Okay, im new here, and i was doin some research on the whole radio deal.. i found most guys on here just put an original back in or had the original 'amped up' (for lack of better words). I was wondering if anyone has tryed to mount a new cd player in the glove box? Is there a place where i could buy a kit to make it much easier? or am i going to have to be a pioneer and try to do this on my own?.. lol
Welcome aboard phoenix! I wish the previous owner of my OHC 'bird thought like you. But he hacked up the dash to install a AM/FM CD player.
Installing in the glove box will be pretty straight forward. You will probable have to cut a hole in the back of the glove box liner. You may also have to come up with some brackets to secure it. I'm sure someone else has ventured into this territory before so hang tight.
Yeah, i was lookin more into it this evening and it still doesn't look like it will be fun.. I want to make some sort of face plate to make it look real nice too. And while im on the topic of audio. Has anybody ever hacked up their kick panels to incorporate speakers into them? i've been measuring and tryin to figure out if i can make these 6 1/2 inch speakers work in there. its gonna be a real tight fit, and i will probably have to cut some of the metal behind the panel to make them fit(hopefully not much). Nothing scares me more than cutting into $100 panels...
Have you considered a stereo that plays mp3's? Then you dont need the CD player. Just plug in a flash drive or ipod. We just put in a retro stereo and the plug-in is in the glove box, so it's easily accessable.
From the factory, you could get stereo speakers in the kick panels. A 4x6 will fit, but you may want to find some that aren't deep. I installed Kicker 4x6's and experience popping at higher volumes. BTW, they do reproduce the factory 4x6 speaker grill for the kick panels. Also, I think I've seen custom panels somewhere. I think they allow a 5" or 6" round speaker to be installed.
The problem with the after market dash units is they are made for the '67-8. They will fit the '69 app, but, you have to cut the dash bezel. It's not much, you just have to cut the bar that divides the radio dial face from the push buttons.
I'll get some pics of my stereo install latter today for ya.
Alright, thanks for the link and pictures. It really helped me get an idea of what i wanted for sure. Since i already had a CD player bought i think im gonna make that fit in the glove box.. and i cut out to 6 1/2 inch holes in the kick panels and im going to try something i saw on musclecar.. we will see how that goes. lol ill make sure to post pics when everything is said and done..
You guys are giving me shivers with all this hacking and cutting talk. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CUT THE LITTLE BAR IN BETWEEN...WHAT????!!!!! I know to each his own but dude...I can't tell you how long and how much money it has cost me to undo that very thing.
Classic Ind. or Matt's sells Secret Audio that fits nicely in the glove box and you can install a 10 CD changer in the trunk while leaving the dash uncut and the original radio in.
Easiest way... Not cheap (USD 595.00) but perfect...
MP3, IPOD, CD or XM (satellite) inputs included! Just add an IPod as I do... Looks original but offers today’s technology; fits dash without any modifications; 4 × 45 watts RMS output allows up to 180 watts of audio power; green AM/FM dial scale looks like original; AM or FM band selected with slide-bar like original; analog controls look like the original radio. 7/16” shafts for mounting exactly match original radio; LED dial lights; digitally tuned.
Sorry, just noticed that you own a 69 Bird. Nevertheless, just take a look at the above mentioned web link, there´s an option for 1969 Chevelle/Camaro/Nova AM/FM/Stereo Radio for $595.00, too. Being a 68 guy I´m not sure if this radio will fit your 69 car...
You guys are giving me shivers with all this hacking and cutting talk. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CUT THE LITTLE BAR IN BETWEEN...WHAT????!!!!! I know to each his own but dude...I can't tell you how long and how much money it has cost me to undo that very thing.
Classic Ind. or Matt's sells Secret Audio that fits nicely in the glove box and you can install a 10 CD changer in the trunk while leaving the dash uncut and the original radio in.
The problem with the '69 radio is the chassis and face are different from the '67-8. There is no after market '69 radio, so using the after market radio for the '67-8 you have to dispense with the bar, or have it interfere with the function of whatever is behind the bar. So cutting the bar is the compromise. The PO of my convertible cut the bar so I was free to make the choice of the '67-8 AM/FM cassette. I was fortunate no other mods were done.
Now my OHC coupe was a different story. The PO not only cut the dash bezel, he cut the dash frame to install a AM/FM CD player. Did I say cut? I meant hack, literately. It pained me to finish the job to look more professional. But I bought the car with the intention of just bringing it back from the brink of being a running parts car.
Now that I have two factory AM radios, I want to send one out for an internal upgrade. And I have a uncut dash to finish off getting the factory appearance back in my convertible. In my book, it's ok to make modifications that can be reversed with little effort and expense.
I guess it depends on what you consider to long or expensive. Restoring or modifying vintage vehicles is an inherently expensive hobby. If you think our hobby is expensive, try restoring a P-51 Mustang. As far as time, yea there's never enough. The time I devote to my 'bird isn't thought of as a burden, but a pleasure... and sometimes entertainment.
So true Tom. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy or cheap. I guess what irks me the most is that I was the one that said whatever, I gotta have a tape deck. And out came the hacksaw blade. Man, guilt is the worst thing sometimes. Of couse the car was only 10 years old at the time and...well who knew.
