Need To Install A Radio In A Gt

[scodari]

I'm surprised there aren't more posts on this subject; I've read what's there already. We have a 1970 GT which we are replacing the dash panel, got one off of e-bay. The car does not have a radio at all. The dash panel has already been cut, so no chance of keeping it original. I've checked the websites (crutchfield, etc) for a new (inexpensive) radio to install, but no one has any reccomendations for the GT (not a big surprise).

If I were to purchase a new radio, can anyone tell me the process to install it in the GT? (I also couldn't find any installation kits). Any suggestions and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Bob

[namba209]

Bob, what type of radio you would need is the old style two knob type. The shafts come through the panel and are held onto the panel with a couple of nuts threaded on the shaft housings. I've got an old Kenwood KRC 1006 AM/FM/Tape deck in my GT I got from Crutchfield that came with a face plate that covers up the mistooks the PO made when he took out the original AM radio. HTH.

[baz]

bob as the standard dash is as ron says a din fitting and to fit a modern system you just need to follow the instructions that come with the system
you will need to run a new power lead for the memory as the single feed for the radio is switched i think ,there is only 1 speaker so i think you will be doing new speakers .
did you just get 5 results in the sound system forum if so you need to scroll down the page to the bottom left and theres a thread history box that has drop down opitons ,where it says last month open that one and go to begining this will give you much more info

[neuropel]

You won't find an installation "kit" for a GT or any Opel in the US. By saying the instrument panel is already cut, do you mean it now has a rectangular hole to allow fitment of a DIN-style radio? If so, installation is easy. The radio you buy (any standard DIN style CD/radio) will come with a metal sleeve that fits in the hole in your dash. The sleeve will have little tabs that you bend out to secure it within the dash panel. There's good clearance behind the radio so no problems there. If you've ever seen the size of a stock Opel GT AM radio you'll notice the new units are MUCH smaller. The rear of the unit you buy will have a threaded hole where you can support it with the perforated strapping that most audio installation businesses use. One end of the strap fits to the radio, the other end to the firewall or some other strong structural component of the car. Most places just attach it to the firewall with a self-tapping screw (making sure you don't hit something on the other side!). I'd venture to say 99% of all Opel owners installing a DIN radio in their car don't use the rear strap because it's a pain in the @#$% to install. Just using the sleeve in the dash panel is usually sufficient since the tabs you bend out to hold it securely in the dash work pretty well. It's such a generic installation that no installation "kit" is needed.

[Paul]

Bob,

I had the same problem. However my solution was a semi-temporary one. At the time I didn't want to hack on the dash and take the chance to create new wiring problems behind the dash. So I decided to install the CD player and speakers in a panel behind the seats, but I didn't want to destroy any original panels. So, I went to the hardware stor and bought a partial sheet of 11/32 plywood. What you see is the speakers and Cd player mounted in plywood and painted flat black. Space is tight behind the panel, therefore I had to space the unit out, as you can see.

My daughter and I were really suprised with the outcome. The installation has tremendous bass response. Everyone tryes to figure where we hid the sub woofer.

I did employ a few tricks during the installation. I purchased from JC Whitney, their asphalt based sound dampener sheet. Its about 27"x54" for $25 and lined the area below the parcel shelf and along the axle hump. Next I added two bags of polyester pillow filler. Since the areas below the parcel shelf and below the spare tire are connected base response and extension are suprising.

For the CD player I ordered a Pioneer unit that has a remote control. For now my daughter just uses the remote to operate the volume, channel changer and etc.

Hopefully some time this summer I will have time to move it to the dash. At the same time I plan to make new kick panels and mount some 4" speakers. I will make copies instead of cutting up the originals.

Good Luck

[maglinjosvinn]

points at previous post. exactly how i have mine.

for your information.

most modern radios have a series of wires as is follows:

Yellow - constant 12
Red - key on 12
blue - accessory - activates w/ radio pwr on. atenna, relays for amps. soforth/so on.
black/brown - ground.

most radios have built in fuses. add an additional one. better safe then sorry.

then there's of course the wires for the speakers.

anythe hoo. connect the yellow (with a fuse inline) to the underside of your fusebox, there's 2 thicker red wires connecting to nut and stud. these should be constant on. i personally hooked red wire w/ constant voltage but a switch in the line. i like to listen to my music with the car off. i know. drains battery. ground, just pony up with one of the already numerous grounds on the dash, try the ground coming from the ciggarette lighter.

thats for installing in the front. i do believe you said you have a cut dash, as in has a single hole. not 3 holes, 2 small rounds with a rectangle in the center? if its the second, you'll need a 2 knob radio. if the first, just about any cd deck will fit.

speaking of 'fit'. have hte dash in, and just slide the radio deck in, make sure you have wire clearance. once you have that, there's a u shaped clip that held the old radio in place. its held inplace itself with two phillips head screws. modification of this braket, with a modern cd tray braket (most stereos come w/ their own) and a face place that covers the 'cut dash' to make it all finished looking, and your golden.

remember. solder, tape, then shrinkwrap your wire connections, and plan on putting inline fuses, or an aftermarket fuse box in.

[Dan-MI]

Another option for radios is a Secret Audio system sold by Custom Auto Sounds (customautosounds.com). You can get a radio and a 10 CD changer. They are intended to be mounted out of sight. I put mine back with the spare tire. They have a wireless remote that controls everything. All you need to do is run the power wires up to the fuse box and get a longer antenna lead.

You are still stuck with a hole in the dash. I was going to put a stock radio in, but the dash has been hacked a bit by the PO to fit a cassette/radio combo unit. So I'm toying with either making a front bezel to cover the holes and put in a stock radio or of making a storage bin out the the space. I thought I could cut a rectangle hole and put a box behind it. A handy place for sunglasses and stuff. I'll post some pics of the secret audio when I bring it out of storage in a few days. I did the same speaker treatment as the above reply, two in the bottom of the back wall. They do sound good.

[kent]

I'm getting ready to put in a new radio and need an already cut dash if anyone has one ( I really don't want to cut the one I have it's nearly perfect) I am planning to be at carlise so if anyone has one thats good other then being cut bring it plz

[ben]

EJprovost has one may be she part with it
dash has all ready been cut

[markandson]

In case you haven't noticed, cutting the dash for a din sleeve is pretty much an exact science. I cut one the other nite as practice before I cut my good dash. There is absolutely no room for error, as a matter of fact you actually need about and extra 1/16" of plastic in order to make the installation perfect. The din sleeve sits up on the bump that is the bottom of the original plastic opening. Just go slow and be real careful when you cut. The top of the opening cut is a about 1/16 from the edge of the original opening.