Well I received my radio back from its rebuild. They did a great job at cleaning it up while they updated the system. Looks just like a stock radio but with digital conversion inside. I installed the new speakers in the front dash pad and now I am ready to install the radio back into the car. Well Actually the radio is sitting in place but I had to remove the support bracket that ties the console to the dash panel to get the radio back in. My question is, what is the best way to get this support bracket back in? Do I need to remove the console and if so what is a good procedure for doing this? I removed the top on the console and it looks like I have to remove the heater control to get the console out. Also does the part of the console for the E brake need to come out first, (I have power window switches in there) I saw I have a very small crack in the slide part of the e brake console and I don't want to make it worse. I cant wait to see what this system will sound like with all new speakers and a 4 channel stereo. I was really impressed with the wiring harness work that they did for me. It looks very easy to hook up. I also need to decide were I will be running my RCA jack to so I can run add on sound systems. I was thinking of running it through the console to the back so it wasn't visible.
Thanks for any help you can pas my way.
Rodney

on a 75 the console comes out front to back. i slid the support bracket for the heater control off and console came off and didn't have to disconnect the control.  what i don't get is why you had to take out the support to get radio in. mine went in after the console was back together.

So Rod your saying you had an original stock radio converted to digital, wow.  Do you mind me asking what that ran ya?  Send me a PM if you perfer.  I've got a fairly new AM/FM 8-Track player I'd like to do this too. Thanks.

[QUOTE=cilrah]So Rod your saying you had an original stock radio converted to digital, wow.  Do you mind me asking what that ran ya?  Send me a PM if you perfer.  I've got a fairly new AM/FM 8-Track player I'd like to do this too. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

don't know if rd answered you but when i bought mine i was looking into doing the same thing. i checked a couple places out and they were quoting prices between 350-500. don't know if he found a better deal and would be interesting to find out.

A friend of mine had his Stang's radio done for about $400. It's all digitized and includes an internal 180 Watt Amp.

Rod, if you're talking about the "horseshoe" shaped bracket that fits under the front of the console, I can tell ya...it's a PITA!
This piece is part of the support for the radio, and it does tie the console to the lower part of the center cluster. The cluster has two studs that fit into two slots in the bracket, with nuts to hold the two pieces together. The problem is, you can't really get to the nuts to tighten them! (Well, you can, it's just a big pita.)
The bracket bolts to the center console with two small bolts/nuts, if I remember right, then the gauge cluster, with the radio fits into the slots in the bracket. There are two screws on the sides of the bracket, toward the bottom, that go into a made-to-the-tunnel bracket. Once the radio/cluster is fitted into the horseshoe bracket/console, then you have to put the tiny nuts on the studs, and tighten them down. I have found it easiest to go in from the sides, with a short wrench. No room for a socket of any kind.
To tell ya the truth, most people will actually leave these nuts off when they remove the radio for the first time. You really do need to have the bracket on there, tho, even if you don't attach the gauge cluster to it. It helps keep the console from spreading out at the front.

Take a look at THIS PIC...is this the bracket to which you are referring? I know this is not an actual pic of the bracket, but it is in this location. I'm looking for a pic of the actual bracket...Adams' Apple2007-04-06 19:40:45

Joel,
Yes that is the bracket. I got it back in and tightened it with a 1/4" drive racket using a 12" extension and swivel socket and a shallow 3/8 socket. Not a fun place to work. Radio is in and working now.

Mark as for the total cost I ended up getting the radio conversion to digital with 180 total watts of power. 45 per channel. I had them add the RCA jack so I can use any type of auxilliary unit that uses a headphone. I also got 2 new speakers for in the front dash. Original Delco 10 ohm speakers. The final cost was $479.95 including shipping back. I also bought the rear speaker bar that is for Corvettes from a vendor but I am not happy with it. I will be trying to get another set of speakers for the rear.  The sound from the radio is great and operation of all dials is very nice. I can say I am extremely satisfied with this conversion. If you need more information just email me and I would be happy to give you the vendors name that did this work. I am not sure I can do that within the rules of our forum in this post.
Thanks to everyones help and suggestions on the many radio questions I had leading up to this conversion.
Rodney

Warbird.
The radio is great when completed. The sound I am sure he will be happy with. I wish I could find a good pair of speakers that would fit into the rear without taking up storage space and that I could conceal without them being in view. I will keep searching!
rod75152007-04-08 12:51:37

its great to hear that it came out sounding great. guess when i heard the price and not really having heard of how the conversions came out had me wondering if it was worth it. now that i hear this i might consider the same treatment. if you wouldn't mind  would you pm me the info on this. thanks. guess i will be in the same boat as far as the rear speakers go as i also bought a speaker bar for the back. haven't hooked it up so i don't know how it sounds. is it at all ranges or just at a certain level it doesn't do well? thanks for sharing the info with us.

Eddie,
The speaker bar has what I told the gentleman that did the radio a real bassee sound. It also has the in a cavern sound in the rears. The front original delco 10 ohm speakers that were only $49.95 for the pair have much better sound than the bar has. Also the bar, although very thin would cover the interior light in the back as well. I will continue to look for speakers for the back but I plan on using the bar for now. I cant tell you how happy I am with the total sound package. If I knew I wouldnt be breaking any rules for our forum I would post the Vendor that I purchased the conversion from. He also got the radio back to me in a very quick turn around only 4 weeks when most others wanted 8 - 12 weeks. I will PM you on the name and number.
Rodney