Radio install 73 Cuda

[Cudalbs]

So....to keep the theme of nothing is ever easy on this car, I need suggestions as to what anybody is doing to fit a standard size radio head into the allotted area that Plymouth has granted us.  . Mine seems like you have to cut everything up to get it in there. Anybody had any GOOD experience with this that I may be able to use.
Thanks, Mike

[Cuda Cody]

What kind of system are you looking for?  I just do stock ones now, but in the past I've used this and it worked good....

http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/radio-am-fm-70-74-e-body/products_id/9205

Features:

Digitally tuned AM/FM stereo provides stable, high quality reception
180 watts RMS 45 watts x 4 speakers 4O, 14.4V, 1kHz
Fits in dash without any modifications
Faceplate and knobs match originals
AM or FM dial scale looks like original
AM or FM band selected with slide bar like original
10 presets 5 AM - 5 FM
Analog controls look and feel like the original radio
Volume, Bass, Treble, Balance, Fader and Tuning from original-looking controls
LED dial lights
Blue green stereo indicator like original
Jacks provided for MP3, CD player or satellite radio
3.5 mm jack for input from iPod, satellite radio or MP3 player
Switch selectable for 1,2,3 or 4 speakers

[Burdar]

I assume you're wanting to put a modern stereo in the stock opening?  If that's the case then I'll be no help.  I can suggest a couple different things though.

What I did on my Dart is send in the stock AM unit and had it converted to AM/FM.  They installed all new modern electronics in the stock looking case.  They also installed some component jacks in the back.  From the outside it looks completely stock.  I went this route because I don't like the look of new radios in an old car.

Another less expensive option would be to mount the new radio in the glove box or under the seat.   You can keep the stock radio in place just for show  or you could make a radio delete plate like the factory used when a radio wasn't ordered. 

 

[Rev-It-Up]

What kind of system are you looking for?  I just do stock ones now, but in the past I've used this and it worked good....

http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/radio-am-fm-70-74-e-body/products_id/9205

Features:

Digitally tuned AM/FM stereo provides stable, high quality reception
180 watts RMS 45 watts x 4 speakers 4O, 14.4V, 1kHz
Fits in dash without any modifications
Faceplate and knobs match originals
AM or FM dial scale looks like original
AM or FM band selected with slide bar like original
10 presets 5 AM - 5 FM
Analog controls look and feel like the original radio
Volume, Bass, Treble, Balance, Fader and Tuning from original-looking controls
LED dial lights
Blue green stereo indicator like original
Jacks provided for MP3, CD player or satellite radio
3.5 mm jack for input from iPod, satellite radio or MP3 player
Switch selectable for 1,2,3 or 4 speakers

At first I thought this would be a great solution for our Duster. Then I saw the price 

[Cuda Cody]

That's one of the reason I went back to just using stock radios.  Plus I hardly use the radio anyway. 

What kind of system are you looking for?  I just do stock ones now, but in the past I've used this and it worked good....

http://www.rosevillemoparts.com/product_info.php/p/radio-am-fm-70-74-e-body/products_id/9205

Features:

Digitally tuned AM/FM stereo provides stable, high quality reception
180 watts RMS 45 watts x 4 speakers 4O, 14.4V, 1kHz
Fits in dash without any modifications
Faceplate and knobs match originals
AM or FM dial scale looks like original
AM or FM band selected with slide bar like original
10 presets 5 AM - 5 FM
Analog controls look and feel like the original radio
Volume, Bass, Treble, Balance, Fader and Tuning from original-looking controls
LED dial lights
Blue green stereo indicator like original
Jacks provided for MP3, CD player or satellite radio
3.5 mm jack for input from iPod, satellite radio or MP3 player
Switch selectable for 1,2,3 or 4 speakers

At first I thought this would be a great solution for our Duster. Then I saw the price 

[Bullitt-]

Most any single din radio will work in an E-body with a little finesse IF that's what your looking to do.
Lotta folks wrestle them in from the front & I imagine end up having to trim some.
I mounted mine on a home made support from the rear.  Having a radio with a flat face probably works the best, lots of them are curved.


What features are you looking for in a head unit?

here's my current radio

[lulurocks(Ken)]

 

Most any single din radio will work in an E-body with a little finesse IF that's what your looking to do.
Lotta folks wrestle them in from the front & I imagine end up having to trim some.
I mounted mine on a home made support from the rear.  Having a radio with a flat face probably works the best, lots of them are curved.


What features are you looking for in a head unit?

here's my current radio

  almost any 1 din will fit , one thing you need to watch out for is if the face tilts down or moves it could interfere with the lower dash trim .  One thing you might want to look at is a  digital media receiver , they are one din they are half the depth because they dont play cds,  they have blutooth , usb, pandora. 

Heres an example of one :

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Digital+Media+Receivers/MVH-X560BT

[cataclysm80]

It's pretty straightforward to get a normal DIN sized head unit into an E body.
(as long as it doesn't have any weird features where the face fold down or anything like that)

Step one is the remove that curved plastic dash trim which covers up the 8 track opening.

Your new head unit should come with a metal cage that it slides into.
Insert the metal cage into the E body radio opening, and bend the little metal tabs on the cage to hold it in place.
Now slide the head unit into the cage, and it should lock into place.

The instructions will say that your supposed to support the back of the new head unit by running a metal strap from the back of the head unit to whatever hole you can find nearby under the dash.  This is the only awkward part.  Some people skip this step, but it's better if you find a way.

OK, now that curved plastic dash trim goes back on. 
It will come very close to touching the lower right corner of the head unit, but this shouldn't be an issue or require any trimming.

last step.  The new head unit comes with a plastic rectangle shaped trim ring which is designed to cover the tiny gap between the head unit and the metal cage.  It's supposed to just snap into place.
The factory curved plastic dash trim will be in the way of snapping the trim ring into place.
The solution is to cut the trim ring.  Remove the parts of the trim ring that can't be installed.  Probably the bottom of the rectangle, and a little bit of the lower right corner.
If you're careful, you can do a nice job and maybe file the edges of the trim ring to match the contour of your factory curved plastic dash trim.
Once the trim ring is properly shaped, snap it into place and you're done.

Well, except for wiring, you'll still have to do that.
Refer to the head units wiring diagram for how to connect the wires, but off the top of my head, it should be...
Yellow to constant 12 volt + power for radio memory
Red to ignition switched 12 volt + power so the radio shuts off when the ignition is off
Black to - ground
Orange to park light switched + power so that your radio lights come on with your park lights / headlights at night
Blue is only used as a trigger wire for a power antenna or external amplifier
The other 8 wires are all speaker wires.  You have 4 pairs.

[Cudalbs]

Thank you all for the info and advice, I finally got that radio in there. Surprised myself and the trim plate actually fit on it too. Thanks again, Mike

[Cuda Cody]

Looks pretty clean!  Nice job. 

[Bullitt-]

Excellent...   

We're lucky to have one of the 1st cars that take a more modern style radio....

[cataclysm80]

Looks good 

[Cudalbs]

Thought i would follow up on my audio installation project. I didnt get anything too fancy or powerful, just a pioneer am/fm Bluetooth, 6x9's in the package tray and couple of 4" up front that I built a speaker box for that might interest some of you that don't want to cut up your door panels or take up too much space.

They actually sound pretty darn good, and I know those of you who are really into the finer points of audio installs might not approve, but it sure did solve some of the problems I was having getting good sounding music in my car. This box with a speaker on each end, fits right up under the dash and rests on top of the two fresh air vent cables and I simply put two zip ties around it and tied it to the vent cables......solid as a rock and sounds great.
img]https://forum.e-bodies.org/gallerypics/0/200-120317194839.jpeg[/img]
My next problem was the Bluetooth mic and where to mount it so it would still work properly. My car is a 73 Cuda so it has a seatbelt warning light on the right side of the rallye dash. I had already removed the seatbelt light and put in an alternator warning light from when I removed the amp gauge. Since I replaced my amp gauge with a voltmeter I no longer needed the alternator light........if you are still with me, that is where I mounted the Bluetooth mic.

So I am going to try it like this for a while to see if I need anything else like power amp or sub woofer but I think it's going to be fine as is.

[Cuda Cody]

@Cudalbs  Good thinking on the Bluetooth mic install!   

[RUNCHARGER]

The non stock radio look doesn't work for me. I like that Roseville one. On my green car I just took out the glovebox, bent up a sheetmetal form and mounted a radio/CD in the glovebox. I bought one with a remote control so it was easy to adjust without leaning over.