DIN stereo replacement unit makes gaping hole in dash
 

I'm looking into options for putting tunes in my car and it seems to me that if I replace the head unit I'll have one big freak'n whole in my dash. Any suggestions for filling it up? I know it's perfect spot for mounting gauges but right now I'm just interested in making look neat.

Im assuming when you say big hole you mean 84-85?

Get a installation kit and you'll be OK

I just made up a suitable cover plate out of plastic and glued it on. Too easy.

here are some options,

buy a double din radio
buy a cd player and 1 din eq
buy a cd player and 2 half din eqs
get a kit,mount cd player on top or bottom use space below or above radio for gauges

Actually in mine, I used a double DIN older model Mitsubishi metal kit painted it titanium silver metallic... Loaded from behind and held in with both din sleeves from the pioneer CD player and the DSP9200 EQ :)

Sounds Good Mike,

Got a pic?

I've posted pics of my EMPEG install in a couple of threads. I basically went to circuit city, got the install kit for an 86-89 RX-7 and threw it together. I put a couple of gauges below the EMPEG and it looks great.

--matt

speckamp.. through down some pictures of that if you have any

Try this:

http://bestkits.com/app_guide_2001/b...licable&ID=361

and let me know how it looks ok! Seriously I just ordered a Nak head unit and will be needing a kit or making one in the next week. I wish they had a picture of that one.

There is this one also:

http://www.scosche.com/scosche/installation/mazda.asp

My main concern is the fugly and cheapness that these kits might have. Was thinking of just using plexiglass painted black on the back. That would match the finish of the clock, at least.

Let's see some pics!

Right on.

I can get one, but remember the 85 is totally apart :)

The deck is in my vert, but the EQ is still mounted in the dash panel , boost guage is going to replace the clock in the center of the dash...

By the way brownmound, thats what we use at work is Best, its a good kit. The Scosche is OK, but a lot of their kits are like American International ones, and a snap together pieces of crap :) But either of these look great..

Cool! Sounds like a recommendation to me. :) Mike, I'll blame you if it doesn't work. ;)

Thanks for the help everyone!

http://www.ub3rgeek.net/~mernisse/RX...nter-decel.jpg

All my pics are always posted to my website, along with all the news / mods / reviews of mods to the car. Just hit the www button below and click on RX-7 GSL-SE in the header and go from there.

:)

--matt

everyone always does, wont be new to me :)

Only thing to consider is that if not installed totally right, they have a tendecy to push outward on the dash and as we know our dash panels like to crack :(

Seems anything later than the 83 dash was bad about that, even my 88 vert dash panel I just replaced! Not only Rx-7's but Miata's are as bad :)

Do you have any photos of the Best kit installed, Mike? I really would like to see how it looks. Specifically, I dislike when the head unit protrudes way beyond the plane of the OEM panel. Anyways, if you got pics, let's see em. Also, where do you get the Best kit?

Right on.

I was fortunate enough to find a faceplate with a glovebox in the junk yard that I used. :)

here is the Best Kit
 

Here is the response I got from a dude at Best Kits:

Hello,
Thank you for the inquiry. I do not recommend the MA1530. The MZ10 (which is
a metal kit) actually works better. It has a provision for a single DIN
radio. Please see the attached photo (it is the best I have).

We do not sell direct. You can purchase from a local dealer or try
www.autosoundgear.com <http://www.autosoundgear.com> .


Gordie

I've tried to attach the pic, so hopefully it shows. It's a crappy pic though.

Right on.

I got a pic of the kit in my 88 vert...

If you need the kit, Ill order you one...

Im a dealer :)

I have some pics on my web sight. looks very nice!!:cool:

Ok here ya go, its from my 88 vert, I had to do a little filing and modifing to get it the way its show. But its pretty much self explanatory when you get into it...

Ok guys, heres a pic of my "install" in the 85 GSL using a crap Schucks install kit. The kit said it would fit the car, but they lied. I had to do a little trimming here and there to get it to fit, but it wasnt too hard at all. A sharp box knife made it nice. Anyway, heres the pic...

~T.J.

PS - The surround was already cracked and messed around the radio area because the guy before us tried to make a stereo out of an 88 Nissan Maxima fit :(

Hey, look at what the second Gen Guys have..

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...&postid=555408

Looks Great, and they have a guy who makes em.

here's the thread
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...5&pagenumber=1

Selling on EBAY

http://abacus.sj.ipixmedia.com/abc/M...ce5ef2/i-3.JPG

That metal kit looks cool.

My metra kit doesn't look all that bad, but it does leave small gaps and sits kinda funny... But for $15 it meets expectations.

In fact that kit in MIKE-P-28's Vert looks similar to my metra kit with the Equalizer plate in and the blank insert in where the equalizer goes.

I have my head unit in the upper bay and a pocket in the lower bay. I keep a tin of altoids in the pocket... I think they're stale by now.

But with the Metra kit, I dont beleive you can do a front load DIN, thats recessed? See if you look at the picture of mine, the deck is actually behind the dash panel kinda like factory. I dont like when the deck sits TOO far out of the dash, just my personal opinion sometimes it cant be helped tho.

It's true.. With my metra kit, the back edge of my head unit's faceplate is even with the dash.

Must fix. :stick:

Hell.. Must get new dash panel... (DSPO got their stareo stolen.. Broke the silver surround. :( )

http://my7.rx-7.org/Paul/images/Paul-InteriorDash.jpg

paul, a 10k tach? oh, please do explain!

its the only way to go..i wish i had a 10k tach in my seven.. oh well, some day i will

i used a JVC radio and an Sony eq to full up the space

http://www.portugesethug.homestead.c.../insiderx7.JPG
http://www.portugesethug.homestead.c...es/rx7dash.JPG

The pictures aren't close up but you get the idea

Those are Jose's gauge overlays. Very spiffy. I'm waiting on a source of EL backing. I'd much like a blue indiglo setup.

Do you like that? When we where making up the white gauges we just made it go to 10K (thought it would look cool, also getting ready for a PP:eek: ) But it did't work out very well so we are putting a regular gauge back in.

They are not Jose's Max7 made them for me. They are better. :cool:

jose's only go up to 9k. but they are still cool..
either way, i just want something that goes above 8k

just a week or so
 

Hey guys....

I am working on a custom kit right now for the Mound. So far it's pretty sweet. Basically a piece of Lexan going to be painted black on the back. I'm going to trick it out a bit, but that's a surprise. I'm using a Nakmichi amber head unit. It's pretty swass.

I'll borrow the digi from work and snap some photos of the work in progress and finished product.

Right on.