Jonathan Dyer

iTrader: (5)

Ok so a couple of things have been bugging me for a long time. First, that it's difficult to adjust my radio while in 1st,3rd or 5th gear because the shifter is simply in the way. Also the angle and location of the radio make it often difficult to read the display when the T-tops are off. Second, no cup holder.

The usual cupholder mod in the console is inconvenient for a manual tranny so I decided to move the radio up under the dash pad and put a cup holder in its place. I'll get to the radio soon, but here's what I've done to solve the cup holder problem.

My intention was to try to mod a cup holder from a Dodge Caravan. I got on Ebay and punched in cup holder and stumbled across a listing from a 2000 Golf. This happens to be the same width as a radio, is way more compact than the Dodge unit and it geared so that it rolls out when you touch the front cover.

I ordered it and installed it into the dash kit that held in my single din radio. That was fine but it left a gap below the cup holder that was too small to be useful as storage space.

I got back on Ebay and ordered a Metra 1991-1994 SATURN DASH KIT 99-4700 which has a 1 1/2 din opening. I also ordered another Metra kit 2007-2008 VW EOS with pocket 99-9011. The pocket on this kit is removable and the rest of the kit will likely be used to later finish off the radio install. Whereas locally these kits were being sold for $40.00, I got these for $9.95 and $14.95 respectively.

I removed the mounting tabs off the dash kit for my existing radio and mounted them on each side of the Saturn kit. With that the Saturn kit fit nicely into the stock radio opening. I used a dremel and cut off wheel to trim the bottom edge of the pocket so that it would slide into place. So far so good. It gets pretty ghetto from here on in because I then used electrical tape to mount the storage pocket from the Volks kit.

The flip-up door of the cup holder needs 1/8" of space above it for it not to bind as it opens. I cut a strip of metal, inserted it into the groove at the back of the Saturn kit and taped it down. There are two large mounting tabs that come with the Volks kit that have a slight ridge at one end. I taped them together to created an additional spacer that also filled in the open gap that was needed above the cup holder. I set this back slightly so as not to interfere with the operation of the cup holder door.
Next I taped in the cup holder and popped it into place in the console.
Here is a link to a video of the cup holder rolling out

http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/Rustman_Bucket/Camaro%20Cupholder%20Install/?action=view&current=2000GolfCupHolderInstalledIn1983Cam.flv

With the face plate installed it nearly looks like GM meant for it to be there. You might be thinking; "yeah, great, but you've got no radio!" True, but I find myself turning it off often enough to listen to the 383 rumbling through the Magnaflow 3" exhaust anyway. For the time being, that's music to my ears.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

Nice solution, but I'm not losing my radio. I like 58mark's version under the dash vents. I just haven't bothered to build mine yet. Other more pressing projects to finish by June.

Jonathan Dyer

iTrader: (5)

I wondered about that but decided to do it the other way around and build a radio pod under the dash vents.

Jon

matthufham

iTrader: (5)

i like it!! i have a 6 speed so at least on the highway my shifter doesn't block the radio but it is a bugging issue. where did you put your radio? pics of that please

I H8 WWD

iTrader: (5)

I like the idea and the fact its slim. I agree with Stephen, putting it below the vents and keeping the radio where its at would be my way of doing it, but this is a nice find either way.

He's putting it below the vents.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

After rethinking it.....


It might be good to have the radio up high, closer to the line of sight, rather than having to look so far down to take your eyes off the road to look at it. Easier to reach too.

That & my Pioneer CD player sits at a slight angle, which probably the norm. But when it ejects a CD, the slight tilt backwards makes the player pull the disc right back in. I hafta push the eject button & get my hand just right to GRAB the disc, before it tries to pull it right back in. Generally takes me 2-3 tries to catch it.

I might think about relocating my player & putting cup holders in, like the OP did his. Hmmmmmm.......

I H8 WWD

iTrader: (5)

Dude, your totally right. But wouldn't that also put the face in eye sight, making you have to watch your blinking equalizer and background movies making nighttime driving harsh. But then again face plates have the all off option now so that is most likely not the problem with yours Stephen. Hm, good idea.

What about removing the vents and placing the radio in the vent holes, for a cleaner look, since (I don't use them) and wouldn't have to have wires coming out in the open from the back of the player, I guess depending on how you route it and how deep your radio is.

You got me thinking now Stephen. Up high for easy access.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

In the vent hole would be pretty cool, but I use my AC, so not an option for me.

No blinking EQ or movies in my Pioneer, so again....No big deal in my car. But I can see how it would be a problem in some players.

As for the wires.....I'd cut an access hole in the dash behind the player, put a rubber grommet in it, and they'd never be seen. Or even cut a big square hole behind it, if needed to tuck the player in deep enough to sit flush or even in 1/4".....1/2" (or whatever).

I H8 WWD

iTrader: (5)

Gotcha Stephen. Sounds good. Thanks again Jon. Its going down, when I can afford a nice player and speakers.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

that is a cool idea... I like that cupholder in your pictures, probably better than the one I used in my car. Can you tell us how wide it is, side to side?

any reason it couldn't be installed under the vents? (unlike mine which is a little wide, so I put it to the right side of the vents

Jonathan Dyer

iTrader: (5)

"Can you tell us how wide it is, side to side?"

It's 7 3/8" wide. I held it up under the vents a few times and it would fit OK.

"where did you put your radio? pics of that please "

I haven't remounted the radio yet. It will go under the dash vents. The problem is a standard radio just fits. Even if you were to drill into the dash for the wiring there is only a 1/2" between the dash and the vent ducting. No matter what, the radio will stick out a little and won't look too good.

I've been meaning to repair my A/C for years but haven't got around to it and was vaugely thinking of removing the dash and cutting and sealing the duct. I can't quite bring myself to do it, quite apart from the fact that I wouldn't get to it 'till next winter and I don't want to go that long without a radio.

I wanted to see if I could make a cable to connect my radio face plate to the main unit. The radio could be mounted out of the way and I would be left with only having to mount something 1" thick. Not so easy.

I discovered something call "Secret Audio SST" which is exactly that. A 1" face that you connect to the head unit with a cable. It supposedly has 3 set out RCA outputs, IPOD control etc.etc.

I couldn't find much in the way of reviews though, so I don't know if it will sound good. It doesn't look at all sexy. Like an OEM radio from the early '80s. But I guess that will be one less reason for someone to break into my car.

I've ordered it tonight so I'll get back to you on how it goes.
Jon

Jonathan Dyer

iTrader: (5)

Here's a link to the "stealth radio" I mentioned before; http://www.casmfg.com/Secretaudio.htm

There are a lot of impediments to putting a normal radio under the vents. Not the least of which is that the vents don't line up with the console. I'd never noticed that the console is off center towards the driver until I started thinking about this project.

As a winter project I had actually expected to do a custom console that would integrate a dash level radio pod (without losing the dash vents). But I got overtaken with other things (redoing the exhaust and a long standing issue with the SS hood) and it's too big of a job to start now. One of those things people talk about and never get around to doing.

Jon

J_Makk z28

drink seem to heavy to mount under the vents

rich08

cool idea....i like the overlay on the console where can i find it?

Jonathan Dyer

iTrader: (5)

I'm afraid that's a one-off. The machine shop that did it changed owners before I had thought to ask for a copy of the CNC file so to do it again would be to start over from scratch.

On the other hand, I've been itching to do a custom console at which point this piece would be surplus. If this comes up for sale I'll let you know.
Jon

rich08

thanks man please do let me know