Installing a radio

[richtrek]

Does anyone know if there is a metal-type box that can be mounted under the dash for the purpose of installing a radio?

[surfarii]

I have never seen one but Im sure a sheet metal shop could fab a simple one up for you. Why metal?

John

[kuebelwagen84]

[TDodge7]

thats how it was in the thing i had in highschool , i had a metal box in the center of the underside of the dash , basically a complete metal enclosure with a radio sized hole in the front , it also had a lid that folded down , when you parked and went in somewhere the lid would flip up and cover the radio , there was also a loop that stuck thru the lid so i could padlock it . here is the best pic i can find of it (old and crappy)

[Van-go108]

http://www.thethingshop.com/search_results.asp?txt...fromSearch
The piece I want is too expensive. So, I have to put my McGuyver skills to work.
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"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."

1983 1/2 Wasserbroken Vanagon(storage shed)
1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[Ian Epperson]

The $16 under-dash radio mount doesn't seem too expensive
http://www.thethingshop.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=181RM

If it's like mine, it's some plastic or nylon black box. I like it, and it works great.
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[lowsquare]

I put TTS under mount box in mine and I love it... Simple and looks good. I had my CD player ripped off over the summer and decided to install this cheap AM FM but with an audio jack for the MP3 player. It is a very heavy plastic / nylon? Very solid unit...


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PRAISE THE LOWERED.
1974 THING

[richtrek]

The metal radio enclosure idea came from seeing aluminum consoles for dune buggies for gauges, etc. in Hot VW's magazine. Having it in metal vs. plastic just seems "mas-macho"

In my '74 I have a large glove box door with no radio space. I consider metal with the flip down lid idea as being safe idea. The radio I plan to install will be about $150.00 with a removable face. So, I could always put it in my lockable glove box or take it with me if I wanted to.

I live in the Santa Clarita area and drive to North Hollywood as a special ed. teacher. Both are safe places for the Thing, so in the end I am not too worried about the safety issue. I do like to plan ahead though.

[Acetone Jack]

7.62mm ammo cans work nice. Can't get more hardcore than that...
(ignore the rat's nest behind it...)

[richtrek]

The ammo can is a great idea!!!

[typesoneandtwo]

^^^^^^^^^^^^
x2 I'm going to do that in my Thing.
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Each day is precious.

[sam_w]

My rat thingster has the radio in an ammo box, it is also good for keeping the registration.


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63 singlecab
73 thingster
Vanagon sold! camping in tent

[kubelmann]

Very cool use of the ammo box. As a result of my "time" spent in I have a good number of these.... I might cut the pin hinges off..

[Ian Epperson]

The ammo cans have nice, rounded corners that probably don't hurt so much when you accidentally hit the box with a knee. If you make your own metal box, you may want to consider the same thing. When my Thing rolled in '06, I got the only injury: a little scrape from hitting the radio box with my shin. If it had sharp edges, it may have been more than a little scrape.
_________________
VW-181 shirts and stickers.
http://ian.epperson.com/vw

[oldthingguy]

I went to a stereo shop and bought a slide mount, the radio sits below the glove box, when I leave the car I slide the radio out and take it with me, pretty secure. Now if I could do that with the speakers !!!!!!!!

[63ziggy]

There are some boxes used in boats. You may try local boat store.

[csmith181]

check these out, the best part is they are water=-proof

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servle...434/712/TV's,%20Stereos,%20Weather%20Radios/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/10/0?N=377%20710%201434&Ne=712&Ntt=TV's,%20Stereos,%20Weather%20Radios&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=434&subdeptNum=562&classNum=562

[VW Addict]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Under-Dash-Car-R...53e256f0a5
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[Semper_Dad]

Must be Thread Zombie Apocalypse day.

http://www.hotrodproducts.com/RadioBoxes.htm
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74 VW Thing - Walküre
78 GMC Motorhome - Valhalla
"Patina" my ass, that's rust
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