The non-functional AM radio in my 1969 standard Cougar is not getting the job done. I want to put a modern DIN mount radio in the car with minimal cutting to the car. Has anyone done this? What did you do to get the radio mounted to the dash and how did you address the radio/heater bezel?
I really want the ability to plug my I-pod into the radio. I plan on putting an amplifier in the trunk to power 2 4x10’s in the package tray and a dual coil front speaker in the dash. Someday when I develop the nerve to cut the door panels, I might install speakers in the stock door stereo speaker locations with the repo speaker covers. For now I’ll use a dual coil in the dash. Does anyone know what the size of the dash speaker is?
Don also has a 3 inch speaker set up for under the dash that Ive heard good things about. Instead of haveing the 6x9’s on the package tray.
Mark (fordnut) son has it in his 70’s Vert.
I was also going to suggest the radios he has , they also have them at Mustangs unlimited - or run over to your local audio shop and talk to one of the guys there.
You can install a DIN head unit without cutting your dash. You will have to cut your bezel (or save your original and cut up a repro). I’ll post some pictures later if I can find them.
Snafu,
Please post those pictures. I really want a more modern radio that you can get with the Custom Autosound type radios. I installed a nice Alpine head unit in the glove box of my '62 Grand Prix a year ago and I love it. I think that modern sound quality really enhances the experience of driving an old car and I want to go beyond the sound quality of the GP in the Cougar.
While the Cougar is going to be modified, I still don’t want it to look very modified, especially inside. The trimmed bezel solution sounds like it would maintain the visual of the factory bezel with just the radio appearance being different.
See the June Ride of the Month thread for pictures of the Custom Autosound Secret Audio system in my 70. It sounds pretty good to me and you can leave the original radio in place. I connected the original 8-track to one of the replacement dual 3" dash speakers and ran the new system through the original door speakers and a pair in the package tray.
Here’s my setup. A CD receiver is a must for me. I guess I’m oldschool with my CD’s but MP3 recordings just don’t sound as good to me.
There’s a few different ways to do this. Some guys cut the bezel in half, but I saw this on another forum and it made more sense to me.
The bezel is opened all the way across just enough to fit the receiver. The chrome trim on the sides is also cut back where the receiver sits. I also had to shave the sides down a little to squeeze the receiver in. I think I saw someone use heat to stretch the bezel so that may work also.
You can just squeeze the receiver in, but there’s no way to get the cage to fit. The front of the cage is cut at an angle to match the back of the bezel.
Here’s the assembled unit. With the cage locked to the receiver, the front of the cage is butted tight against the back of the bezel. Combined with the already tight fit, it is very secure.
These pieces that fit behind the bezel also needed to be trimmed.
Since a DIN is not as tall, there’s a gap in the bezel above and below. I just covered this with some black plastic from a file folder.
Here’s my dash speakers. Similar to Leon’s setup, but I think these are 3 1/2". These speakers can’t be too deep or they’ll interfere with the warning lights that sit below them.
Rear speakers. The package tray was not cut. I think these adapters are for early 80’s Monte Carlo / Regal. Its a tight fit with my fullsize spare.
The only modifications I had to make to the car in the whole install were to the bezel and the two plastic molding pieces. I didn’t want to modify my wiring so I used bullet connectors on the receiver harness to get power from the original radio power source and used the lighter harness for memery power. I don’t have a lighter now, but I don’t smoke anyway.
That looks interesting. I assume you remove and discard the radio support that goes behine the bezel. Could you shift the radio up or down to eliminate one of the gaps between the radio and the bezel?
I did the pair of 3.5" rounds in place of the center dash speaker as well. They do make a difference.
There was a custom install in a 69 in a recent issue of the GoodGuys Gazzette. Jeff Lilly Restorations did it and it looked phoenomenal. (sp?) I’m trying to find it online.
And I’m with you snafu… MP3s just don’t quite sound as good as CDs.
I really don’t know, but I suspect there’s room to move it up or down a half inch. I didn’t really think about it and just centered the radio where the old one was.
Or you could keep the factory radio for looks and just put an amp in the trunk, run it to the speakers and run an iPod cable.
That’s my plan since I want to keep the OEM look while listening to my iPod. I just don’t see a reason for radio in a car I drive on weekends only. Just my .02.
Leon, I have their head unit in my car. I like it. I have a remote 6 disk changer hooked up to it. It has a MP3 jack AND I have a provision for satellite radio.
