PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Here is the review I promised you guys of the Double D Mods 82-92 Firebird stereo Bezel www.doubledmods.com . It came in today. I called Dennis from the Double D Mods and he made this for us, it's brand new for 3rd Gens so not on their website yet. Just a note, Dennis and everyone I spoke with at Double D mods are car guys and looking to make a killer product for us 3rd Gen'rs!.


First impression - packed well and very professional shipping (sorry it drives me crazy when I order something online or off ebay and it shows up thrown in a old coffee can, I'm very meticulous about my stuff!) and the part looks awesome! No seams or sprew cut marks, no weird paint bubbles and has a factory look. The finish is excellent. The back side isn't pretty but you don't see it, its that way too offer reinforcement because the faceplate is SOLID. All the corners and ends are professionally rolled, its not just flat. I asked for it in all black, I'm not a big fan of the TRON looking checkered Firebird OEM trim. My exterior and entire interior is black so it fits right in. Dennis said they could do any color I liked. It does look great with the checkered trim considering most of the dash is a solid color anyway.


I just plugged it into the car and it snapped right in. Perfect fit, no issues. I'm hunting down a good deal on a 2Din Stereo now. As soon as I find a stereo I'll let you guys know how it all fits together.


So far so good.

Front:



Back:



Installed (no stereo)




I also talked to he about a group order and group price and he said NO PROBLEM if you guys like it. I think it's perfect.

conlinj

iTrader: (3)

I'd like to see how it looks with the stock pattern. Looks like a nice piece though

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, I love it. With the 2Din hole, there really isn't much room for the stock squares anyway. Maybe 2 rows?

mrrman

I never realized a double din would fit in a 3rd gen...I have an 87...may have to check it out. What are the dimensions of the opening? Thanks

What stereo/GPS unit are you looking at?

cdoyle

Sweet!
I can't wait to see it once you have a deck installed.

do you happen to have a picture of your OEM piece?
Just like to compare it to the new one.

Glad they are willing to do a group buy. I'll most likely buy a Camaro version if the price is good.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

mrrman - ahhhh, your going to make me measure it! LOL! I just did for you, the dimensions of the 2DIN opening are 3 7/8 inches by 6 3/4 inches. Regular 2Din size.

Still shopping for a good deal on a stereo.

Double D Mods

check your email

jchaussee

Price??

mrrman

let me know what you find...I have a Pioneer flip out single din that I may sell if I see this is a better way to go

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

cdoyle - just for you my man:

OEM and 2Din bezel side-by-side

BlackBandit007

I'm interested in one for the Camaro also!!

rob2000gt

iTrader: (1)

I tried getting a 2 din in my trans am but it stuck out way too much the floor is in the way and wont let it flush mount in the dash

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Alright! I just made Bestbuy price match a local ad (the local ad "store" is probably out of the back of some dude's car trunk in a dark ally! - But whatever!). I'll do the install tomorrow morning after I do my weekly detailing!

I picked up a Pioneer AVH-P1400DVD and will add the Nav, Satellite radio and HD radio when my Formula funds replenish. I like pioneer, its what I had in my '88 Formula in High School.

I also got one of those Dummy Faceplates for a couple bucks at the flea market - that'll fool em! I hope.

92CamaroLS1

PM Sent to the OP... Id be down for a Camaro version

ringo234

Yeah if they make one for a camaro I'm in. I have Pioneer Nav double in now, but had to do a little cutting on the stock bezel, it looks nice but this bezel would be better.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I don't like the way the flip-out stereos cover the temperature controls. They are nice and the screen is large but I like the indash systems. I know its easy to just push down the screen and adjust the climate, but my opinion is the indash systems look a little better. To each their own.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Very interested. Hopefully, you'll consider a how-to with pics.

JamesC

zenish

i can't wait to see one of those installed in a camaro.

IROCtheRoad

Count me in on a Camaro version.

IROCtheRoad

Just went to their website and they have the Camaro plate available

87350IROC

iTrader: (2)

Right. I don't believe the issue is with cutting out the hole. The problem is with the trans hump getting in the way of the bottom rear corner of a double din unit. Cause it to stock out way to far. I will be very curious to see how this turns out.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

JamesC - I'm on it.

The Bezel fits the Stereo perfect OUTSIDE the Firebird. About to look inside the radio pod and will post as I go today.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

You guys are correct. The radio hits bottom BUT IT IS A VERY EASY fix. I pulled the Radio pod out (2 bolts to the Dash and 3 bolts to Climate control). It was NASTY in there! I'm still not sure what the original owner did in my car. There was a noodle in there!


Cleaned it really good inside and out.


What is hitting bottom is this "plastic nub" that sticks out in the middle of the 2 heater vents (see photo). Another easy fix.


Once radio pod is removed:


*IF YOU LIKE - you can trim the carpet down a bit and make more room for stereo add ons.


1. Removed the long piece of plastic with the 2 vents on the left and right side (Remove 2 long and 2 short bolts) from the radio pod (See photo).


2. The 2 heater ducts are stapled on (remove 4 staples with needle nose pliers). Easy (see photo)


3. Then with a pocket knife cut the 2 ducts free of the plastic hump. The plastic is so thin it just went right trough it with one hand. If I folded it on the seam few times the ducts would have come off that way too, that is how thin the plastic was.


4. Reinstall both ducts (2 long and 2 shorts bolts) into radio pod.

5. Reinstall Radio pod into car but don't install the Climate control bolts YET because you have to kinda wiggle the stereo in under it after you plug the stereo in. Also make sure the heat ducts line up.


7. Once the stereo is under the climate controls, bolt climate controls in (3 bolts).




8. Stick on faceplate.


I didn't wire it yet but here are pictures of it installed. Really looks awesome.

Wiring now.

cdoyle

looking good.
So how do we get a group buy going?

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I hope I made it as clear as mud! LOL! Here is a photo of the Radio pod, 1 duct installed, 1 duct not installed and the plastic hump removed).

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I still need to pull it and wire it up. I need to figure out how to do the DVD player bypass so what ever chick is riding shotgun (NOT ME DRIVING! - don't worry!) can watch Punisher War Zone or 300 while in motion

mrrman

looks good

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Wiring now.

ChevyFreek

Count me in for a group buy!!

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Incase anyone is interested. I decided to do a DVD and NAV parking brake bypass. This way the parking break does not have to be engaged to operate Nav or DVD. This works with the Pioneer AVH-1400DVD.


***DO NOT VIEW DVDS OR ADJUST NAV WHILE DRIVING!***
This is strictly for passenger use.


If you're interested here are the steps:


1. Buy a relay. Most autoparts or car stereo stores have them, it cost me $5. The one I have is:

MAS
MAS50MV
30A/50A
14DC


2. Plug wires into the numbers on the relay as follows:


30 - Light Green Wire (Parking Brake)
85 - Light Blue and White Wire (Remote)
35 - Black Wire (Ground)
87 - Black Wire (Ground)
87a - In the center is left unwired
Loop 35 and 87 to black ground wire

See photos below.

I now need to stick it all together and will have pictures of the completed project.

86WS6

iTrader: (1)

Nice Install!

jchaussee

I cannot believe anybody would pay 100 for something that would take ten minutes to trim. We do own third gens. I am sure most of us have done alot of work on our cars and thwrwdorbpiases thw akilla neccesary.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Trim yours up with an exacto knife and post pics of it with the radio installed and maybe a template people can print out to use as a reference for the cut lines. I didn't see anything like that anywhere on the entire internet so I asked these guys to make one for us. If you have a more cost effective method please post. I'm not sure but I think there is a little more that goes into it than taking a dremel to your orignal faceplate. Give it a shot and post pics. I couldn't be happier with the factory look of this one, but that's me.

rob2000gt

iTrader: (1)

triming your factory one wont work trust me. take a good look at at the pic he has of his new one compaired to the factory one. your factory hole is too wide

cdoyle

it's way more than just 'trimming' like you think

The hole is too wide, so you also have fiberglassing, sanding, Bondo, more sanding, adding texture to match the OEM feel, painting.

They've already done all the work, I do think $100 is on the high side. But I would def pay $50-60 for something like this.

cdoyle

Thanks for posting these, it looks pretty good.

cdoyle

PUNISH3R,
Would you mind asking these guys to stop by here? Would love for them to setup a group buy for us. I'm def in for a Camaro version.

mrrman

I may be picking up the Pionerr Avic 930bt unit to see how this works in my car...I want the GPS function

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

mrrman - nice unit. I'm going to add the Nav, Sat Radio & HD radio as my car funds replenish. I'll have to be kinda crafty figuring out places to hide them.

I have some final photos to post and I'm going to do a quick video of the basic functions of the stereo, I'll include the link.

mrrman

sounds good

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Alright. I put a short video together so you can get the idea. I'm NOT Martin Scorsese! And the movie that I have in the DVD player is the one I watch in the gym parking lot to get amp'd to lift weights while my supplimnets kick in! LOL! So don't break my b@lls! Check it out, its really cool. I highly recommend the Double D Mods Bezel and any 2Din DVD capable stereo.

http://youtu.be/ZT1rwA55osA

mrrman

I bought my Pioneer Avic 930bt and its on the way. I will see if my bezel will cover the opening or not, mine is not the stk bezel that came with these cars. If not, I will order a bezel to.

mrrman

I will have to look into this also...may contact you if I need help

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

It is so easy. PM me when u do it and I'll walk u thru it. Simple.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Install all wired and complete without bezel.

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

Final install!

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I spoke with Dennis at Double D Mods and instead of a group buy he's doing a special through July '12. You send him your old Bezel and he will mod it for $45. He also has all sorts of stereo package combo deals, that are priced pretty good. Just ask him.

Here is the link to the 82-92 Firebird 2Din Bezel sale price:

http://shop.doubledmods.com/Firebird...ezels_c141.htm

Hit them up if you're interested!

mrrman

PUNISH3R


Did you install any type of bracket to mount the DD into your opening? I looked at my DD unit and I do not have a bracket. If you have one, where did you get it?
Thanks

PUNISH3R

iTrader: (2)

I have brackets but didn't put them in. Between the carpet inside the Radio Pod under the stereo, the climate control above the stereo and the 2Din bezel on the stereo face -> it all kind of snapped in perfectly.

mrrman

If I need the brackets, do you want to sell them to me?