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radio installation

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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Today I topped off my hydraulic shocks, balanced the wire wheels, freed up the frozen passenger window regulator, added an audible "beeper" to the turn signal flasher, replaced the fuel pump, replaced the windscreen washer pump, and removed the (dead) 1990's vintage radio. Also had two cold Sam Adams.

To install my "new" BMC radio, I traced and freed up the appropriate wires and antenna lead, and found that the BMC radio slides right through the console radio hole. There's no mount, faceplate or bezel, or obvious way to fasten the unit into the console.

The 1990s radio was held in by a bezel on the console outside, and "tongues" inside, on the radio chassis, which bent up behind the console wall, locking the chassis in place. Press those bent tongues back flat to the chassis, and the whole radio slides forward out of the console. It's a "DIN" mount. Bend the tongues upward from the chassis and it's locked into place.

Evidently the BMC radio needs to be mounted using shaft nuts, but of course there are no holes for the shafts to fit through.

Has anyone installed a (older) radio in a MGB? Mine is a 75/76 model, which has most of the dash features of early-70s roadsters.

Is there some sort of mounting kit available? My local radio guy says there is nothing made to go from DIN to shaft mount; he says someone must have cut out the original console holes to make a single rectangular DIN hole.

Thanks.
Tom
 
On my '72 there was a black plastic adapter that mounted to the face of the console and the radio mounted into the adapter. It worked for a two dial with nosepiece type radio. I butchered the adapter to install a DIN mount radio- if only I had known--- Bob
 
Hi Tom, Never put a radio in an MG, but all things considered it would seem your best bet would be to obtain an original console with the shaft mount holes to install the BMC unit properly in your car.-FWIW---Keoke
 
Hi Tom

I have a drawing I made up of a blanking plate to suit the standard radio recess on a late sixties/early seventies RHD car. If you want it I can email it to you

I had it made up to allow me to fit extra guages in the dashboard (clock and voltmeter) but it could be used to fit a radio using the same principle.

Basically make two of the panel up, cut the hole to suit the radio into both and put one either side of the dash (after painting the outer one). Then use the dial nuts to clamp the plates in place.

The recess in the dash is quite pronounced and so retains the radio quite well when using this system.

The alternative (which I used) is to put the radio in the glovebox (not an option in early seventies american cars I guess) where it can't be seen. I've done this in both my cars, in the CGT because I wanted modern sound without it spoiling the sixties look of the dash and in the B Roadster to avoid the modern radio from being nicked (the aerial on the C is a windscreen type wire aerial hidden behind the piping on the dashboard crash roll).

regards

Tom
 
I have all kinds of original radio consoles...what year is your car? Contact me off-bbs about a console
 
Tony (and others) - Is a console what I need? It seems like most guys are saying I need to make an "adapter" or faceplate pair, as the console just has a single rectangular opening slot. Is there a stock console with 3 openings for the radio - left knob, dial, and right knob? Mine is a 75/76 B (made 11/75, interior and dash of a 75, 76 model year, car #390819, 50th anniversary plate on the dash). Thanks.

Tom
 
hmmmm... There are a couple of things you can look into. K-Mart, Walmart, and a few other similar type stores tend to carry "universal" radio install kit for cars. The last time I used one of these kits (I admit it's been a few years now) it did contain a generic face plate that would allow a person to install a dual shaft radio into a DIN size hole. Although, the "dial" type radios are becoming more and more scarce in the "new" line-ups, so I don't know if new kits these days will have it. Check the package contents before buying one.

Fabricating one to go into your dash wouldn't be too difficult either. If you have little to no experience with working with plastics, fiber glass (bondo style found in any auto parts store), wood or even metal, it can still be done. Just make sure you have patience for waiting for the compounds and paints to dry and it should turn out ok. A jig saw and a Dremel type tool are the biggest power tools you would need too. With carful planning you can even make it look stock, but it would still be picked out by "those in the know".

If you would rather replace the part with an original or replica, I'd hit up Moss, VB, or Tony (the post above yours /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif).
 
If you just have the big rectangular hole that's never been modidifd, all you need to do is cut a piece of metal a bit larger than the hole...then cut it again so the face of the radio goes through it & drill 2 holes for the knobs....pit it behind the console over your radio, install your radio face & tighten knob nuts down...the metal & radio face will 'pinch' the console & hold it in place
 
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