Stereo Insert for 89'

[EvilSage]

Well I have seen many people with the radio insert for the place that normally houses the EQ/Tape deck
Could not find them anywhere to buy so I decided to make one... got a little carried away and never took pics of the durring process, but a little fibreglass and bondo and it looks better than a deck sitting half way out of the dash :D
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/EvilSage/DSCF1338.jpg
In hind sight I REALLY should of cleaned the vents before putting them back in

[dustinova]

Nice work! I like.

[someotherguy]

Hey bud, looks pretty good! The adapter kits are available from 2 or 3 different companies, the reason they stick out (as you already know) is the HU will hit the A/C duct box. If you stick it out too far, then it interferes with that optional under-dash cupholder (which I LOVE them, best cupholders ever.) I gotta give you props for doing it yourself.

A cool design element of yours is where you moved the HU over to the left; it's such a pain to reach them on this dash design. That's why I bought an HU with wireless remote, to make it a little easier to deal with.

Now all you need is the radio control face pocket; what kinda cool thing will you put there? I've seen people put different gauges on a flat plate; I prefer the regular cubbyhole type pocket. Probably quite a few things you could do with that space if you just put some thought to it.

http://www.someotherplace.com/92dash.jpg

Richard

[EvilSage]

heh kewl thanks, someotherguy, Yours was the type of adapter I had seen before. I moved it to the left but still hard to reach while driving, but better then being in the centre... and I could not find the remote for my H/U
And yeah the cupholders are about the best ones I have had in a vehicle yet... now as for the gaping hole, I was thinking a cubby hole as well.
But not quite sure yet, anyone have any sugestions?

[cxpcman]

Well I have seen many people with the radio insert for the place that normally houses the EQ/Tape deck
Could not find them anywhere to buy so I decided to make one... got a little carried away and never took pics of the durring process, but a little fibreglass and bondo and it looks better than a deck sitting half way out of the dash :D
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/EvilSage/DSCF1338.jpg
In hind sight I REALLY should of cleaned the vents before putting them back in
good idea you just need to smooth that thing

[slammins15]

Yep you should smooth it out and then paint it to match the dash so it doesn't stand out so much.

[mr_goodwrench_0]

Has anyone ever modifyed the duct work so the HU could sit flush? If I couldnt do that, I'd like to move that entire part of the dash forwards so the HU doesn't stick out.

Bill

[slammins15]

I modified the duct on my 1991 s15 jimmy so the deck could be as close to flush as possible. you either cut out the duct and close it up with duct tape so the deck can slide into it or you could get it soft with a heat gun and push it to mold it back so the deck fits farther in either way you might lose some airflow but not really enough to make a difference.

[someotherguy]

If you wanna chop it up and use duct tape, at least use the steel stuff because it sticks way better and won't fall apart over the years like duct tape does. Not the way I'd do it but that's your biz.

This is what the ductwork box looks like with the dash outta the way:

http://www.someotherplace.com/rebuild15.jpg

The problem I see is that you're probably not hitting one piece that can be chopped up; you're hitting a couple pieces and might not be able to relocate the parts.

Edit - y'all got me wondering if it could be done, so I went out and took a pic close-up of that area:

http://www.someotherplace.com/ductarea.jpg

That actuator motor isn't really in the way since the HU is centered; the problem you have is the joint in between the duct box and that area for the defrost flap housing. I wouldn't cut into that thing for any reason whatsoever. Just my opinion.

Honestly, I prefer that the aftermarket kits space the HU out because it makes it just slightly easier to reach.

Richard

[EvilSage]

Yeah, I didn't have any fine blue body filler compound, just the bigger stuff, the whole truck is a work in progress, I have to smooth out my door as well had to fix rust on it, but again, no finer body filler... I had black paint and just wanted to seal up the fibreglass/bondo colour

[cwbigredz]

way to get in there and and get ya hands dirty.:clap:

[mr_goodwrench_0]

Thanks for the pics Richard. I see what you mean. That's too bad. I don't mind if the sterio is hard to reach. Once I put a disk in, I generally leave it alone.

Thanks again,

Bill

[someotherguy]

Thanks for the pics Richard. I see what you mean. That's too bad. I don't mind if the sterio is hard to reach. Once I put a disk in, I generally leave it alone.

Thanks again,

Bill
No prob. My truck is still somewhat in pieces so the pic was easy; didn't have to pull the stereo out first.

It doesn't bother me much either that it's a little hard to reach; mine reads CD-R's with MP3's on them.. so I ripped almost all the CD's I have, made CD's of those; I can pop one disc in and listen to 7 albums in a row. :D

I can also carry almost my whole CD collection in a 24-CD wallet that way! Need a set for the other truck? Easy; just dupe those discs.

Richard

[EvilSage]

hehe yeah the mp3 HU is a thing of beauty, 150+ songs and I put it on random and let it go :D

[cxpcman]

but it is for sure unaccesible is too far for me .

[someotherguy]

hehe yeah the mp3 HU is a thing of beauty, 150+ songs and I put it on random and let it go :D
I'll tell you what really freakin' rocks..

In the wrecker, I have a laptop computer stand. It mounts on a stand from the transmission hump, and angles the computer towards me right over the edge of the center console. I know most people don't have room for a laptop in their ride, but it works great in this setup.

I put a Pentium4 IBM Thinkpad on it, hooked up a GPS receiver so I can get directions using Microsoft Streets & Trips. Now, dedicated GPS units like the Garmin, TomTom, etc. are cool - but that's all they do - and on a little screen. I'm doing GPS on a 15" screen, and can do other stuff too -

Of course ALL my mp3's are on the drive, sorted in folders for what kinda music it is, then by band name, album name. Shortcut on the desktop for the folder. Currently at over 15GB of mp3's just waiting for me. :D

The wrecker just has a crappy cassette hu, so I used one of those ipod style adapters that has the headphone type plug on one end, and a cassette thing wired to it that you just pop in the hu.

The volume of the voice commands on the GPS software is just loud enough over the music that even if I'm jammin I still hear the directions.

I've got a wireless network card in case I happen to be parked somewhere that has wireless. If I wanted to up $70 a month I could get a cellular modem from Sprint on an unlimited plan, but so far I haven't seen the need to be on the 'net THAT much.

Richard

[EvilSage]

now THAT sounds very kewl, you havce any pics of your setup?
I have one of those cheap $200 portable DVD players with the built in screen, I wanna find someplace to mount or mould it into the truck so my passengers have something to do heh

[800XP]

Where can you get the cup holders? Is that an after market item or OE?

[EvilSage]

Mine came with it when the previous owner bought the truck, I am the 2nd owner, it is just a factory option, check your local junk yard you may luck out

[1989K1500]

Looks good. Circuit city could have saved you a lot of time though. :crazy:

Where can you get the cup holders? Is that an after market item or OE?
I think some came from the factory. I bought mine on ebay for like 40 bucks. I think it was Chevypartsguy.

[EvilSage]

Looks good. Circuit city could have saved you a lot of time though. :crazy:


haha yeah but lack of money and having excess time... plus it was fun :D

[1989K1500]

haha yeah but lack of money and having excess time... plus it was fun :D
Yea, those dahs pieces should come with vasaline so they dont hurt so bad when you go to pay. :read:

[someotherguy]

now THAT sounds very kewl, you havce any pics of your setup?
I have one of those cheap $200 portable DVD players with the built in screen, I wanna find someplace to mount or mould it into the truck so my passengers have something to do heh
Yep!

http://www.someotherplace.com/truckgps.jpg

The upright for the computer stand is screwed to the floor on the right side of the transmission hump. The platform for the computer itself does sit over the passenger seat a bit; anybody riding with me has to be careful not to let the corner of it stab their leg. I guess if I wasn't using that console so much I could move the computer closer, but that's the only place I have cupholders, stash box, etc. in this friggin F*rd wrecker. :D

Richard

[EvilSage]

That's a pretty kewl setup actually... I gues sthe only true downfall is that 4 letter word f*rd LoL

Whats the extra panel you have at the bottom with the 2 red lights and couple switches?