When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Has anyone that installed a Metra brand DD bezel kept their template that relocates the HVAC? I bought a VetteNuts version of the DD bezel, and there weren’t any instructions and the HVAC obviously won’t fit in the original spot. I need to know the measurements/dimensions to drill the new holes to relocate the HVAC. Any guidance from experienced DIY’ers would be appreciated. Also, does the bottom bracket need to be removed or can it stay? Please advise, as my car is in pieces and time is valuable. Happy Holidays!
Honestly, you can get by without bolting the HVAC controls to the frame at all. Mine is held in place by the friction of the bezel pressing against the HVAC and it holds just fine.
I just cut off all the tabs and the HVAC just rests between the frame and the bezel as mentioned above. I may have used some foam spacers on the HVAC "ears" to give it some resistance or "push back" against the bezel to keep it snug in place.
If you yank on the HVAC *****, yes it will move. but if you're just pressing the buttons to turn it off and on or move the temp up and down...you'll never notice.
Last edited by jdmvette; Dec 29, 2018 at 03:07 AM.
I have the Vettenutts bezel and did NOT have to relocate the HVAC panel. I did have to shim it out a bit though so it didn't have a gap between the face and the bezel.
Another picture with the bezel not installed. Point of the matter it fits just fine, and there were no intentions by Vettenuts for you to have to relocate that panel.
Mr. Black, how did you shim it up? I have a small gap at the top. Tommy, if you still have that template, would you mind measuring how far down you had to drill?
Last edited by FX VETTE; Dec 29, 2018 at 02:11 PM.
I shimmed it out towards the shifter. Not UP or DOWN. It is still screwed to the factory hole locations. I used washers as shims to get it to be flush with the lip of the bezel if that makes sense.
I have the Vettenutts bezel and did NOT have to relocate the HVAC panel. I did have to shim it out a bit though so it didn't have a gap between the face and the bezel.
This was my experience with my Vettenutts bezel as well.
As did I. The plastic brackets that came with the bezel broke into pieces as I tried to use them.
I used a couple of galvanized angle brackets from Home Depot. Not real pretty, but they made a strong mount. All it took was drilling new holes that matched my Kenwood DD and the stock mounts in the Vette and some trimming of the angle brackets to fit.
Thought about sniping the 'last one', but it looks exactly like the Vettenuts plastic brackets, but in metal. While the metal will be much better, I find the Vettenuts side brackets don't match the radio sufficiently to be helpful.
Metra DD experience
