1971 Cutlass Stereo Installation

dallasite21 · August 24th, 2009, 08:56 AM

I have a 71 cutlass with floor shit and I want to add an after market stero, but I dont want to ruin the integrity of the car buy removing the original and cutting. Is there a way to mount the stereo just below the old one. I saw a cutlass that had it monted under the dash and it had a plastic housing that held the stereo. Is there something like this that can be bought after market to install the stereo? I have attached a photo of where I would like to install.

gearheads78 · August 24th, 2009, 09:01 AM

how about inside the glove box?

joe_padavano · August 24th, 2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallasite21

I have a 71 cutlass with floor shit...

I HATE it when that happens...

Quote:

...and I want to add an after market stero, but I dont want to ruin the integrity of the car buy removing the original and cutting. Is there a way to mount the stereo just below the old one. I saw a cutlass that had it monted under the dash and it had a plastic housing that held the stereo. Is there something like this that can be bought after market to install the stereo? I have attached a photo of where I would like to install.

Actually, there is. I've seen repros of the factory 8-track housing that are designed to hold an aftermarket stereo. Unfortunately, I don't have a link.

Alternately, there are vendors who will install late model stereo guts in the factory radio. Looks completely original and works great. You can even get aux inputs. It's not cheap, however.

My442 · August 24th, 2009, 10:14 AM

There is a guy on e-Bay that sells the repro housing that mounts under the dash.

I went with the conversion route. Found a cosmetically nice radio, and had it converted to modern stereo. Updated the speakers, and had the 8 track redone as well.

Looks 100% stock, and sounds great.

Vendors:

Radio - www.retroradio.biz

Speakers - www.turnswitch.com

Both are great.

Expect to shell out about $400 for the radio conversion and speakers.

dallasite21 · August 24th, 2009, 10:41 AM

Here is a pic of the mounting brace under the dash. I saw this in someone elses cutlass. This is what I would like to do. Does anyone know where I can get this.

Lady72nRob71 · August 24th, 2009, 11:38 AM

Hi Parrish - good to see you here...

That last picture looks to be the aftermarket 8-track player housing that some people use to mount other stuff in.
The parts place sells the repro housing and bracket, but some people here had some issues with fit and looks issues with it. Do a search here on 8-track housing. I think OPG sells a housing also.
If you go this route, the lower plastic dash valience (with the "crotch-cooler" vents) will need to be removed and cut to fit around the housing.

joe_padavano · August 24th, 2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady72nRob71

If you go this route, the lower dash valience will need to be removed and cut to fit around the housing.

Only if you have A/C. There is no lower valance without A/C.

Lady72nRob71 · August 24th, 2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

Only if you have A/C.

He has A/C but his valiance is removed in the above picture...

joe_padavano · August 24th, 2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady72nRob71

He has A/C but his valiance is removed in the above picture...

Good eyes. I didn't catch that.

Lady72nRob71 · August 24th, 2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

Good eyes. I didn't catch that.

I bet you also missed that his valiance was brown and not black...

(OK, I know only because I saw his car in pics about a month ago...

)

joe_padavano · August 24th, 2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady72nRob71

I bet you also missed that his valiance was brown and not black...

Heck, I have that problem with my socks...

Bluevista · August 24th, 2009, 02:12 PM

Do you mean the basic everyday aftermarket underdash stereo housing?
With the Olds 8-Track housing you would need the housing and the pad for the face, over 200 bucks. There's also the woodgrain metal faceplate that's another 40 bucks and won't work with a radio anyway, a lot of housing face modifications would have to be done and a faceplate fabricated. A lot of guys use the 8-Track housings for gauges too, usually gut stock ones, around 250 dollars just for an original uncracked housing.
By the time you got done buying that stuff and the stereo it would be a lot cheaper to have your unit reworked and an MP3 jack added for recorded tunes or mount a unit in the glove box.

It would be tough to mount an underdash aftermarket housing to the lower a/c valance in place, it's rounded and not real strong, plus you would have to make mounting holes in it.
I used an underdash housing and mounted it to the top of my glove compartment. I added a boat remote in the ash tray so I wouldn't have to leave the door open all the time. This is in my GTO, the Vista Cruiser has a stock am-fm stereo and an underdash 8-Track stereo. The car is all original, including the sound.

3081953752_fbf6fa4b84.jpg 3081953770_3ba26a55fb_m.jpg

texasred · August 25th, 2009, 04:15 PM

What's a "boat remote"?

C.J.

CHARLOTTE · November 19th, 2009, 07:28 PM

a "Boat Remote" is typically a wired remote. IE you dont have to point it at the radio and can put the radio in a more remote location.

August 24th, 2009, 09:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
gearheads78 Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,566	how about inside the glove box? __________________ -Richard 66 Cutlass ragtop my way Keep watching your cotton candy coated TV while your world falls apart around you...

August 24th, 2009, 11:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Lady72nRob71 Moderator Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 1,916	Hi Parrish - good to see you here... That last picture looks to be the aftermarket 8-track player housing that some people use to mount other stuff in. The parts place sells the repro housing and bracket, but some people here had some issues with fit and looks issues with it. Do a search here on 8-track housing. I think OPG sells a housing also. If you go this route, the lower plastic dash valience (with the "crotch-cooler" vents) will need to be removed and cut to fit around the housing. __________________ -Rob Young 1972 Cutlass Supreme Convertible (442 clone) -"Lady" (My mistress...) http://www.flickr.com/photos/robsalbum/sets/ 1986 Cutlass Supreme Coupe - "Pristine" 1978 Ford (Old Faithful) a.k.a. "the Tramp" 1997 Cadillac STS (for sale - too many cars!) 1999 Harley Davidson Sportster - "the Freedom Machine" Last edited by Lady72nRob71; August 24th, 2009 at 11:48 AM..

August 25th, 2009, 04:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
texasred Tom Servo's Stunt Double Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 824	What's a "boat remote"? C.J. __________________ Dad said, "Sometimes you read Job...sometimes you ARE Job!"

November 19th, 2009, 07:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
CHARLOTTE BigJ91104 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Spring,Tx Posts: 7	a "Boat Remote" is typically a wired remote. IE you dont have to point it at the radio and can put the radio in a more remote location. __________________ If you cant bump it, dump it(Cowboy Customs)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

August 24th, 2009, 10:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
My442 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 204	There is a guy on e-Bay that sells the repro housing that mounts under the dash. I went with the conversion route. Found a cosmetically nice radio, and had it converted to modern stereo. Updated the speakers, and had the 8 track redone as well. Looks 100% stock, and sounds great. Vendors: Radio - www.retroradio.biz Speakers - www.turnswitch.com Both are great. Expect to shell out about $400 for the radio conversion and speakers.

August 24th, 2009, 02:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bluevista Cruisin' the Vistas Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 1,724	Do you mean the basic everyday aftermarket underdash stereo housing? With the Olds 8-Track housing you would need the housing and the pad for the face, over 200 bucks. There's also the woodgrain metal faceplate that's another 40 bucks and won't work with a radio anyway, a lot of housing face modifications would have to be done and a faceplate fabricated. A lot of guys use the 8-Track housings for gauges too, usually gut stock ones, around 250 dollars just for an original uncracked housing. By the time you got done buying that stuff and the stereo it would be a lot cheaper to have your unit reworked and an MP3 jack added for recorded tunes or mount a unit in the glove box. It would be tough to mount an underdash aftermarket housing to the lower a/c valance in place, it's rounded and not real strong, plus you would have to make mounting holes in it. I used an underdash housing and mounted it to the top of my glove compartment. I added a boat remote in the ash tray so I wouldn't have to leave the door open all the time. This is in my GTO, the Vista Cruiser has a stock am-fm stereo and an underdash 8-Track stereo. The car is all original, including the sound. 3081953752_fbf6fa4b84.jpg 3081953770_3ba26a55fb_m.jpg

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
'87 Cutlass Ciera Stereo Installation Problem	Meekrab	Electrical	2	August 24th, 2009 07:50 AM
Stereo Questions......Cutlass Convertible	Southern_Hospitality	General Discussion	6	June 8th, 2009 11:54 AM
1975 Cutlass AM or AM/FM 8-track stereo	internationalflagemblem	Interior/Upholstery	0	December 15th, 2008 12:10 PM
Speaker, door installation '68 Cutlass Conv.	boese1978	Cutlass	1	April 17th, 2008 05:50 AM
1972 Cutlass stereo parts	silverriff	Parts Wanted	0	April 6th, 2008 09:06 PM