frivolous Radio Question

[Guyute]

Has anyone found a radio that fits in the stock 55 radio hole without choppin'? This is for a '76 dash if it matters.

I drive a 40 all summer without a stereo because I don't want to cut the dash and I dig the cute little plastic cover. Now the old skool radio in the 55 dies. I can't live through the winter commute without tunes.

Thanks.

 

[KliersLC]

I can look for the brand when I get home, but I just have an old tape deck with pieces of sheetmetal used as washers to hold it in the stock hole. The cover goes on over it so you can't see the "washers". I think any tape deck with standard knob spacing will work with the above method. Let me know if you want a pic.
Good luck,
Dan

 

[snailwagon]

I know that many people are opposed to cutting a classic, but why? You can cut the hole around your stock radio slot a little, fit a nice CD player in it, and still have it look stock. So what if you can't fit your old plastic cover back in there. Sell it for $45 on ebay and go buy a radio from the pawn shop and a nice dremel bit for cutting your dash.

Now if you don't want to cut it, I'm sure there is a wide array of 8 track players that will fit right in. Originally, I also did not want to cut my dash. So i removed my ash tray (don't smoke anyways) and mounted my radio under the dash, directly above the heater with some metal brackets. I just used the stock holes around where the ash tray was and on the dash so it was all completely bolt in. Eventually, the cd player died, probably from being in contact with the heater all winter. You can also shove it in your glove box, but that is a little inconvenient.

 

[BushBoy]

A PO of my pig already cut a hole in the dash to fit a newer radio but made a real mess of it, now i want to get one in better condition, or somehow patch it up.
bugger using the original radio just to keep original looks, whip it out and put something decent in there.

 

[Guyute]

I appreciate the responses. I'd prefer not cutting anything on the new pig or my 40. I searched for a loong time for an un-cut, un-molested 40. Nothing has been done to this 40 in all it's years. No stereo, no speakers in the door, no PO wiring, no cut rear fender wells...I'm not going to be the one to take a dremel to it.

The new-to-me '76 55 is pretty close to stock. One mystery switch on the dash, dealer installed A/C and the stereo and speakers are really the only mods. I was kinda hoping the PO had cut the dash for the stereo then I would have stuck a better stereo in there without question. Since it's un-cut I'd prefer to leave it.

Our other 55 has cheby running gear, cut out rockers, and I cut the dash for a stereo. No worries. I just dig driving the stockers after driving a SO pig for awhile.

Found this Sanyo MAR-B1021 on Crutchfields that may work.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-zvYVsYzspx8/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=200&I=140MARB102

Maybe the tape deck, MP3 player and FM transmitter.

 

[bonzai]

Take the dimensions of the crutchfield deck

Then call some local audio dealers including auto parts staores for a match. More than likely a better price.

And like Snailwagen said Pawn shops

 

[Guyute]

Follow-up

Sorry to dig this out of page 3 but, wanted to follow-up for the archives.

Bought the Sanyo MAR-B1021 off Ebay and it fits the uncut dash in a '76 with no problems.

 

[Lucy_FJ55]

Thanks Guyute, good find.

My nice stock pig has a PO installed stereo so I will replace with whatever, but my trail pig has an uncut dash and I have never been able to cut into it. I even installed my stereo in the glove box to leave the dash orig. Silly, huh.