Radio Options that appear classic (3 Viewers)

[yotadude520]

Ok. Is it really easy to pull the dash or sort of a pain? The 62 dash seemed intimidating but it ended up being a leisurely 2h of bolts and brackets.

If it's easy, it can probably wait until I pull the windshield for the headliner... ("...and that, kids, is how I ended up restoring an FJ60.")

Pulling the dash isn't too bad, I did it in the driveway of our cabin over the 4th of July when my Alpine stereo quit working and I replaced it with a new one.

Just gotta unscrew the glovebox lid & inner box and the gauge cluster. I ended up unscrewing the bezel around the A/C controls but I don't think you'll have to. Don't forget the side defroster screws too, they hold the pad to the main metal dash. After that it's just a few 10mm nuts that are really obvious. I think there's two on the passenger side and like 4 on the drivers side behind the gauge cluster.

All in all it was about a 2 beer job.

 

[majdomo]

Pulling the dash isn't too bad, I did it in the driveway of our cabin over the 4th of July when my Alpine stereo quit working and I replaced it with a new one.

Just gotta unscrew the glovebox lid & inner box and the gauge cluster. I ended up unscrewing the bezel around the A/C controls but I don't think you'll have to. Don't forget the side defroster screws too, they hold the pad to the main metal dash. After that it's just a few 10mm nuts that are really obvious. I think there's two on the passenger side and like 4 on the drivers side behind the gauge cluster.

All in all it was about a 2 beer job.

Perfect, thank you!! Next is deciding what head unit to get when the time comes. I have one of my favorite mid-90s HUs from a Toyota Camry on the bench, but it doesn't have a way to attach the surround bezel as it usually sits flush with the factory trim. The aftermarket ones that come with a DIN sleeve have a little finish ring that sit around the outside of the unit to make a nice clean install.

The little sh!t that we (I) worry about..

 

[yotadude520]

Perfect, thank you!! Next is deciding what head unit to get when the time comes. I have one of my favorite mid-90s HUs from a Toyota Camry on the bench, but it doesn't have a way to attach the surround bezel as it usually sits flush with the factory trim. The aftermarket ones that come with a DIN sleeve have a little finish ring that sit around the outside of the unit to make a nice clean install.

The little sh!t that we (I) worry about..

When I first installed the Torfab bracket I installed a Alpine UTE-73BT that I've had for years, and it was fantastic with the Torfab bracket. Here's a not so great picture where you can kind of see it.

It ended up dying on a 5 hour road trip over the 4th of July weekend, so I replaced it with a Kenwood I got at a local Autozone. It's been a pretty good system too, although I would've just installed another Alpine had I been able to find one. My ultimate goal is to get the original old school Alpine that came in my rig recapped with Bluetooth added, although I haven't gotten around to that yet.

Whichever one you do install, I highly recommend buying this connector and crimping the stock wires to it. That way you have a clean and easy way to disconnect the stereo without continually hacking up the factory wiring.

Amazon.com: 16 Pin Male Female Radio ISO Wire Harness Adapter for Peterbilt Freightliner International Semi Truck Volvo Sterling Mack Kenworth Stereo Connector to JVC Pioneer Kenwood Sony Android : Electronics

Amazon.com: 16 Pin Male Female Radio ISO Wire Harness Adapter for Peterbilt Freightliner International Semi Truck Volvo Sterling Mack Kenworth Stereo Connector to JVC Pioneer Kenwood Sony Android : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Here's mine installed as well:

 

[majdomo]

When I first installed the Torfab bracket I installed a Alpine UTE-73BT that I've had for years, and it was fantastic with the Torfab bracket. Here's a not so great picture where you can kind of see it.

View attachment 3955427

It ended up dying on a 5 hour road trip over the 4th of July weekend, so I replaced it with a Kenwood I got at a local Autozone. It's been a pretty good system too, although I would've just installed another Alpine had I been able to find one. My ultimate goal is to get the original old school Alpine that came in my rig recapped with Bluetooth added, although I haven't gotten around to that yet.

Whichever one you do install, I highly recommend buying this connector and crimping the stock wires to it. That way you have a clean and easy way to disconnect the stereo without continually hacking up the factory wiring.

Amazon.com: 16 Pin Male Female Radio ISO Wire Harness Adapter for Peterbilt Freightliner International Semi Truck Volvo Sterling Mack Kenworth Stereo Connector to JVC Pioneer Kenwood Sony Android : Electronics

Amazon.com: 16 Pin Male Female Radio ISO Wire Harness Adapter for Peterbilt Freightliner International Semi Truck Volvo Sterling Mack Kenworth Stereo Connector to JVC Pioneer Kenwood Sony Android : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Here's mine installed as well:

View attachment 3955430

This looks great, thanks for the tip on the wiring harness! I have an old school Kenwood cassette player that works well in there now, I am researching ways to add aux in to the board in lieu of the cassette player. Maybe BT is just as easy, found this video as a how-to. Not a Honda homer like this guy, but it's a cool idea that seems doable and cheap.

 

[jbk]

This probably doesn’t help if you don’t have the radio that can with it but in my 85 FJ60 I ended up just leaving my stock radio in the dash for original look. Got a Tuffy console with the radio slot and put in a new Alpine with blue tooth and new speakers when put in new carpet. Problem is I still reach for old radio when I want to adjust volume most times. Kinda crazy to see how much the original AM/FM push button radios go for now on eBay and classifieds.

 

[majdomo]

Made some progress on this today - was able to figure out how to attach that Bluetooth board that Honda boy referred to in that video to the old Kenwood radio / cassette, so ordered that up along with @ChaserFJ60's 3D printed bracket to support the radio in the dash. This head unit is held in by the posts on the knobs old school, but it is a single DIN size otherwise. I also spent some time this afternoon replacing the little incandescent lights with new ones that I had on the bench, along with some green filters so that the backlights show up green rather than orange.

All in it'll be about $50 to have a Bluetooth-compatible, vintage head unit that is installed without pipe tape or other weirdness. We'll see how it goes.