Mike Mercury

has anyone cut the center gauge plate to allow the installation of a standard DIN sized car radio?

Can it be done? Does anyone sell a center gauge face that already is moulded correctly for a modern car stereo?

I need to put a radio in the wifes 1973. It originally had a Delco AM radio. I like the Kenwood 601 sold by a few of the Corvette suppliers as it will install without any cutting... but $249 price for that radio is insane.

Racer16k

Somebody makes a new face that is designed for DIN, but I think it's about $200. That can be defined as insane too. Everyone says look on ebay, but I haven't been lucky yet.

jbroughton

Mike, I just bit the bullet and cut mine. Used a dremel - it's a pain, especially when you start cutting the area around the ***** out, but I'm pleased with the results. There's a company in California, American International, that makes a faceplate designed for the C3's. Their number is 800-336-6500. They also have a web site - http://www.aius.net

I tried a Custom Autosound radio in an effort to avoid cutting the bezel, but the sound quality definitely was not up to par with the other radios on the market these days. I went with a JVC with CD player, and love it! Purists frown on cutting the bezel, but they're available aftermarket if you ever have to go back original for some reason.

Go for it!
Jeff Broughton

Mike Mercury

thanks.

exactly my line of thought too!

DaddyO

cut it

BSeery

I just pulled the bezel out of mine and used the cage for the DIN radio as a template. I traced around that and got out the dremel.

Remember it's better to cut too little than to cut too much.

Mike Mercury

BTW, what size are the in-dash speakers on a 1973?

who makes a decent set of speakers for this location... that simply bolt in with no or little modification?

PatsLs1vette

mike i cut my dash in my 73 and installed a din style i also have pioneer 4x6's in the dash with hardly any modification.

isosceles

If you want to drive (daily or whatever) and enjoy the car, cut it. If you're going for restoration show titles, don't.

Mike Mercury

I'll give the Pioneers a look-see.

not me. So I guess I can relax a bit... huh? :)

JimBR0

I snagged one uncut off eBay about a year ago and cut it myself. Broken the darned thing and never used. Sent it to Alwyn678 and he will be posting pictures shortly. I also had intended to keep my stock speakers in the front and run a pair of Infinity 6 inch in the kicks so I wouldn;t have to remove the dash.

Good luck

JimBRO

Sleestak

I cut a repro and kept my original intact. A few lpaces sell faceplates to go over the area of the bezel that will cover up those raised **** sections and make a nice clean looking install. Mine's pictured below. They look better if you install them right side up...Mine's upside down. :lol: I got it from a place called American International for @ 12 bucks. PArt# was FP-306 I think. The original speakers in the dash are 4 x 6's I replaced mine with some Clarion 4 x 6 plate speakers as well as putting two more behind the kick panels.

Alwyn678

:cheers: I used it this weekend and the install turned out very nice I will post some pics after lunch I put polk audios in the front and kick panels and installed Infiniti 6x9's in the rear. I chose not to cut mine since I still have the original radio and it works quite well

djcwardog

My stock panel is already cracked at the top. I'll be cutting it when I get home...

Mike Mercury

UPDATE...

I pourchased one of those Kenwood shaft radios and connected it up on my bench. Like others said the sound quality was not all that great.

So I went ahead and bought a DIN radio: a Panasonic (the wife liked the looks of this one. And since it's going into her 1973... :) )


It is a lot darker in apperance that the pic shows. And then I took the plunge and cut the gauge bezel:


I am interested in how you attached the DIN bracket to the gauge bezel; to keep it from rattling?


.




[Modified by Mike Mercury, 10:00 PM 6/4/2003]

desi

Please update here. I am interested in finding out about fit and rattle. I have been debating this one for a while myself....but performance mods first....


:cheers:

75 Stingray!

I have no rattle and the cd player does not skip, mine was a tight fit when I installed it

Alwyn678

Here is a Pic of my alpine CD/MP3 player

pra4sun

My car came with an Audiovox which I quickly replaced with a Kenwood. Although it is the old-style twin shaft radio, the bezel still had to be cut to accomodate it. I've been thinking of tossing the original AM/FM back in - I don't really listen to the radio while driving the 'Vette (Sirius radio rules, BTW - I have it in my other car).
I would trade my cut one for an uncut one, but the top of mine has a crack in it. It may be repairable, if anyone is interested.

Jay M

If you call some Corvette junk yards you will likely find a pre-cut console. I called one guy that wanted $50 for one. I'm tempted to do that, I definately don't want to cut the '68 console!

~Jay