Any thoughts on a radio / cassette that has the classic old style dual shaft design? I don't want to cut the dash on my 4th gen.

I had a Custom AutoSound USA-5 in my old '72. It fit fine without cutting the dash and sounded "O.K." I might have to go with that brand again if I can't find another manufacture of dual shaft radio's. Might also go with their "SecretAudio" with a CD changer. Anybody have one of those???

The problem I learned is that we have to use a "two post" radio. The new electronics available now does not use the two posts that extend through the dash and are part of the support of the radio.

I have a JVC with a cassette tape drive. Can you even buy cassette tapes anymore? They are very low in power and even with new and better speakers the tend to sound high pitched, flat and tinney.

I was told I could add a booster/power amp. I haven't done so yet.

The radio shop said they weren't comfortable with cutting the dash. They didn't see any good way to secure a new and modern radio.

I'm not into 'quality' sound that much, so I just live with it.

You can always hang it from the bottom of the dash. They make enclosures to clean this application up.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

Elky77

There is a Company (I will have to look it up in the Hot Rod mag's) that sell AM/FM Stereo's with Tape or CD Player's that WILL bolt right in your dash without cutting! I will look for it & post asap..."SKULL"

:D Here it is; www.CustomAutosound.com Phone is: 1-800-88 TUNES Address: Custom Autosound, 1030 West Williamson Avenue, Fullerton, CA. 92833 Hope this help's you out! :P "SKULL"

Elky77 wrote:
I have a JVC with a cassette tape drive. Can you even buy cassette tapes anymore? They are very low in power and even with new and better speakers the tend to sound high pitched, flat and tinney.


I had one of the cassette units that Skull mentioned and it indeed sounded flat. I was able to purchase some good high quality tapes. But recording my own music to them was a pain. I still have a Bose cassette recorder, but who knows how long that will last. It did not compare to the new CD units you can get almost anywhere.

I did find a place that still sells a Kenwood cassette unit with the knobs. But it still gets back to the sound quality issue.

I might go by one of the local custom audio stores and see what their opinion is.

Thanks for the help

El Camino Parts catalogue has 5 different knob radios that fit 64-85 chevelle, el camino and monte carlos. Two of which can be hooked up to a 6 cd disc changer. They range from $150 to $270, but they will hook up and look stock. 44 to 100 watts, and the cd changer is operated by the buttons on the radio. Pretty cool
ECParts.net

Custom Autosound is a decent choice and available through alot of outlets like Original Parts group and Paddock and such. Nice thing is they usually get the Kenwood or Pioneer components either premanufactured or custom modified. You could also go with secret audio which is also offered in alot of outlets which lets you hide everything whithout touching your existing radio.

I got sick of shaft radios in my 74 and have a kenwood CD head unit in mine that is actually an ISO/DIN type meaning flat face like newer cars. But I have to tell ya it took a whole lot of work with a dremel tool and custom fabrication of supports for it to make it work. It looks really good but it wasn't easy since the 4th gens give you almost nothing to support the rear of the radio with.

I'd say get a decent head unit with 2 sets of preamp outuputs (2 front 2 rear) with either Shaft style (Pioneer makes a few like that) or whatever you want.

That way you can just run RCA cables to either a 4 way amp (or 2-way with splitter cables) and let the amp handle the speaker power. That's worked out much better for me and the radios seem to last longer. You have to remember a head unit/radio that is pumping out 35watts x4 RMS is gonna throw a lot of extra heat. Heat is the enemy of electronics and shortens the life of components. That and the sound through a decent amp is much better. Also the onboard amps can't match the performance of an outboard amp.

I'm not talking about being one of those annoying bass punks that always seem to be in the honda next to me either. I'm just talking about clean sound even at low volume levels. :-D

I'm not talking about being one of those annoying bass punks that always seem to be in the honda next to me either. :-D
LMAO Don'tchu hate that?!?! he he he dem bastards!

Thanks James. I pick up my '73 next Monday and I know it has the original AM/FM radio only. It is a 9+ hour ride home, so I might bring along the Bose radio/cassette for some tunes on the way home. It has a cigarette lighter adapter. That will work for one trip, but not a good overall solution.

But I have to tell ya it took a whole lot of work with a dremel tool and custom fabrication of supports for it to make it work. It looks really good but it wasn't easy since the 4th gens give you almost nothing to support the rear of the radio with.

I had a feeling you were going say that about the "lack of support" for mounting a new style radio.

Got any pics of your dash I can look at??

I'm going have to figure out something. I do like some good crisp music when I'm driving.

Thanks.

oh by the way...
I'm not talking about being one of those annoying bass punks that always seem to be in the honda next to me either

My plans call for some electronic controlled exhaust cutouts, so when I'm next to that little POS bass punk Honda, I'll just flip the switch, open up the straight headers and rattle the boys fillings........

My plans call for some electronic controlled exhaust cutouts, so when I'm next to that little POS bass punk Honda, I'll just flip the switch, open up the straight headers and rattle the boys fillings........

I need some of those for mine!

Check out the web site for exhaust cutouts at DMH Performance (http://www.dmhperformance.com/photogallery.htm)

Look at the photos and movie clips. Is this the coolest thing or what??? I can't wait to do this mod.

Got any pics of your dash I can look at??

I'm going have to figure out something. I do like some good crisp music when I'm driving.

Thanks.

Kinda hard to take pictures of it. Most of it I had to do by feel. I can tell you that I had to go to an electronics store and get one of those 5x5x2 inch high electronic project boxes and cut it in half to make the lower "cradle" Then I had to drill a couple of holes in the metal side support just inside the left side of the dash and get some screws in there. Then a screw and bolt to the rear of the "cradle" and bolted to another metal support I found near the firewall. I initially tried to bolt the receiver to the cradle but it never really worked that well.

You're gonna think this is a bit nuts and hokey but I found that the industrial velcro works best for getting the radio mounted. I'm talking about the stuff that you get at Home Depot that's kinda stiff and can hold up like a 32oz. hammer on a wall. I am not referring to anything that KMART or Autozone sells this stuff is like builder quality.

ANyone breaks into my car to steal the radio is gonna have a real surprise! It takes two putty knives and about 3 hands to get the damn thing free! Much more solid than any screw I ever tried. Mind you I figured this out over about 5 years of experimentation. The velcro is applied to the bottom and one side of the "cradle" I made. IT also helps isolate the head unit from shocks as I have hit more than one pothole and not had a skip yet in 2 years.

The dremel came into play to trim and sand the dash bezel and the dash hole itself to eliminate the knob holes and allow the new head unit to fit through the opening. Only trim as much as you need to and no more.

This flies in the face of not cutting your dash but in my case I had nothing to loose since part of my dash support was cracked anyway and was already repaired with metal bracing. If it was already broke you aint "de-virgining" or "defiling" anything anyway I figure.

I hate anything that looks hokey or cheap so you can trust me when I tell you it's not as crappy as it sounds. 8)

You may want to think about building a little console and putting your radio in there too. I did that for a few years and it worked out ok. That and all I had to do to mount a radio is go get one of those mounting kits and screw it into the console which took all of 10 minutes once you build the stereo harness. The other nice thing is if you build a console you can add stuff like the graphic equalizers and such.

As another take on the console thing: For a long time I was going to try to grab the console from a 82-92 camaro or firebird and remove the radio box from it and use that for my radio mounting. That way you get a nice big factory radio mounting and a really clean look. You can floor mount it with some work or hang it from the dash. From there you can just block off the radio hole in the dash and your good to go.

Of course the easiest way is to pick up a shaft style pioneer or kenwood head unit with preamp outputs and do the amp thing I mentioned earler. Try www.crutchfield.com. They won't list any shaft style radios on their website but if you call them on their 800 number you can find out what they have and the specs. They did carry them as of a few months ago they just don't bother to promote them since there's not alot of market for them anymore. Their tech guys are really helpful too.

Just some ideas for you. :D

Uh oh, looks like I coined a phrase.. 8O

"Bass punk honda!"

Ha! Search and Destroy!

:D

Thanks for the very thorough explanation. It does make sense and that Velcro tip will come in handy. It has a center console, so that might be an option I have not thought about.

I'm just kinda lining up what I want to do once I get the Elky. I don't go down to pick it up until next Monday. (another reason why my avatar looks so frigon crappy :mad: ). Being Elkyless really sucks. I'm just working out all the things I want to put on my "2do" list.

Speaking of a "2do" list, have you ever seen Pro Street Gary's hood on his '77? He had a guy weld and mold in a '72 SS dome (http://www.scaldinghotelcamino.com/) to it. (pics start on page 6) Then stripe it like a '72. Looks frigon awesome. If Goodmark made this, they would sell quite a few of them. This will be on my "2do" list for the future. For now, I want to keep it original.

Uh oh, looks like I coined a phrase..

"Bass punk honda!"

You forgot the most important part --- "POS" 8)

LMAO :cool:

Here's a true story:

About three years ago, a friend of mine wanted to update his "two post" radio in his 69 GTO. He bought a nice state-of-the-art radio from a sound shop, he bought an all purpose mounting bracket/box and got to work.

He had to do much re-fabrication, while laying under the dash. Finially he had the mounting box cut in half, joined back together to hold the radio nice and firm, had made two longer metal supports to bolt above the mounting box so it would be stable. He drilled from under the dash and screwed the two mounting straps in and felt he had done a great job, all on his back.

When he sat back up in the seat to try out the news tunes, he noticed the two screws sticking up through the top of the dash!

OOPS!

Rember guys, be careful out there,

Elky77

Instead of cutting your dash, why not go for a CD Changer and keep your original AM/FM radio? Check with your local Car Stereo shop for a CD Changer that works off of your FM radio. Basically, the changer mounts someplace out of sight, like the smuggler's box, then you tune your FM radio to a certain frequency, and you're rocking away. Beats the heck out of cutting up the dash, and the casually observant car stereo thief will probably pass a stock looking AM/FM radio by and look for a POS Bass Punk Honda.

If you're feeling a bit adventurous and just have to have an indash cassette or CD player, you can always try your hand at making your own fiberglass console. Here's a page I found by a guy who makes these for a living. He gives step by step instructions with pics on making a console to house a stereo in a F&@d SUV. It looks pretty trick too. I'm sure someone here can come up with a good looking design for the El Camino.

Creating A Custom Console (http://audioforum.termpro.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=41;t=000005;p=1)

It's an older page, but the guy is still around at that forum if you have questions for him. Do a bit of searching around and you'll find lots of nice console/speaker installs on that site and a few others as well.

Personally, I'm looking for a way to mount some 6X9 speakers behind the seat and maybe some 4.5" or 5" speakers in my kick panels. I may go the fiberglass route on the kick panels (Dusty's are both missing.) I might try it behind the seat too, using the stock carpet to cover it and leaving the bottom half of the panel open for access to the smuggler's box on both sides. I don't know what I'm going to do yet though. All I know is these 3.5" speakers in the dash just aren't cutting it by themselves. Any suggestions for mounting speakers behind the stock bench seat?

Use a face plate from an 86 or 87 Elky or Monte Carlo. I found one on Ebay to match the interior color. Then you can use a newer style Delco radio with a CD player and/or cassette. I used a 95 Trans Am radio with a 5 band graphic equailizer and digital clock. You will need the side mounting brackets for the radio. The plug adaptor can be gotten at any good auto stereo installation shop. No cutting, no trimming, no modifying...looks stock and sounds great! Just be careful during installation, that part of the dash is very weak and subject to cracking, do not over tighten the torx screws and be careful sliding the old rad out and the new one in. You can mount an amp in the smugglers box if you like. I think I spent around $80 bucks for everything I needed including the stereo (no amp). AC Delco stereos are very good systems...I personally prefer them over aftermarket systems if you add an amp and better speakers. This is a very easy swap and took about an hour to do. I bought everything off Ebay except the adaptor plug. It was all delivered to my house...I didn't have to go hunting for anything.

Thanks for all the ideas on radio's. I haven't totaly decided on which way to go yet.

Looks like I have to fix the A/C first before tunes :x . It is supposed to around 90 with high humidity this weekend and if I want to take the Elky out, we gotta fix that A/C.

I have been looking for solutions for mounting a new cd player into my 1980 El Camino, do you think the method of getting the 86 or 87 Monte Carlo faceplate would work with this car? I sure would like to put a "modern" tuner into the car. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! 8)