I was wanting to know if you guys were interested in a possible double din radio bezel for your cars. I just got my hands on a 78-82 radio bezel and was looking to modify it into a double din to allow you to add in dash navigation. I currently do the C5 conversions for those who do not know me.

BY doing some quick looking and thinking I beleive i can make this work on this particular radio bezel. However, to do this I will need to make some adjustments. The adjustment needed would be to require me to either remove the ac vents or to move everything up and angle the ac vent section from the back downwards to the front to allow for the same vents to be reinstalled


If i was to create one of these which would you guys think would be better if you were going to add a double din indash nav unit to your car.

Next question is in regards to whats behind the radio bezel itself. Is there room to adjust everything to make this fit without to much of a headache for the person doing the install? If anyone has a pic that would be great for me as well.

thoughts and input would be appreciated good bad any at all. I know some dont like the idea of cutting up thier car and some do. So I appreciate honest feedback.


this one 78-82 radio bezel I currently have I will modify it for free to any one who is interested in trying this mod and want to help me out.

Thanks everyone

Dennis

 

I've seen his work over on the c5 forums and it is good. If you do this won't some of the guages have to go away or somewhere else?

 

Thanks for the kudos from C5 Gen


I can make it work like i mentioned keeping all the gauges in the sample locations in appearance but just moved up higher. I would just either need to make the ac vents smaller or angled from back downward to the front.
I am just not sure what the ac setup is like behind the bezel. I dont know how much room there is to work with.



keep the info coming

It sucks trying to make something new for a car i dont own

 

Interesting. FWIW, I'd think the sort of customer who'd want this woudln't be the type who'd want to loose the center A/C vents. Me, not that I'm thinking about doing this, but I don't want to give up any gauges (too few already IMHO). Also, aren't there still a few single DIN slot flip up models on the market? Sorry if I'm playing somewhat the devil's advocate here. Just my honest $.02

 

Curious if you have a specific head unit in mind, if so does it require a VSS?

 

I may be waaaaay wrong here but in "my opinion" I'm not too sure that there would be allot of demand for navigation in the C3's other than the novelty of having it. Occasionally a C3'r will take his/her car on extended length trips but for the most part it's pretty much localized jaunts near the cities of residence. Most already have plug and play GPS's anyway.

Again, this is just my own personal opinion and there may be more that would use a navigation feature because it would be unique to C3's. Now if this system included an out of plain view GPS tracking device geared towards theft recovery (similar ro Onstar) that may be a different story.

v/r
Terry

 

Thanks for the input

I want to hea rall the good and bad comments. I make these for C5/s Camaros. Firebirds, Vipers, BMW, Ect and just was wondering if there was any interest.

There is a flup out nav still yes and its the Kenwood kvt 516 and kna g610 nav combo. This option is still going to cost someone close to a grand to do. In some cases if someone wanted nav bad enough you can modify the car cheaper than a flip out nav dvd system.

I dont plan on getting rid of any gauges at all and you would not loose the a/c unless you wanted too.


I appreciate the reply. Keep them coming.
Thats whats nice is if ther eis some who do want this it might be possible

 

All double din units are same size so not really a specific head unit. Depending on what one wanted to spend to get the setup ther eis options from 400.00 to 2000.00


on the vss wire.
its not needed. GPS works just fine wihtout it so not a concern.

 

Your correct in not many taking road trips that I see anyways. I am sure there is a few who might, but this is kind of geared to the guys who want custom work done to thier cars. There is alot more 50's, 60's. 70's and some 80's cars out there right now running LS1, LS2 ect for motors. Some like the older car look with new car features. Just options for those who do.

Thansk for taking the time to give your view on this.

Dennis

 

I have always liked the idea of an in dash system like that. Someday, when I get my car together I might spend some time working on that. I was thinking about replacing most of the insturement cluster and radio with a touch screen with a GUI to replace the gauges. Kind of turns my crank. Integrated radio, computer, nav, tuning system, engine management ald all in one place.

 

I did indash video for traveling. I was thinking of adding Nav to it but for 100.00 I bought a universal that suction cups to windshield.







I personally would not want my vents or gauges moved.

Hope this helps

 

do you have a closeup by chance of the ac ductwork behind the bezel. This right now is my concern.

thansk and i appreciate the pics and input

 

Does the Kenwood system screen just plug into the face of their radio like this one does? I have a Kenwood 742 radio with some bells and whistles but not Nav. Nav would be a nice addition--I plan to drive my car other than around town. ?????

 

Yes
the kenwood flip up nav look just like this one.

 

Not knowing where you are going is part of the charm of owning a C3

 

A bears fan in WI??? Isn't that illegal? or at the very least, dangerous?

 

Actually allot of them are Vikings fans too.

 

I think it would be worth making up a couple. The double din units offer more than just GPS, so I think there might be a market for it.
I have an Alpine flip up with a blackbird GPS that plugs into the brain box, and puts the Nav on the screen. I also have a Samsung Q1 computer mounted to the passenger dash pad.(I like my gadgets) The biggest problem with the flip ups is that they block the view of the gauges, and a double din would solve that. There is actually a fair amount of room behind the gauge cluster, so "adjusting" some vents and wires shouldn't be too difficult.

 

Of course its legal. I am just an Illinois native

Besides Packer fans will pay more for green and gold radio bezels

 

I am going to make the first one and will post some pics and show everyone. As you said this is for the person who like his gadgets

Thanks for taking a second to give some input on this