The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench Installing stereo in glovebox...any takers?

I have a 61' Apache. Radio was optional. Don't wanna cut any holes in the dash, and would like to install a stereo in my glove box. Has anyone done this before? I might be in for a real bear so any help is appreciated. Thanks.

- Will

PO had one in there but it was a hack job. I ripped it all out and threw it away. Sorry no advice...but I've been thinking along the same lines.

doesn't yer truck have the "delete" plate to cover the radio mounting hole?? you can get good modern units that will fit in the original hole w/ no mods - only reason for puttin it in the glovebox is to keep it outta sight of the bad guys - you could put it under the seat easier, and save the glovebox space for the gloves

Bill

I had a CD player in the glovebox of my car in high school. I put it there to make life easier for me, and I was worried it would get jacked. It was a really expensive CD player and I wanted it to be safe. I got a RF (radio frequency) remote for it operated the CD player with the glovebox door closed. It was a cool setup. I had to lengthen the wiring harness that came with the stereo. It also made running my speakers a little more interesting, but no too much. I made a metal box to hold it and screwed it into the glovebox. I painted the housing black and it looked good. It was a nice setup and I didn't have to pull apart my facotry dash, I just unplugged the stereo. It is not a hard setup to build or install, I say go for it.

my brilliant PO welded shut the radio mounting hole in the dashboard on my 53 gmc, so i couldn't add any radio without welding/cutting/torching. i put a cd in the glove compartment and it works fine. wish i'd gotten one with an RF remote so i don't have to open the door to change stations though. also, i still have the 6v setup, so i had to run a converter which i'm afraid to leave hot all the time so i lose my station settings and volume level settings whenever i shut the engine off. it works okay though. the only indication of a radio is the antenna. i thought about the hidden ones but didn't get a warm fuzzy on them working too well, so just went with the model that is spring loaded in the base like i remember in the old days seeing on cars and trucks. got it at my FLAPS.
tony

I've thought about this too. I also had an earlier post about iPods..that's really all I want to do, but so far seems like I need a radio head unit either way I go. Also looked at the "Secret Audio" units, but I'm a little leery of those..may be more ($$$) than I really need. And doesn't take a iPod. But, yeah, I think about the glove box. Iwas also told that another good spot is above the driver's sun visor. Good luck.

How about an overhead console? It'd be a pain running the wiring,but hey-no pain,no gain,huh?
Speed
BTW-if you do go with the glovebox,don't forget a good ground wire to the stereo case!

i have kinda been thinking bout this the past couple days on where to mount a CD player in my '64 chevy because only one door has a lock in the handle and i don't want to cut up my dash either but yet i don't want it in the glove box cause then it'd be a pain to put in cds or change stations so i was gona go with a under dash mount and figure out some way to have it retract up in the dash or go with bucket seats then have a locking center counsle but i'd prefer to keep the bench
Nate

i would buy a custom fit radio from www.customautosound.com

I bought a custom autosound unit and it went south on me in about a month. No warrantee cause it sat on a shelf for too long before I installed it. :mad: They are very cheaply made in my opinion. They are mostly chrome plastic. The thing DOES look nice in the factory radio position. I wouldn't buy one just for that though. :rolleyes:

I have had custom autosounds in most of my old cars and trucks . Went in with no problems and didnt have any problems with working after 4 yrs in my longest installation. As far as putting a stereo in the glove box my friend build a stainless steel box patterned after the cardboard glove box. Then he cut out the holes needed for the stereo . Looked great and did the job. I also plan on putting a custom autosound stereo with remote cd in my 57.