I began last night and it took me about an hour to disassemble everything including the backup light plate, carpet, gauge cluster etc...

What a PITA so far. I'm thinking I shouldn't have drilled out the bracket, I had to end up removing the entire radio frame from under the dash. I went through enough drill bits to fund a small country.

Photo updates:

Bracket to support radio.



Lined up with HVAC



PAC ready to go in



Backup Camera waiting to get installed.



Everything Works!!!!



Mic Location, in the far upper left side on the upper windshield trim. I made sure the wire was routed way back in the corner under the A pillar by applying a thin strip of black duct tape on the windshield. The window has a painted black edge around it so the duct tape is totally invisible outside and inside. The best part is because of the factory tint strip the mic is also invisible from the outside, but has a really good straight shot to the driver and it will be tucked away from wind noise with the convertible top down.



GPS Antenna: OK I went this route hopefully we are good. You can see it attached to the dash pad on the underside between the A/C Vent and the Dash. Located just to the right of the hazard light switch. NOTE there is no possible way you could use this spot without having the cluster out.



I had a spare GM cig lighter socket around so I cut the back off and routed the wires through that instead of damaging the center console by drilling through it.

 

Care to share what you're putting in? I started mine about 3 months ago. It's a pretty daunting task, so be sure to have plenty of patience and stay the course. I had a few moments of regret before I got this far, but I'm pretty pleased with the turnout. I do have to complete the look with modding the bezel, but that's going to come with time.

I went with a JVC Arsenal head unit, Focal 3-way components up front, Polk DB's in the rear, a JL Audio 12w6 in the back, and a JL Audio HD900/5 amp for everything. Sounds good, and I've gotta keep making fine tune adjustments to get optimal sound quality.

Get that wrench out of the gear shifter hole, put the cover back on it, and continue on!

Mike

 

He is going with the new Pioneer Avic x920Bt and his modified bezel will be done sometime next week and on the way to him.

Great talking to you today Damien. Like I said call my cell this weekend with any questions

Dennis

 

Yup thanks again sir. Actually the install is low stress for me. I have ripped these things down to nothing several times. The most stressful part so far has been dropping a wrench down my shifter plate. Oh well rookie mistake. I'll get it back. Next one I will have learned some valuable lessons like grinding the rivets is much easier than tearing up 100 drill bits.

I'll try to get some really scary pictures tonight: D Actually not nearly as bad as it could be retrofitting something like this into a car that was never designed for it.

 

I will be undertaking this also in a few weeks when Dennis gets mine ready so ill be interested to see the progress

 

I tried to drill out my brackets using a 90 degree drill chuck. No dice. I ended up using my sawzall

 

I use a good pair of tin snips and cut them out in about 5 minutes. No mess and its super easy to do.
You get a good pair and keep them as close to the sides as possible.Make yours cuts and before you know it your done. One of the reasons I like to use this method as there is no mess from the shavings you get when drilling and cutting

 

I will try and remember to look in the morning where we are on the list for you

 

I sawzalled part way thru each rivet boss, then separated with a hammer and chisel. The nubs left in the frame do not interfere at all.

Where did everyone put their Sirius/XM antenna? I need to relocate mine from the cowl due to spotty reception while moving. It worked great during install and testing, but road test failed.

 

Thanks Dennis, I ordered on the 23rd or 24th I think. I had my screen name changed you may have it as FSU_C5.

 

My favorite MOD was the DD strereo install!! Sounds 1000 times beter now!! Good luck. R/ Al

 

Dennis did a great job on my bezel. Reading this thread took me back to my install. It is a pretty big job but once you get started it's not that bad.

Dennis, I spoke to you about a metal trim ring for F90BT. You told me where to get it but I forgot and am swapping out my shifter this week so wanted to do it while I was in there. Thanks in advance.

 

pm sent

 

Could be too soon to speak here but it kinda looks like I'm going to be maintaining stock gaps without relocating the Hvac. I will post pics tonight of the preliminary fitment. Now whether the bezel lines up with that is another question.

Dennis do you actually lower the radio/hvac bar or just trim it down? It looks like I have plenty of clearance between the two but if the bezel bar is lowered I probably won't get away with factory hvac location. I'm trying to get this install done with as little modification to pieces as possible. I used off the shelf L brackets to support the back of the radio and rebent the top bars to match the new head unit location. I'm getting a clip tonight to use on the empty hole on the drivers side of the frame so I can use the existing hole. On the passenger side I used the dash pad mounting hole and overlapped the dash pad over the bracket you sent me. I know those brackets are off shelf and if they can be used without modifying the frame or bracket I'd be amazed, but we'll find out tonight.

If you are reading that it probably makes no sense but I will take pictures.

 

actually
its not the factory bar in the middle
so to best answer this.
This is the part when we were talking i mentioned to do the following to take care of any issues.

snip off the insert/guide pins on the HVAC
use a drill bit and enlarge the holes on the plastic trim of the HVAC to enlarge them about 18th of an inch up.
This will allow you to use factory screws to reinstall and to drop it just a touch to better fit the opening.

It only needs to drop maybe a 1/16th of an inch and will look so much better. You will be able to see this once the bezel is there.

this make sense?
call me if you need to

 

Check post #51, thats where my XM antenna is

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...s-on-c5-3.html

 

No i fully understood what you meant. I was just trying to get around cutting the ac. Now that i know the bar is not in the factory location i realize that is not going to work. That is a shame. So i guess that means i'm drilling holes in the front of the metal frame as well to mount the radio?

 

Yeah, I saw that up there. I am trying to keep the antennas out of sight. The GPS works great in the cowl, but I had the Sirius in the cowl next to the passenger hood latch, and it was very spotty reception while moving. I've moved it forward onto the passenger inner fender, but I haven't test driven it yet. I'll do that tomorrow.

 

you do not need to cut the ac support bracket at all

the hvac will use same screws same holes

the brackets for radio yes
the self taping screws do the trick.

you really are close
You are at a standstill till the bezel comes. Its almost impossible to get this right without it.

 

I think this is really really close

OK everyone pics updated, now I'm starting on the wiring, I will get the whole shabang back together once I get the wiring situated.

More to come.