78-82 Stereo install question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
78-82 Stereo install question
For those with a 78-82. I bought an extra glovebox shell to possibly modify to put a head unit in there? Has anyone tried this or think it would work? I have never spent any time inside or behind the dash?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
In the glove box will work. Mounting the radio in the rear of the glove box won't. I think Metra makes a mounting plate that is L shaped, so the mounting plate mounts to the lower part of the glove box and the radio mounts to the plate.
The only problem is the glove box needs to be open to make adjustments.
The only problem is the glove box needs to be open to make adjustments.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
In the glove box will work. Mounting the radio in the rear of the glove box won't. I think Metra makes a mounting plate that is L shaped, so the mounting plate mounts to the lower part of the glove box and the radio mounts to the plate.
The only problem is the glove box needs to be open to make adjustments.
The only problem is the glove box needs to be open to make adjustments.
So there is enough room to mount in the glovebox? I asume the back of the plastic glove box liner would have to be cut? Where might I find one of these mounting plates? I usually only listen to one station so no need to really switch alot plus I think I will add a Ipod so that should be fine. Thanks for the help.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Naples FL
As not to alter the orig look of my dash (keeping the orig FM/cassette radio), I mounted a newer stereo/CD player in the glove box. I also bought a new box for when I would sell the car in case the new owner had a problem with it. I placed it on the bottom of the glove box and put small stick-on plastic hooks (with the ends slightly cut off) to hold it firmly against the back of the box. I had to cut out a small hole to allow the wires to feed through. It works fine. It's just a pain in the a$$ somtimes having to reach over all the time to change the station or the CD. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
[QUOTE=smthnpls;1560169253]As not to alter the orig look of my dash (keeping the orig FM/cassette radio), I mounted a newer stereo/CD player in the glove box. QUOTE]
That is exactly what I want to accomplish!
That is exactly what I want to accomplish!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
My Pioneer headunit didn't fit in the glove box (without cutting out the back of the box or mounting it sideways, which would be useless ofcourse), so I just went ahead and bought a new center cluster bezel. Figured if I was going to mess with the dash anyway, might as well make it practical and safe. And this way I can always go back to original. Bezel costs about 55 dollars new.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
My Pioneer headunit didn't fit in the glove box (without cutting out the back of the box or mounting it sideways, which would be useless ofcourse), so I just went ahead and bought a new center cluster bezel. Figured if I was going to mess with the dash anyway, might as well make it practical and safe. And this way I can always go back to original. Bezel costs about 55 dollars new.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
As not to alter the orig look of my dash (keeping the orig FM/cassette radio), I mounted a newer stereo/CD player in the glove box. I also bought a new box for when I would sell the car in case the new owner had a problem with it. I placed it on the bottom of the glove box and put small stick-on plastic hooks (with the ends slightly cut off) to hold it firmly against the back of the box. I had to cut out a small hole to allow the wires to feed through. It works fine. It's just a pain in the a$$ somtimes having to reach over all the time to change the station or the CD.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
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From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
Why not get a repop center cluster with the DIN hole and put your original plastic and stereo away? Best of both worlds, you can always re-install the stock stuff later. Conversion harnesses that let you plug your new head unit directly into the stock wiring are readily available.
1. keep original look.
2. a theft deterrent.
3. best of both worlds original look, modern technology.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
For those of you adventurous enough, I have a solution for you. Mount the cd player in the glovebox and the removable faceplate in the shift plate under the ashtray door. Connect all the contacts using a ribbon cable. Now you have a radio/cd player that you can operate safely, hide under the ashtray door and keep the stock radio in place. To make it even better, add a changer to the storage compartment or get a cd player that will play mp3's. I have several discs with only mp3's on them and they will hold 10-15 full length albums in that format.