TheSamba.com :: View topic - Another radio thread

Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:36 pm

I hate to do it but I'm gonna post another "what radio fits". I have read through a ton of posts but have not come up with a definitive model. they dont list the dimensions on the boxes at the store

I dont mind cutting the dash hole a bit I just need one that will fit between the front of the dash and the wiper motor. It's right at 5" from the back of the dash to the motor. I think a radio that is 6" from the faceplate to the back of the radio will work.

I dont really like the retro sound types. I bought a cheap Sony from Walmart but it's 7" deep. I would like to have a CD but it's not a must. Music is not a big deal for me but I do want a radio. Not planning on spending a fortune on it though.

So in the cheap stero depertment, what will fit?

Thanks again

Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:00 am

any of the big catalog suppliers have cheap radios that will fit. Mid America, JC Whitney, Airhead parts, and like that. I think there's an am/fm tape at Mid America for like 40 bux. There is also a pretty kick-ass thread on here about re-purposing an original radio to run an ipod, search "repurpose sapphire"
good luck

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:50 am

a cheap $75.00 pioneer w/ CD player will fit with just a little cutting and bending of the dash metal

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:53 am

wallmart $59.00 25 rms

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:53 am

fits - no cutting - mine is a 73 vert

Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:00 am

why don't you like the retro sounds? there only about 3" deep and fit perfect.

i love mine, i put all my music on my usb stick and run the wire to the glove box.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:29 am

Is the space on a super and a 72 std the same?

I don't have anything against them really. It's just a lot of money for a retro look I'm not interested in. I don't have any music mp3 style but the kids do so a iPod jack would be good. But I do have a few CDs. Satellite would be preferred but not a must either. $100 would be nice starting place

Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:34 am

buddy boy wrote: why don't you like the retro sounds? there only about 3" deep and fit perfect.

i love mine, i put all my music on my usb stick and run the wire to the glove box.

Agreed. The price is high - I think I paid $159 but with free shipping from MA, but it's everything I wanted. Simple look, no black plastic or swooshy lights or buttons. Like you said, it's very lightweight and small, so I didn't have to worry about a support bracket. Auxilliary input in the front and the back so I can buy a small iPod for the back of the unit or hook an iPod to the front if I like.

The PO had a black Sony tape-player radio - I pitched that ugly piece of crap.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:56 am

The exact dim of my radio is 6 3/4 by 1/34 then there is a bezel that comes with the radio that is 1/4 all the way around the face of it
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I then made another bezel so that you can fit it over the factory dash face and then the radio goes in to the box I made - if that makes sense. I made the box out of some sheet metal - you can see the poor quality on the face - next time it is out I will work it and chrome it

Jerry

Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:54 pm

I offer this to be helpful, I don't mean to look self promoting:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=483499&highlight=discrete+radio+upgrade

Sat Apr 28, 2012 2:19 pm

As far as I can tel, anything over about 5 1/2" from the back of the dash will hit the wiper motor. The wiper motor on standards stick down at an angle where a super is straight and above the radio. (from the pictures I've seen) I cut a block of wood that slides in the hole to make sure. It's a little difficult to measure I can cheat it out a bit with a custom plate but not sure I can even get 6" and make it look good.

Mid America has a Pyle with a digital tuner for cheap that will fit, but I was hoping to get a little more features. Pioneer has some they say are 6.4" deep and Alpine has some 6.2". Sony's are all 7". They don't always list the size which makes it difficult.

I'll bump this up to the top one more time hoping someone with a standard can steer me towards a radio/cd that will fit. I know there's one out there

Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:35 pm

I got this one at JC Whitney, because it looks just like the ones in the good ole days and guaranteed to fit.

Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:41 pm

I don't quite follow Jerry, but I haven't had the dash of my '79 Super apart yet, and never before owned such a late model Bug. I went to the Crutchfield site but they only say retrosound fits the '79 -- it seems they expect to only fit a post type stereo. I currently have some non-functional DIN type head unit in the dash and will be replacing it with the cheapest thing with USB port on the face. Since you have hands on experience, what is the maximum "safe" depth for the head unit? What kind of provisions are there to attach the rear of the head unit?

While we are talking about installing a stereo in a Super I have a question about radio power and memory power. The wiring diagrams for the late FI Super in the tech section don't show the radio. What fuses are used for power and memory power? Are there connectors in place to connect to or will I need to tap into wires? My stereo currently has no power. I just bought the car so the cleanup is beginning.

Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:18 pm

There is a heap of room for the head units in 73 onwards curved windscreen 1303 supers.

I've lost count but had various JVC, Kenwood, Alpine, Axis, Pioneer headunits in mine.

The only fitment issue is some need a 90 degree fitting for the antenna cable if its on the drivers side.

Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:44 pm

Well, it can be done. I installed my new radio. Took quite a bit of finagling to get it in there. The wiper motor and linkage hit the radio when installed. I shimmed out the wiper motor with some spacers until the rotating linkage just cleared the mounting bolts. That raised the motor about 1/8". I also had to grind the corner off the linkage to keep it from hitting the radio. Suckey part was I had to pull the fresh air box, wiper assembly and glove box to get to everything. Took most of the day but looks like it should.

I made a new flat face plate I was going to use to space the radio out another 1/2" but I ended up just cutting a factory inset one and it worked. The radio slides snugly between the flat shelf on the fresh air controls and the wiper motor. I made a small bracket from the back of the radio down to the fresh air box mounting stud, but it really didn't need it. only thing i forgot to do was extend the drip shield that connects to the center fresh air duct so that it would extend over the end of the radio. The radio sticks in about 2" further than the original so if I get a windshield washer leak it may drain into the radio. When and If I have to get back in there I'll look at doing that.