All (This might be in the wrong area)
I am finishing up a major dash repair on my 70 VC (original dash was cut for after market radio), which I think came out pretty good....I used some .030 steel doublers behind the splice to give it strength, just waiting on the wood grain kit from Fusicks now.
I want to add an 8 track. I have the proper brackets and holding case for the 8 track, but it appears that the car never had one before, so there are no holes under the dash for it's proper placement. I have looked in the various manuals and see things for wire runs etc, but not the physical placement of the 8 track. Were they supposed to mount directly under the radio? Off set left or right? What did the factory/dealerships do for placement?
Any help appreciated. Thanks!!
r/jbh


Damaged Dash

Repaired Splice complete

Cut out for splice repair


Adding more Questions....and a couple more pics

It also appears that I perhaps need "new" (different?) air conditioning gasper/trim panels? Can anyone confirm that? A separate lower valence for each side of the 8 track?
Thanks in advance for any info availble there.

r/jbh

 

1970 Product Information Manual (aka Assembly Manual), Section 1-3, page 143.

 

Hi Joe. Thanks!! Exactly what I was looking for. I will need to look harder to fine these data in the Assembly Manual (which I have). Would you know If I need to also replace the AC valence? Or do people normally just cut it to fit? (which I would rather NOT do....I hate messing up original parts for the car.)
r/jbh

 

Hollyerjb:

I bought a real nice lower color matched AC vent panel from member 442crzy earlier this year. I was putting an aftermarket, under dash 8 track in my car and did not want to cut the original part. The one he sent me was as nice or even nicer than the original on my low mileage 442! Just an FYI if you don't want to cut your original part.

OLE442

 

OLE
Are you offering to sell me that panel? (If so I am in! ; )' Did you eventually find the Left/Right panels? I keep searching and have messaged most of the parts places I know. Still looking. I am going to just reassemble everything (except that lower valence and the AC system.) I am sure they will eventually show up and I can finish the mods. The "Big Boss" keeps telling me "we gotta have AC!" ..... and she is right central Texas in the summer can be sticky.... So the AC will still work it will just blow a bit funny!
r/jbh

 

Nope, never offered any part. But 442 crzy may still have others and maybe in your interior color! Sorry.

 

x2 on not cutting the original part, try and avoid doing that if possible. Decent 2 piece set ups are around which would work for your unit. You'll also need that heat deflector that goes behind the 8 track unit and directs the heat to either side of it. Without that you will get heat right on the 8 track, not a good thing for those 50+ year old tapes as well.

I did this set up on my 72 Cutlass Supreme and my 72 Cutlass S years ago and I thought it was the single best upgrade I did for the car. I was lucky that both these cars had an AM radio with the optional rear speaker, so placing in a correct AM/FM Stereo radio was no issue. To get at the front speaker more easily I removed the clock. IMHO that is actually a 3 handed job and since I was born with only 2, I had my wife assist with replacing the speaker. I left the rear speaker alone as only one, I wanted to duplicate the sound as heard when the car was bought new.