Ok...I bought my car in 1984 as a stupid kid. It has been very good to me and I never wadded it up. I never cut it up, Heck, I even kept the stock Rally IIs on it till just recently. My moral dilemma is that I'm torn on cutting the dash now to install a car stereo. I know I will never sell the car. I have a great deck from my other pickup that I am maybe thinking of installing. It just seems kinda odd that the car survived the years when most every dingus was cutting holes in the trim panels and everywhere to put speakers and I never did but now it's hard to even find a decent stereo with the 2 ***** and the center dial. I suppose u can't get a CD player in those. I just am kinda reluctant to do something that I can't easily return to stock but I havn't got a stock radio to put in and I really don't think I ever would

 

DON'T CUT IT. You already know you will regret it. There is a guy on here that sells underdash mounting kits for stereos, guages and cd players. It is a reproduction of the underdash unit originally used for 8-track units. There was just a thread on here about it.

 

Found the link to the thread. Neat stuff and reasonably priced. Let us know how this works.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-housings.html

 

I agree 100% I would not cut it up. I would definitely go with the underdash unit.

 

X3
there is also the option to put modern guts inside the original radio.

 

X 4

 

X5

Here's the route I went an am happy it.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...o-install.html

 

Ok. Thanks. I won't . but I will have to find an origional radio to put in there because it needs something. lol

 

Does that underdash setup have the support for the rear of the deck and stay pretty solid while driving?

 

Did Oldsmobiles ever have a radio delete plate like Chevelles did? I'm sure they're few and far between, but that would be a cool alternative to a stock radio that won't ever get used. I always think it looks strange having two radios "stacked".

 

You could put a blurb in the parts wanted section for either the delete plate (if Olds had them for the "newer" models!) OR a stock radio. Wouldn't have to work, just sit there OR do like jensen racing said.
Your choice!

Ralph

 

Yes they did have radio delete plates. I have one for another future project but it's green. After this car...

 

Contact this guy, if he can't help there are others that do similar work. Don't despair and don't give up on your idea.

Or check out this thread.

 

I wouldn't cut up the dash either. Get one of those "old style" radios that has a mini-phono jack for your MP3 player in it.

 

I put my AM FM MP3 player in the glove compartment. It has a remote. The other option is under the front seat. Actually there are so many options around these days (as seen here), that no one needs to cut up their dash anymore. I have the original Am-Fm-8-track in place and just bypassed it and hooked up the new one. Just feed a wire to the original deck so the light comes on at night.

 

Also for the record JCWhitney I believe sells newer decks that retro fit

 

I have bought the under dash conole from Randy, The guy that makes them that is posted and is a stand up guy, Do not cut your dash just buy the housing. He has them in a few styles and spots for gauges and the deck at the same time.

 

The bottom line is, do whatever you want to with the car. Cutting the dash will definitely cause the value to take a hit if you sell it. If you plan on keeping it forever, then it doesn't really matter. My dash was already cut when I got the car, so it was a moot point.
Mike