510 Modern Radio Installation

[BillAllen]

Hey Dimers!

I made the mistake of purchasing a new Kenwood radio that does not have the dual shaft type mounting.  Instead, it has a sleeve which is mounted  to the infrastructure of the car and the radio slides into the sleeve.  I KNOW, I should have checked that out before buying but I'm looking to continue with the installation.

 

Does anyone out there have experience with doing such and installation?  I have this type of radio installed in my 93 Ranger truck.  I am also looking into trying to do the installation without an external antenna.  Any suggestions are welcomed.

 

Bill

[datzenmike]

You will have to cut a hole in the dash to mount the sleeve into. Or leave the stock radio for show and mount the new one elsewhere such as a console from another vehicle. My 710 'radio' is mounted just forward of the shifter and I can reach it without leaning. Perhaps under your knees on the front of the driver's seat? Under dash?

[datsunfreak]

 I am also looking into trying to do the installation without an external antenna. 

 

Did this once. Used a normal mast antenna mounted to the bottom of the dash (but not touching any metal), from one side to the other. 

 

Didn't work quite as well as an external antenna, but it did work. 

[MikeRL411]

I remember a thin wire antenna stuck to the inside of the windshield with transparent tape.  It had a center tapped balun coil at the bottom which gave both AM and FM output to the radio.  Some Buicks and Caddilacs had a factory version of this laminated into the factory windshield.

[q-tip]

Another trick is to put a regular antenna in the headliner, you can get a pretty large antenna and it is completely hidden

[tr8er]

I've used a glove box for a deck and just used a remote control.

 

But for my dime I made a plexiglass (black) face with a cutout for the deck that held the bracket solid.

 

 

[banzai510(hainz)]

I saw a wild hog run across the road in that photo

[Rjawm]

Some more options for antennas are:

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QYSXAS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3SEYU93TY3BNU&coliid=I5F34XLBGOIGY

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LF5RIO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3SEYU93TY3BNU&coliid=I1WZ2WB7BS0RZL

 

 

http://www.parts-express.com/metra-44-ua20-electronic-am-fm-car-radio-hide-away-antenna--265-5807

 

 

http://www.parts-express.com/metra-44-ua200-amplified-am-fm-car-stereo-window-antenna--265-5801

 

 

And for mounting of the head unit itself:

 

http://www.parts-express.com/metra-99-9000-universal-radio-housing--265-926

 

 

There used to be a similar one that wasn't the whole box, that might still be available with searching. I've just bought one of the ones in the link and cut it in half before and it worked well and wasn't so bulky under the dash.

 

I have used both the bottom 2 antennas on different occasions and really good reception with them.

[BillAllen]

Hey Guys and Gals,

Thanks so much for all of the responses, you have all given me ideas.  I will post my results when I've completed the installation. 

 

You folks are awesome.