boredsoIstrokedit

Anyone switch to a new style radio without the two *****?

Larry B.

Yes.. There are several made to fit Corvette without cutting the bezel. Check into kenwood, Custom Auto sound, and look in corvette suppliers catalogues.

boredsoIstrokedit

I have an excellent radio at a great price, but it would involve "customization" of the bezel, was hoping someone had done this and could tell me how it went for them.

Larry B.

Well if you don't mind cutting the bezel you have a larger choice of receivers or whatever you want to put in. You can get custom adapter plates from any good stereo shop that look real nice and you don't see the original bezel. Chain stores like Circuit city won't know what you are talking about but there are cusom plates made for C-3's (after you cut the bezel)

Ganey

You need to state your yr. as there are two consoles.

:cool:

boredsoIstrokedit

1980

Ganey

77-82 are essentially the same. Someone sent me an 81 panel which I cut for CD. There is a small saw called a coping saw that works good to cut out the opening. The angle of the blade adjusts. Then file fit.
Others have done it & posted pics.

:cool:

boredsoIstrokedit

Do you need anything to support the back end of the cd player? I'd also probably use the rotozip anyways, less stress on the plastic that the reciprication of the coping saw.

Edzred72

A high speed Dremmel works very well too! :yesnod: :cheers:

Ganey

Sounds like you know more about saws, mine is hand. Not installed yet, definitely expect to support back of CD player.

Alwyn678

Why not leave the original in place...I am And installing the C.d. Player in the Rear wall.....that is what I am doing ....

Budman68

You can also buy textured sheets of plastic from Crutchfields to fabricate a DIN face mount. The material is easy to work and grided on the back.

VTHokie77Vette

I cut my bezel or actually had it cut by someone else. I wish I would have done it myself now because it wasn't the greatest of cut jobs, but the stereo blocks the imperfections.

Paul L

Yes. This Pioneer unit.

8T8T2

Chuck01 This is what I did with new install.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=21327


Sorry --wrong thread.



[Modified by 82zoom, 7:28 PM 2/4/2002]

Chris Fowler

The previous owner had already cut the bezel on mine and installed an aftermarket stereo.

It died, though, so I had to replace it.

Basically all you'll need to do is to cut a DIN sized hole and you should be able to mount a new stereo pretty easily.

As for supporting the back, I did what the previous owner had done, and it's holding up well.

Rather than actually bolt the back strap to something mine's just bent so it rests on the spot below the stereo. It's quite stable.

Buffalo Dude

I did it on my '75, not sure how alike they are, but I'll bet they're similar. I got a Minihacksaw/coping saw to cut out the hole. Someone already made minor adjustments to the dash for a different aftermarket so I decided on just going to a reciever and cd changer. I don't remember what year they started using plastic for bezel, but mine was made of potmetal and took me 2 hours to cut. You'll probably have to run a new wire from the fuse block for reciever memory which is always hot. Not a big deal, but something you'll have to do.

Might consider what Cajun75 did. He has the original and a newer receiver in the back with a remote up front.

Just some pointers: keep the original radio, you never know when you might want to put it back in; disconnect the power before you remove the old radio, cause I didn't and now I'm looking for a new temp gauge :crazy: :eek: ;

RC81

Just did this on my 81 a few weeks ago. Bought a DIN unit from Best Buy and used a Dremel to cut the bezel - it worked out real well and looks good. You will have to fab up a bracket of some kind to support the rear as not only does it keep the stereo level it also holds it tight against the bezel. I just made a bracket out of steel stock and formed it to fit as needed.