Re: Fitting a double DIN radio
Part #2
The photo below shows the cut lines in the first faceplate to make the bottom rail of the final faceplate and the button faceplate.
The photo below of the second faceplate shows the cut lines for the Double Din faceplate and the notches to fit the bottom rail in place.
The 2x DIN frame is shown fitted into a spare centre console, the existing shelf for the single DIN stock radio is still in place in the photo. The centre rail shown in the first faceplate has to have about .10" removed from the bottom. It is then fitted into the full-length #2 faceplate. This keeps the lip that butts up against the Navigation units frame. The area where the .10" was removed has to have the rounded edge added. The joints between the bottom rail and the full-length faceplate can be seen in the photo below. The depressions remaining from the ends of the button area will be filled and smoothed out.
The floor of the single DIN aperture has been removed retaining the pads at each end of the shelf, these centre the frame in the aperture. The units sleeve and trim ring are shown in place, the whole unit will be more toward the front when finished. The weight of the unit will be carried by the head unit frame attached to the top of the single-DIN aperture in the console with four screws, screwed into four plates bonded to the top of the shelf at the front. The front two screws spacers may require a spacer between the top of the frame and the bottom of the shelf to match the thickness of two pads moulded in the bottom of the shelf at the rear, mine did not need these spacers. The frame will be pulled up against the moulded spacers and the two spacers around the screws.
See the thumbnail below.
The centre console has to be modified by extending the slot for the cup holder and widening it as well.
Photo showing modified cutout
Everything has been taken out of the centre front console, the last item to come out was the ashtray unit. I thought I knew how to remove it - wrong. The screws at the rear of the console holding it down were removed so that both sides of the console could be sprung apart, this was easy as the bridge connecting the two sides at the rear between where the screws go had been sawed off when I added the LM21 paddle shift kit. With the sides sprung the unit could be jiggled straight out. The gear shift lever has to be moved to D. Oddly the plug for the lighter is slid sideways to remove it, a black part remains on top of the white part, confusing. The other plug and the bulb pop straight out. In the photo, the mike for the phone has been installed. The next stage is to saw out the single DIN shelf on the actual car console. Then sixteen wires have to be extended to reach the switches in their new position in the centre console. The wires under the console will be soldered and covered with shrink tubing, the joints under the dash will be crimp fittings, so that is thirty-two joints to make.
The photo shows the mounting points for the unit's frame. The speed nuts are going to be replaced with two plates like the one shown at the front, they will be bonded to the plastic of the actual console frame on the car.
Trial fitting of the unit in the spare console used. The Ashtray unit cut down so that it did not hit the bottom of the head unit. The ashtray and coin holder are still there but the auto-opening spring has had to be removed, works just like the good old days so it will need a pull added somehow. Another avenue to explore is using one of those magnetic cabinet latches that open the door a little when you push on the door releasing the door from the magnet. A stop to prevent the ashtray from coming right out is required as well.
The filled and The filled and undercoated bezels show that a little more filling is required.
Last edited by onehundred80; Mar 29, 2021 at 05:22 PM.