QuestionQUESTION: I am about to purchase the JVC KW-AVX820 which is a double DIN sized Receiver with a 7 inch display. I have a 2002 GMC Sierra and as I know I will have to do some cutting and bracket fabrication to make it fit, I was wondering exactly how much cutting and what all would have to be cut to make this work with my application?
Thank You
ANSWER: Hi Brandon,
Sorry about the delay in answering your question.
It's actually not all that difficult to make the double-DIN radio fit into the dash; just some fairly minor modification of the dash cavity, for height and mounting depth. The tricky part is the dash bezel; it will need to be cut out to allow clearance for the motorized screen. It might be very difficult to modify the dash bezel and make it look good.
You might want to check out this page on Cardomain:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/825435/3
I've mounted a double-DIN unit into a truck like this before, but I haven't modified the dash bezel. The customer just wanted a working unit in place and intended to do his own dash panel cutting, and I never saw it after it was finished. However, I didn't try to modify the sliding mounting brackets like the factory 1.5-DIN head unit; instead, I just used backstraps to secure the head unit to the two 7mm screws on either side of the upper part of the dash cavity.
Hope this helps!
Brian
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hey Brian, man I'm glad I found this site and I'm glad there are people like you out there that don't mind helping us out. Thank's for the answer to my question and thank you for the link you sent me, but I have a question.. On the link you sent me he was saying that he lowered the climate control, I am failing to see exactly why he did that, to me the only thing that I see that needs to be modified would be my dash bezel and of course my dash cavity which I am not to worried about. The bezel itself may be a bit tricky, but I think careful cutting and sanding I will be ok, but now I am worried about the climate control, is lowering it or even moving it at all necessary?
Thank You for your time,
Brandon
AnswerHi Brandon,
Strictly speaking, lowering the climate control module shouldn't really be necessary. Shawn (from the web site) did it for aesthetic reasons and to fit a specific goal: he wanted to be able to replace the radio, later on, with a standard GM "double-DIN" type head unit, and keep a factory look. This wouldn't have been possible with the climate controls in the original position. For aesthetic reasons, he also wanted to have a bit more space between the two components so that he could use the cosmetic trim ring that came with his after-market head unit, and so that the head unit and climate controls wouldn't look crammed together. There's no doubt he made quite a bit more work for himself by doing this, but he came out with an after-market installation that had a factory look.
It's up to you just how finished you want you final product to look, but you should be able to fit your new deck into the opening without moving the climate controls. Also, you shouldn't need to cut out anything that would prevent you from replacing the old 1.5-DIN head unit later on; then you just have to pick up a new dash panel to put the truck back in stock condition. Since the same bezel was used on just about all GM full-size trucks and SUV's between 2000 and 2002, a used replacement shouldn't be hard to find. Relocating the climate control module, like Shawn did, would take away this option.
Good luck!
Brian
