Audio Systems: New Deck/ Old Car, words of caution, dremmel


Question
Hi, i have an old '66 ranchero and i was wondering what is the best way to put a new deck into a car that had the old two pin knobs. I dont mind cutting into the car, is there a kit that works best for this?

thank you

Answer
Wow  nice!  are you restoring that beauty?
I know a guy with a '66 commet it's gordeous!

so anyway.  The old pin styly din chassis huh?  the typical size was the same as the new one so you should be able to just cut a square hole with a dremmel.  the new stereos come with a metal sleeve that has punched out flaps on the back that lock it in place from the inside.  I would sugest getting the radio first from a place you know you can return it like www.crutchfield.com  you may need to pay a 15% restocking fee but that should only be like 20 bucks or something.  worth the slim chance that it wont fit because of depth or something.  Once you get the radio, remove the metal sleeve and hold it up to the dash and use a silver sharpy pen or something to draw around the inside of it, then use your dremmel to cut it out.  You'll want to start small and slowly take off more and more until the sleev slides right in.  The sleeve has a very think lip around the front so if you accidentally cut the hole even 1/16 too large it will be loose and if you cut it  1/8 to big it will fall out so start small!   then you can bend the tabs on the sleeve from the inside to lock it in place.  the radio should slide right into the sleeve and lock in and there you go!  A few words of caution.  once you slide the radio all the way into the sleve it will lock in place and is usually VERY difficult to get back out so make sure it fits, and is wired and working 100% before you lock it in.  you should probably attempt to make some sort of bracket to hold the metal sleeve up in the back, once the weight of the radio is hanging in that sleeve just by the front it will sag in the back.  Again make sure all this is done before you pop that radio in.  
Good luck!! please let me know how it goes!  I want pictures!! :-)