Head unit install

[Chamelion]

Hello,

I've read a lot of threads on this here, but so far have not come across a newbie friendly, easy and relaively quick way of mounting a head unit into the dash of an AUIII.

I have the option of paying to have it done, but I'm trying to be as hands on as possible so I can both learn something and save some money.

If anyone has a solution they wouldn't mind sharing, with a quick how-to (if possible), I would be extremely appreciative.

Thank you in advance

Matt.

[HLC]

to do it easily and without hacking up the factory wiring loom, buy an Aerpro wiring adapter for AU fords/falcons. easy. wire up the head units loom to that, and plug it straight in.

the mounting of the unit is a bit harder. there are a few people that do single din pockets that will go in the bottom half of the old radio hole. get one of those. can get em from autobard or whatever, same as the aerpro loom.

then fix the metal surround frame somewhere in the top hole. some drill it into the metal bits inside the old radio hole. i used a bit of liquid nails and fixed it to the plastic surround fascia itself.

plug in the looms. slot the head unit it. enjoy.

[Chamelion]

Sorry, in my rush to post before diving out of the house I forgot to note down a thing or two.

It's currently running in my car.. I bought the JVC and AU falcon looms and I already have the pocket underneath.

All that is left is for me to fix the bracket into the dash. I was considering drilling, but I'd immagine I would have to purchase a right angle bit for the drill? Any idea how much they are?

Liquid nails? Is that all you used? No drilling? That would suit my technical knowledge and experience a little better. :P

[StealthAu]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Sorry, in my rush to post before diving out of the house I forgot to note down a thing or two.

It's currently running in my car.. I bought the JVC and AU falcon looms and I already have the pocket underneath.

All that is left is for me to fix the bracket into the dash. I was considering drilling, but I'd immagine I would have to purchase a right angle bit for the drill? Any idea how much they are?

Liquid nails? Is that all you used? No drilling? That would suit my technical knowledge and experience a little better. :P

Self tapping screws and a screw driver work.

[T3man]

You shouldn't have to do any drilling - there are two phillips head screws on the side you can see if you shine a light - although they are recessed a little from the cage you will be fitting, you can easily use a longer self-tapper and use a bit of packing to take up the space. Alternatively you can just bend the tangs on the cage (top and sides) as per the fitting instructions - the lower DIN infill will support the unit at the bottom and all should fit together fairly firmly. I've done four AUs up until this point in time and all have worked out fine.

[HLC]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Sorry, in my rush to post before diving out of the house I forgot to note down a thing or two.

It's currently running in my car.. I bought the JVC and AU falcon looms and I already have the pocket underneath.

All that is left is for me to fix the bracket into the dash. I was considering drilling, but I'd immagine I would have to purchase a right angle bit for the drill? Any idea how much they are?

Liquid nails? Is that all you used? No drilling? That would suit my technical knowledge and experience a little better. :P

yeah i used liquid nails lol, but i need to mount my unit a bit further forward so im gonna drill the frame into the sides of the fascia i think.i dunno yet. havnt decided lol

[Chamelion]

A mate and I spent some time on this today and still couldn't work it out... If anyone has some pictures to demonstrate I would very much appreciate you sharing them with me.

Failing that I'll have to fork out the $40~ I've been tentatively quoted to have it done at WOW sight and sound.

Cheers,

Matt.

PS: The rear speakers aren't 4", so I found out.. So tommorow I mod. :P

[JC]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

A mate and I spent some time on this today and still couldn't work it out... If anyone has some pictures to demonstrate I would very much appreciate you sharing them with me.

Failing that I'll have to fork out the $40~ I've been tentatively quoted to have it done at WOW sight and sound.

Cheers,

Matt.

PS: The rear speakers aren't 4", so I found out.. So tommorow I mod. :P

Rears are 5x7, same as the front.

It's not that hard. You just need to work out how far in (or out) the cradle should sit, then grab a couple of self tappers and drill them through the cradle into the inside plastic frame behind the centre fascia.

[Chamelion]

It's a wagon, the stock speakers are 5" (perhaps 5 and a bit). A mate has given me some 4" speakers, so we're going to use some MDF to set them in place.

To drill in the head unit bracket I'm going to have to get a 90 degree drill adapter I suppose. I hope they're not too expensive.

Matt.

[sanjay]

im so proud

took me 3 hours. had to cut the two clippy bits at the top of the din pocket because it just wasnt going to fit in there with the frame otherwise. bent down two of the metal prongs in the frame so it would sit level with the back of the din pocket, and used a bit of duct tape on each side to hold the din pocket and radio frame together.

got the 3.5mm jack sitting under the tissues in the pocket which is also perfect for putting my ipod.

and it sounds so much better than that shitty stock head unit. paid tonkins $40 to get the stockie out because the clips had been bent too far, they used some funky tool to get in behind the deck from the sides and jammed the beast out.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

To drill in the head unit bracket I'm going to have to get a 90 degree drill adapter I suppose. I hope they're not too expensive.

I used a right angle drill when I installed both of my aftermarket units. It cost me around $40 a few years ago but I would have bought it again for this job.

edit: http://tinyurl.com/2kkb37

[JC]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

It's a wagon, the stock speakers are 5" (perhaps 5 and a bit). A mate has given me some 4" speakers, so we're going to use some MDF to set them in place.

To drill in the head unit bracket I'm going to have to get a 90 degree drill adapter I suppose. I hope they're not too expensive.

Matt.

You don't need a 90 degree drill adapter - just drill the screws in at 45 degrees.

[T3man]

Honestly mate if you've spent this much time looking at it and still can't find a solution I reckon the $40 they are going to charge you to fit it for you will be the best $40 you ever spent

[Chamelion]

Wouldn't the heads of the screws then foul against the head unit?

This is the head unit.. See how the surround that it takes is right against the head units sides? I suppose it stands to reason... I'm just having trouble working out how putting them in at an angle would work.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Wouldn't the heads of the screws then foul against the head unit?

The cage is not a tight fit in the recess.

There is enough room between the recess and the cage for the heads of my self-tappers (which aren't at an angle) which means that the cage is "bent" in a bit.

edit: heh, same as my latest hu. You'll be happy with that. What did you pay for it (if you don't mind the question)?

[bodes-sh]

here's my effort, used the rubber bit from the back of the tape deck, don't know if this is the same for au2/3 as mine is au1






you can just see in the first pics where the cage is bent, gives you an idea anyway, in there very securely

(sorry about the quality....camera phone at night lol)

[sanjay]

they were $199 at supercheap a few days ago.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by sanjay

they were $199 at supercheap a few days ago.

Really?

I thought I was doing well at JB's for $250 (down from $565).

I think I've found my brother's birthday present ;)

edit: speeling

[sanjay]

theyre not $199 anymore. back to normal price ($299 or whatever it is)

[ronwest]

Just as a head's up on the head unit Cham, I made up my own rca's using these http://tinyurl.com/2djp5v and because the outputs on our hu's are upper right/rear, the rca's fouled the steel bar running behind the dash. That meant that the hu would not sit fully home.
Given that I didn't have shorter rca's on hand and wanted to get the install done and dusted I used a hole saw to cut a couple of 10 cent piece sized holes in the steel bar which allowed the hu to sit fully home.

[Chamelion]

Originally Posted by ronwest

The cage is not a tight fit in the recess.

There is enough room between the recess and the cage for the heads of my self-tappers (which aren't at an angle) which means that the cage is "bent" in a bit.

edit: heh, same as my latest hu. You'll be happy with that. What did you pay for it (if you don't mind the question)?

Got it for $199 at Supercheap auto a week ago.

A mate spoke to a local audio specialist and the way they do it is using a right angle drill adapter to make the holes then fasten it in with pop rivets. So I'll give that a go when my local Bunnings gets the adapters in next week.

I mounted some 4" 2way Infinity speakers in the rear, but they're so much less bassy than the stock ones that they either get drowned out by the fronts (not to mention unlike the stock speakers which thump alright, the 4" ones just make popping sounds or they dominate from the back (if I set the bias at 4 out of 6 steps to the rear. At that point I both have not enough bass and not enough volume without distortion.

D'oh.

Does anyone know if I can fit 6" speakers in the rear 5.25" spot with spacers? She's a wagon remember, no rear 5x7's for me.

Matt.

[Chamelion]

Thanks bodes-sh I did your idea minus actually screwing in the cage for now. She's sitting there rather well as is. I'll screw it in eventually.