks from a 68 SS396 car that had a factory stereo with speakers in the kicks. I had mine out not to long ago when I did a frame off. I used urethane seam sealer to re-seal my kicks. They should come back out without much trouble. I was most concerned with imaging. That's why they're going into the kicks.

For what it's worth, I had a 68 SS350 car I used for parts and I cut the entire dash assy out of it. (ya never know when something like that can come in handy) After making your dash mod, if you're not satisfied, I'd sell my spare dash.

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67 Camaro LS6 454/TH400/12bolt 3.73

[Baby68RS]

Ok, seems like some of you may be thinking Im totally cutting out the area. This is not the case. The idea is to cut as little as possible. What I've cut out is two pieces on the inside of each hole (less than half an inch wide and an inch and some change in height). Then I am spot welding sheet welding and grinding, then I am filling the cavity with filler. Then I am paint matching. I will have a perfect square for my DIN that is totally natural looking to the untrained eye. And you will have to really look to see what the modification was. I have to stress this is not a "show car". It is a really nice car that would have to have thousands dumped into it to make it original. The most obvious... The paint is medium metallic maroon. Yes a kick ass color and not far from the stock madator red. But not original. The engine is the same that would have been in this car, its a 327/275 hp out of a 67 Impala super sport. Yes numbers dont match but... the same engine, if you get my drift... VO (flint). So I actually kind of like the freedom I get to be able to stray a little to customize. And as everyone knows like the British Spitfire, it is what makes the Camaro one of the greatest cars (the greatest in my opinion). Cheers ya all, dont drink and drive. Your Friend, Chris.
www.geocities.com/macgse/68CamaroRS.html

[Severe]

I also got the replacement for the dash, it gives you two 4 inch speakers up front, I took those out and put 4 inch pioneer two way
speakers in their place it sounds good.
Baby68, I love the color of your car.

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Severe 67