I tried a search and didn't get much info other than certain head unit install kits are better than others??

My question is, can you have the aftermarket head unit fit flush to the trim plate?? I'm not going to have it stick out inch or half inch...it looks tacky and is lame. I read that din and half will fit, however I found one and when I looked to see if it was compatabe with my car it said yes. Upon further reading it said it will protrude about 1 inch out of the dash. To me this is not compatable. It shouldn't stick out in my opinion. Is it because of the metal bracket behind the radio or is it because of the "pod" installation kit, or both??? I want to do as little modifications as possible. I've read you need to cut out the metal bracket and cut into the heat ducting. I don't really want to do this, I want a straight forward install, but everytime I find a head unit that seems like it will fit, it says it will stick out. I'm not going to buy one until someone can tell me if this is even possible. I'm not looking for the latest features, but wouldn't mind playing mp3's or wma's. I just want a descent CD player. There has to be something out that that doesn't look like $hit when installed. Please HELP!!

 

Every one of the stereos I've had stuck out. I didn't want to cut my heating ducts either, but I had a cracked console, and for a expirement I cut the ducting. But if you do that and have to use the heater, uless you block the ducting off you will heat up the back of the stereo. I did take the steel bar out and the stereo does go in further but it still sticks out. Maybe someone else might have a better idea. I just thought I'd share my expirence with you.

 

You can get them to fit flush. It just takes a little bit of careful cutting on the backside to get them to fit. If you're concerned about keeping the car original then keep an eye out for another pad, and cut up that one for install now.

Heres a pic of my old deck, it's a Kenwood with the flip face, but you get the idea.

 

well, there really isn't anything behind my radio except the metal bracket. I have no other ducting or restrictions...other than it hitting the floor because of the angle. I guess if it sticks out a little I can live with it. I can try and take out the bracket and see what happens, and if I get a little more clearance. The only thing that might be a problem is the wires in the back like someone else already mentioned. If it sits any further back the harness might get in the way.

 

Try cutting away some of the carpet that might be there. Between the carpeting and the pad, that's almost an inch right there. All I can say is it can be done. I've had 5 different decks in my TA and not one of them did I have sticking way out.

 

I didn't realize the carpeting was so thick...it didn't seem like I could get an inch, but if I have to I'll try it. It's not like anyone is going to see it behind the console anyway

 

I'll see you, and raise you a half inch.


This was installed in my firebird the same way, but I don't have any pics of it. I installed it by making a wooden mounting plate that I screwed to the BACK side of the stock mounting locations. By doing it that way, I could use washers to shim it back exactly to the right spot. I then made an ABS trim ring that I attached to the stock trim piece for a flush appearance. On 85-92 Firebirds, you'll have to do a fair amount of modification including the removal of the side vents in the console, trimming of the rear brace, and relocation of the rear mounting bracket. On the camaros, it's a lot easier, you just trim the side vents in the console and remove the bar that holds the back of the factory radio.

In the 82-84 Firebirds, my guess is that it's more similar to the Camaro, though I can't say for sure.

Anyway, here's a pic of other head units in my Camaro:


You can see that these don't sit as flush, because I never got around to shimming them back because I've never had the same radio in the car long enough to bother.