Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

King Scuzzo · « **on:** October 14, 2009, 11:02:27 PM »

So my factory radio bit the dust and I'm thinking about installing an aftermarket single din CD/Mp3 player in my Type II. I have years of experience doing this type of stuff in newer cars (and some early 80's model ghetto wagons) but I really don't want to cut or alter the dash in my VW. I've thought about using fiberglass to make a mold of the glovebox insert and then just mounting the new radio in place of my glove box, but to be honest that would make operation during driving kinda ridiculous. I could get a waterproof mounting bracket like the ones used on boats and motorcycles and mount to the side of my drivers seat but...

I was really just wondering if anyone else had any better advice.

ASBug · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2009, 08:40:36 AM »

Mine is y'ed into the antanaee wire and is running in a suitcase with it's own speakers behind the rear seat. It is an indash MP3/CD with remote.
Nothing fancy. I can still Run the AM radio if I want to, but with the remote, I can listen to anything from Skinnard to REM or whatever. Plus I can mount it on the Roof rack and run it durring car shows if I want to.
LMK if you need photos, I call it my suitcase boom box.
KC

certdubtech · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2009, 09:50:45 AM »

I like the suitcase idea. It's what i am gonna run on the double cab and on the camper bus. They work great and they look pretty darned cool. Besides, No way am i putting a cd player in a splittie dash. [-X

But i gotta have my ipod. :wink:

Russ · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2009, 10:47:47 AM »

The radio opening in the dash is slightly smaller than the standard DIN size, so to make it fit you do have to cut the opening slightly to make a modern radio fit. This can be done without mutilating things too badly, I've got a Jensen stereo with a retractable 7" LCD screen and it fits great.

Also instead of making a mold of your glovebox, I suggest just buying an ABS plastic glovebox. If yours is still original then chances are the pasteboard is deteriorating anyways.

Why not join us for a meeting or a cruise-in sometime?

certdubtech · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:33:59 AM »

Dang Russ... the bus always looked nice. I had no idea you were rolling with that much technology. Looks pretty clean, not too obtrusive.....

King Scuzzo · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:00:05 PM »

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'd like to see the suitcase radio if you could upload some pics.

P.S. When is the next Cruise-In?

swagginjello · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:11:51 PM »

hacksaw blade on vicegrips, and a hammers all it took to get mine in :roll:

travisyoung · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:43:43 AM »

when i was shopping for my 62 beetle on of the things that turned me off completly to buying a car was a hacked dash!

SpyCarHippie · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2009, 07:59:31 AM »

I like the idea of a suitcase stereo. I saw a pic of one on the Samba. It had the player and speakers in an old fashioned (period correct) suit case. I didn't think of bringing it outside the car for parades, parties etc. I think I'm gonna go that route too.

Now, off to goodwill for a 1973 Samsonite.

Dave

certdubtech · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2009, 09:27:15 AM »

Quote from: "travisyoung"

when i was shopping for my 62 beetle on of the things that turned me off completly to buying a car was a hacked dash!

Affirmative. I think that the late model dashes are o.k. with a little bit of modern touch. Russ's install there looks great. But, I wanna kick somebody in the hind parts when i see a beautiful painted dash with a scrolling JVC screen saying "hello" to you when you turn the key on.... :roll:

Hide it in the glovebox or sumthin people...

Russ · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2009, 03:41:23 PM »

Quote from: "King Scuzzo"

P.S. When is the next Cruise-In?

Next meeting is Monday night, October 19th at 7:00 PM at Wally's Restaurant in East Ridge.

Next cruise-in is Friday, November 6th at the Dairy Queen in Hixson at 7:00 PM.

cindy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2009, 08:14:19 PM »

The November cruise in is going to be at the Dairy Queen in Hixson. Moving it so that if it is cold weather we will have some place to gather inside with some heat.

Gobusgo · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2009, 12:30:41 AM »

I installed a DIN Sony stereo years ago in Oscar. I took a Dremel tool and only had to shave the smallest amount of metal to get the harness to slide in. The faceplate was a bit tight and touched the padded dash around the hole, but it went in just as well (with a little shaving) and looks good too. Put a 6-disc CD changer in the box between the seats.

Russ · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2009, 12:35:16 AM »

Yep, it doesn't take a lot of cutting and you can do it cleanly if you're careful. The other problem is the opening is slightly curved on the edges and most faceplates are squarish, so you have to do a little shaving there too.

I consider it an upgrade since you can then fit any single DIN player in there.

That said, if you can find a nice looking original Sapphire radio, those also look great in the dash while you have a CD player mounted in the glovebox.

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Topic: Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus? (Read 6490 times)

King Scuzzo

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

ASBug

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

certdubtech

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

Russ

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

certdubtech

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

King Scuzzo

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

swagginjello

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

travisyoung

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

SpyCarHippie

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

certdubtech

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

Russ

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

cindy

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

Gobusgo

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

Russ

Installing a single din cd player in a VW bus?

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