I'm just trying to stay clean and solder, but Dan's so brazen.

Weld do better to end this before it crimps his style.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

All these puns are making my acid reflux act up.

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

Geeze, I guess I better shut up before I get solder traded to another board!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

No offense here Dan but...

You would have to tell me that it was the last stereo on the planet to pay $40 for that thing. Having worked as a professional car stereo installer, I have seen nothing that leads me to believe that any Dual unit is worth whatever amount they want for it. I have had nothing but problems with them, half wouldn't turn on right out of the box!

Opinions differ obviously, but this has been my experience with them, and I would guestimate that not many have had the pleasure of taking them back out of a vehicle with a very unhappy customer standing there complaining the whole time. This happened so often, that my store quit carrying them completely.

If you want to go aftermarket, I recommend getting yourself an underdash shroud that will accomodate the DIN sized unit of your choice. There should already be 1 hole under your dash in the middle under the cigarette ash tray that you can use for mounting one side, and you simply would need to drill a small hole for the other. I have installed these multiple times in older vehicles (once in a 1960 LeSabre... that was awesome!) and they work great.

My .02

Nice puns BTW...

~THOR~

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1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Okeh, you've got more experience with stereos than I have, so I have no reason to doubt your experience with Dual equipment (too bad; they used to be a good name…but then again, so did Westinghouse, and Codet, and hundreds of other formerly-made-in-the-first-world, now-made-in-China brands related to previous products in name only). Now: What alternative would you suggest if what is needed is a shaft-style unit, and underdash DIN is not on the menu?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I have never seen or heard of a modern shaft style unit not specifically manufactured for this purpose that will fit into the uncut dash of an A-body. They may exist, but I have been unable to find them.

The reason being, modifications have to be made on the rectangular portion of the stereo hole where the frequency is laid out to make it taller, and in some cases, wider as well because the older units had smaller face plates.

This on some cars, this will cut into the trim that may be present around the stereo holes. Now that I remember that tidbit, that Dual stereo may have caused him the same issue, and thus would have caused morality conflicts (To cut the dash, or not to cut the dash...No! ).

If you can find one that will fit into the dash without cutting, I applaud you because I have been unable to. I personally prefer installing an underdash unit, leaving the factory look of the dash intact. The underdash shroud can be mounted in any location that will accomodate it's size, and it doesn't intrude to much on the interior of the car.

Westinghouse really did make great products... I've got a Westinghouse flatscreen LCD 17" monitor from years back that still works...

~THOR~

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1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Okeh, so I'm reverting to the solution I used in my '62 Lancer: have the original radio modified to contain the functions I want from it. That way no cutting of any kind, and no underdash box.

The days of good Westinghouse-made consumer products ended in the early 1980s; anything branded "Westinghouse" made after that time is generic Chinese stuff marketed under the Westinghouse brand.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

That sounds like the best solution to me as well. I'd have done it to the cars I've had...except none of them had the factory radio in them!

~THOR~

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1984 D100 Shorty Custom
Certified Auto Appraiser - RevItUp Classic Appraisals
President - Cherry City Bombers CC
Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Thanks for the ideas and input, everyone!
The underdash mount would, I'm afraid, interfere with the aftermarket AC. It's good to know they're available, though.
Looking at the dash, some trimming could be done for a typical 2-shaft DIN unit, that would be concealed by the factory faceplate when/if it goes back in.
Unfortunately, a leaking home water heater and attendant floor and wall damage have put my radio fix/upgrade on an even further-back burner.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

they used to and may still make under seat units with a wired remote. maybe you could use something like that?

Hunt around in junkyards and eBay and thrift stores and craigslist to find working old school head units. Millions of shaft style tape decks were sold over the years, and there are probably millions out there for the cheap picking. If you simply must have 5,000 watts per channel you can wire up some amps.

I've been doing that on other vehicles for some time, with mixed results. I think GM truck radios are cursed - none have lasted very long in either truck.
Believe me, I'm no audiophile or lover of thumpathumpa sound systems. I don't feel the need to share the bass track with everyone at the stoplight. I want easy operation, reasonably clear sound in music and voice, and range (West Texas, remember?) On the highway, I consider the radio a piece of safety equipment. Around town, it's just something I like. At the drive in movies, I would like an FM radio and stereo speakers. Carrying a boom box is kind of low class ...

A remote mount is a good option for an upgrade. In the 60's my dad had a GM Wanderbar radio mounted under the seat of his '57 Ford pickup. The Wanderbar was an early signal seeking radio, so to change stations he just had to reach down and tap the bar.

_________________
"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO