Pics of New Stereo Install Process in My '67

[colnago]

Okay, so I wanted (needed?) to install a new stereo in a '67. Unfortunately, this is one of those areas where a '67 is different from the others. So, while I did rely on other threads that talked about installing a new stereo with the Metra kit, I realized (once I got into it) that I bit off a big bite. I did make it work, though, so I hope this helps others who have a '67. Yes, it can be done, as long as you work slowly.

I did consider mounting the stereo in the glove compartment, or building a console that I could place on the tranny hump, but I deciced that this was impractical for my needs. If I was going to get a working stereo, it HAD to go into the existing dash slot.

This first picture is what I started with. As you can see, the tabs are connected to both the side AND the bottom of the opening.

I finally decided to cut the tabs on the sides and bend them down; just in case a future owner decided to bring it back to original condition, the tabs would still be attached. Yes, they would doubtless swear at me, but there would be metal to work with. So, photos 2 and 3 show the cuts that I made in the metal.

[colnago]

Okay, next step was to bend the tabs down. I decided to make the cuts on the side, and bend the tabs down, because they could help support the weight of the stereo. If I made the cuts along the bottom, and bent them to the side, they couldn't support the stereo.

So, the first photo shows the opening I have.

Now I pulled out my Metra trim kit. $%#^@&! The tabs are too wide, causing the front panel to bend outward. This is shown in the second photo (actually, you can see that I checked this before doing any cuts in the metal, but the results were the same: the Metra kit was too wide to fit into the opening).

Okay, that meant that the Metra tabs had to be cut off. After all, the Metra kit is basically to make sure the stereo can fit flush to the slanted dash. I didn't take photos, but I ended up cutting the tabs off, then using Super Glue to re-attach them to the Metra plastic, between the Metra sides and the stereo mounting sides. This helped the whole thing from sliding side-to-side (made for a perfectly-snug fit in the original dash opening, and I was NOT going to widen the opening!).

The final fit of the Metra kit is shown in the third photo.

[colnago]

Whew! So far, so good!

So, the final photo shows the final install.

After the entire thing was done, I am glad to have a modern stereo in the truck. I had to make minor mods to the dash (cut and bend), but if I had to make a truck worthy of an original show truck, I could move backwards. I did have to fight the fact that the '67 was different enough from the '68 - '72 that I needed to "tweak it" a bit. Also, I figured that my stereo install is only a small piece of the truck's 45-year history, so that let me move forward without having to fret about the '67 being too special to modify. It's really no different than putting a 390 in a truck that originally came with a 352, or swapping trannys, or ...

The only disappointment is that the Metra mounting kit is kind of large. It kind of overwhelm the heater controls. This is something that is pretty darn cool about the '67. So, I'm already looking at other mounting options. If I find something smaller, or something that lets the stereo fit further back in the opening, then the Metra kit is gone! But, in the meantime, I can have modern tunes in the old girl. Yes, the JVC doesn't exactly fit in with the classic look, but I can live with that, but I certainly don't want it to overwhelm the overall classic look.

Anyway, I hope these photos help anyone with a '67. You can use the Metra kit, but you will have to modify it. Connect power to the cigarette lighter (something I got from another thread), ground to the dash, and ignition power to the fuse block on the firewall above the parking brake. If anyone needs more photos, let me know, and I can post.

Joseph

[flyboy2610]

Looks good!

[colnago]

flyboy,

Thanks. Mostly, I wanted to let the forum know that they can use the Metra kit on a '67, but it will take some tweaking to make it work. I also wanted to let everyone know that it's not completely irreversible. The Metra kit is kind of big, so I'm already thinking of ways to trim it down or make a replacement (which shouldn't be too hard, but in the meantime, I have a working stereo). Hopefully, this will help the next guy with a '67 who wants to upgrade the stereo.

By the way, I did look at that retro system that (used to be on) Crutchfield. But even that unit is only for '68+. I could not find ANYTHING that was a simple swap-in for a '67. If anyone has a link to a '67 unit, however, I would welcome the info ...

Joseph

[sargentrs]

Great work!

[FORD-F250-4x4-1972]

Looks awesome great work you did there

[guhfluh]

Thanks for the posts and pictures! I have been searching for a while for a radio/stereo upgrade for my 1967 with no luck. I want an old style looking radio with modern features and I really don't want to cut the dash opening bigger. Bending the tabs as you did is ok though. My truck didn't come with a radio and I still have the block off plate in the glove box, but someone put an old junky radio in the dash that doesn't work, so I'm sure the tabs are bent already or some modification must have been done. The opening looks to still be untouched though. If anyone else has any info on a radio install on a '67, I'd love to see it too!

[klk67ranger]

I plan to send my factory 67' radio to the link below and have the internal parts updated. Stock look, good sound. Worth every penny to me.

http://www.vintageautoradio.com/

[guhfluh]

I plan to send my factory 67' radio to the link below and have the internal parts updated. Stock look, good sound. Worth every penny to me.

http://www.vintageautoradio.com/

I'd probably be willing to go that route if I had a factory radio and dash adapter for it, but unfortunately I only have a junky 80's model $10 special that doesnt work, in a poorly made homemade adapter plate. 24+ week wait time is a killer tho! But it's a possibility for the future, so thanks for the link!

I'm wondering if a 68-72 radio will fit in the 67 dash with a custom adapter plate, without cutting the 67 dash hole bigger? A nice stained and varnished custom wood piece wouldn't look too bad with a factory style 68-72 radio.

[jlb]

Looks good, but what did you do for speakers? Did you mount a box some where? or put some in the doors?

jb