How to cut the dash?

[brtnstrns]

I know a lot of people are against this but for the people that have done it, how do you cut the dash to fit a modern stereo in it? Like does anybody know the dimensions and how you mount it in there. Do you have to fabricate a bracket for it, etc. For anyone who has done it I'd like all the info i can get. I have a 66 by the way. Thanks

 

[blascrw]

cuttiing

First let me say I am against this...but it is YOUR car...

All you need to do is take the "cage" that came with the radio and place it to the dash...

draw around it making sure you keep your line close...

cut out the dash along the lines...

place the cage in the cutout and bent the tabs to hold it secure...

you will also likely have to use "plumbing stap" to attach to the rear of the radio usually there is a place to attach it to...and find an attaching point under the dash...

I highly recommend not doing this...

get one of the custom radios, mount the radio in the glovebox, fabricate a custom console or something.

I will likely be doing the custom radio and using my ipod instead of cd's.

 

[brtnstrns]

haha well thanks for the input...what exactly is a plumbing stap. Anybody who has done it have any more information?

 

[MustangMatt1966]

i have a 66 also, but i took a dif. route, i kept the original radio in the dash and then had the cd player mounted in a box under the dash so its very hard to see and easy to get to. it looks great, you might want to consider that

 

[1965-Mustang]

I cut mine, however it was already hacked up a little and rusty. I sort of followed this guys site: http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/wagoneer/stereo.html

Not a stang but the same idea.

 

[brtnstrns]

well i would mount it underneath the dash but I have a/c

 

[iskwezm]

haha well thanks for the input...what exactly is a plumbing stap. Anybody who has done it have any more information?

if your buying a new stereo,it should come with a metal strap that has holes for mounting that goes on the back of the stereo

 

[MustangMatt1966]

humm didnt think of the a/c, i dont have it of course....hummm......then i guess your only alternative would be in the dash..glovebox would be to much of a pain and you would need a 6 cd changer to mount it in the trunk...so i guess dash it is..haha

 

[ForceFed70]

There is just enough room under the seat to mount a CD player. But then you need to buy a remote control for it.

 

[iskwezm]

humm didnt think of the a/c, i dont have it of course....hummm......then i guess your only alternative would be in the dash..glovebox would be to much of a pain and you would need a 6 cd changer to mount it in the trunk...so i guess dash it is..haha

cd changer????MP3's are where its at now,8-10 albums on 1 cd,dont like it,toss it out the window,get another

 

[brtnstrns]

i may just make my own custom consoleto house it...but i'm still leaning towards the dash

 

[MustangMatt1966]

cd changer????MP3's are where its at now,8-10 albums on 1 cd,dont like it,toss it out the window,get another

haha jeez, for me being a 20 year old you think i would be more up to date with things now a-days..home much does one of them things set ya back??

 

[66newbie]

Is there a place I can get a blank faceplate ? I am removing the radio that was in there. It's definitely not original and I'd rather have a faceplate than the current radio. I don't know who sells them though, any direction would be appreciated.

 

[iskwezm]

haha jeez, for me being a 20 year old you think i would be more up to date with things now a-days..home much does one of them things set ya back??

add about 10-15 bucks to the price of a CD stereo(i buy wholesale though)Same price bsiaclly as a normal stereo,just burn the MP3's on your computer.

 

[PJx5x]

i know some people are for keeping everything stock. but IMHO everything was made to be modded and customized. if your dash is in perfect condition dont do it. but if its not perfect, and nothing special, id do it. i know i did it to my 68. all i did was cutout the rectangle shape for the metal cage, slid the cage in and flipped up the tabs.

 

[coolblue65]

I cut my dash after much debate, I think it looks great. I thought about all the options mentioned already, and I just wanted to be able to put my hand up and put in a CD or turn up the volume.

Install was simple, used the cage as a template, then started at the hole from the original radio and started cutting with a small saw, once i got close to the line, i used a grinder to try and get as close to the line as i could. That way i got the cage to fit nice and tight.

 

[Route666]

add about 10-15 bucks to the price of a CD stereo(i buy wholesale though)Same price bsiaclly as a normal stereo,just burn the MP3's on your computer.

Man and I thought you were talking about a REAL mp3 player, not a CD player with mp3s on the CDs.

Something like this: http://www.ssiamerica.com/

It gives you a small profile face unit that you could double-sided tape anywhere, and hide the source unit. Not to mention the storage capacity! No changing CDs EVER!

 

[tos]

I am also against cutting the dash but if the car is not worth restoring to original or is more of a restomod then I would say go for it. I would use a dremel to cut with though because they have very thin cuttoff wheels that would cut a fine line. Then save any peices you cut out so they can be welded back in place if somebody ever wants to put it back to original.

 

[cougar_68]

I cut the dash in a car I had and really regreted it after I did it. I didn't really care before, it wasn't that big of a deal, but after I did it and especially when I went to sell the car I wished that I hadn't done it.

I don't know how things are where you are located, but it is fairly common for stereos to get stolen where I live and a classic stang is easy to get into. I can be in my cougar in like 20 seconds if I lock the keys in it. So the idea of hiding the stereo in the glove compartment is appealing to me. I also have an Ipod so that's all I need to control my music. I currently don't have a stereo and will probably install an old AM/FM.

All that said, it's your car do what you want.

 

[MustangMatt1966]

Man and I thought you were talking about a REAL mp3 player, not a CD player with mp3s on the CDs.

Something like this: http://www.ssiamerica.com/

It gives you a small profile face unit that you could double-sided tape anywhere, and hide the source unit. Not to mention the storage capacity! No changing CDs EVER!

thats kinda what i thought he was talking about too, i know about mp3's, i have like a bajillion on my computer, but i was wondering about the actual player mp3 thingy