Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all

Just wondered if anyone has installed a stereo in an alternative place on the dash at all??

For my next trick, I'm planning on installing mine pretty much where the dash mounted ashtray should be (missing on mine). I plan to build a unit of a similar curved shape as the spedo / instrument panel housing and have the stereo, with a leisure battery / car battery switch, and poss a digital clock/external thermometer. The stereo will be angled the same as the instrument panel etc and try and make it as neat and flush as poss.

I have a ebayed Saab ashtray / cig lighter that will fit nicely in the old stereo slot, next to the heater controls to fill that hole in!

(I was going to cover the entire dash with blue vinyl but now will just cover the previously curved housing on the dash.)

I remember years ago an article in Max Power or Fast car or similar boy racer mags about doing a custom job using balsa wood based frame, shaped and strengthened with P38 and P40, then covered with vinyl of choice, with the stereo mounted in the middle looking all sexy.

Anyone ever done this or similar or got any pics of their attempts, before I start cutting lumps out of the dash?!

I've got a second instrument pod on the passenger side of mine (see pic in my Garage).
Currently provides panel for satnav and space for CDs, but am planning to redesign to take oil gauges as well.
You could fit radio in that.

Alternative for your radio would be an aftermarket under-dash radio DIN mount. They used to be common in Halfords back in the day when we all had Mk 1 Escorts and Vivas with no slot for a radio. One of those upside down over the ashtray space would go well.

Wouldn't it be easier to leave the radio where it is though (they are heavy and benefit from the sturdy metal surround) and mount the cigarette lighter etc on the new console?

Yeah thats the kind of thing Im doing! Mines going to be a bit smaller and will house the stereo and the switch to choose where its runs from main batt or leisure batt etc.

Dont know what convinced me to put the stereo there - but I like somthing different and the Saab ashtay fitted in the slot where the old stereo was, so that was enough for me, so a chopping I went and have started builing the unit. Will get some pics up when its done. Im please with what I've done so far and thats just with the balsa wood frame - pre-fibreglass / vinyl!

The angle and shape of the unit will replicate the main console and both will be covered with blue vinyl to match the interior.

Cheers

Mat

shortbloke wrote:Yeah thats the kind of thing Im doing! Mines going to be a bit smaller and will house the stereo and the switch to choose where its runs from main batt or leisure batt etc.
Mat

Rather than messing about with a switch which you could forget to switch fit a switching relay does it all for you!

Interesting! How would that work??

I want (for example) to use the main battery when driving etc and when parked up or camping use the leisure battery.

I run mine of the LB all the time, naturally the LB gets charged when the motor's running.
I ran a fused feed from the LB with a plain spade crimp on the end. I removed fuse 3 and stuck the spade crimp directly in the fuse holder - et voila.

This set up also provides power to the interior light and ciggy lighter sockets.

Many including us have this wiring mod. Do have to turn on radio each time I drive, but no big deal.

lloyd wrote:Many including us have this wiring mod. Do have to turn on radio each time I drive, but no big deal.

Sorry which set up... the switch, the relay or the direct from LB?

Titus's post is just before mine... to which I replied. So the answer is the mod to run stereo and lights from leisure battery by powering the fuse block terminals for them with leisure battery. This could also be done with a relay that switched power to mains battery when engine was running and alternator charging, but why? Leisure battery is charging if engine is running and alternator charging annway.

i have a pair of cup holders that are din slot size that i would like to fit where the radio is
big problem is where to put the radio..

shortbloke wrote:Interesting! How would that work??

I want (for example) to use the main battery when driving etc and when parked up or camping use the leisure battery.

split charge relay

see the wiki

Just done this for you hope it helps! This set up the stereo will work of the les battery whilst the ign is off once you swtich the ignition on it runs from the vehicle battery, i have mine like this and it doesnt jump etc when i switch it !

Hey up shortbloke how are you getting on with the install? I am thinking of doing something similar to house a double din head unit with built in sat nav.
I was going to buy a speedo surround and work from there, but with a double din radio/satnav i will need to cut the dash a little-so i am waiting till the winter as the van will be off the road for a while as i plan to fir a pop top of some sort .

We too have the radio wired to the leisure battery, listen to the radio b4 bed then use remote for radio to turn it all off.......really lazy really ..or thats what the mrs says anyhow

mellowyellow wrote:Hey up shortbloke how are you getting on with the install? I am thinking of doing something similar to house a double din head unit with built in sat nav.
I was going to buy a speedo surround and work from there, but with a double din radio/satnav i will need to cut the dash a little-so i am waiting till the winter as the van will be off the road for a while as i plan to fir a pop top of some sort .

We too have the radio wired to the leisure battery, listen to the radio b4 bed then use remote for radio to turn it all off.......really lazy really ..or thats what the mrs says anyhow

Sorry for not replying sooner, got side tracked with a few major problems with the suspension and brakes, so not really had much chance to work on the stereo.

So far, built the unit out of balsa and skimmed with filler, given it a light rub down and WAS in the process of covering it with scrim foam before the vinyl, which is when the other problem occured on the van, so it got hurled at a rate on knots into the back of the van in anger!
Still in one piece and after V Festival this weekend (minus our van!!) ill get back to it again and will post a pic or 2 if I get a chance. Good luck with your build, would like to that when its done!

Oh the joys of owning a vw eh
We just back after a trip to the Lake District this weekend and it sounds like we got a prob too with the diff! I've been using the van to tow my track bikes to race meetings and i think i may have killed the diff pulling all this weight. NOT a happy bunny-as we got another track day booked for next week....never mind life would be boring without problems to sort

Anyhow been looking at double din tv/sat nav cd players but as yet cannot find one which will connect to the iphone and do all the things i need of a new head unit. I'm a Yorkshire lad so don't want to break the bank buying a Kenwod or Alpine one etc-so it looks like it will be a cheap jap make.
Looking to do the instal at the same time as i fit a pop top(if i ever find one) as i plan to fit a drop down rear monitor to watch whilst in bed. Had the van a while now and want to trreat it/us to some gadgets.

V fest any good ? We did Glasto again this year in the van-you cant beat using the van for festivals but the walk up to the camper area at Glasto is a bit of a killer!

Good luck with the build .....if the van lets ya