Center Dash Support Cut Out

[clarkvstewart]

May be best asked in the stereo department, but I want to know how difficult it is to remove the center metal bracket from behind the stock radio? I have a new double din to go in, and it's too deep for the dash. So the recommendation is to cut or somehow remove the metal bracket in the back. Has anybody done it and how'd it go? My father in law does body work and is afraid that without the bracket the dash will sag. Thoughts?

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

You shouldn't have to cut the metal part of the bracket, there should be plastic in front of it and if you cut that it should fit. Try that, otherwise, that bracket bolts in and you have to remove a good amount of the dash to remove it without cutting it, IF you can cut get something in there to cut it.

 

[clarkvstewart]

Thanks. I'll try that first. I've got a Dremel multimax that has a wood blade - but that little bastard will cut anything! I'll trim that and hopefully be able to doge the metal bracket. Only problem is that there's a bucket full of wires that have to get shoved somewhere behind the radio!

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

No doubt, tell me about it...lol Today's project is pictured below...



---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 PM ----------

I would show you where it bolts in but....it's kinda not there...lol

 

[clarkvstewart]

I literally twitched a little when I saw that...

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

I know right...lol So did my 15 yr old when I told him he was putting it back together so he would know how to do it....

---------- Post added at 10:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 PM ----------


But, this is him removing the turbo from the Duramax last year.

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk102/bigdaddydiesel_photos/Truck projects/Cullens Projects/

 

[clarkvstewart]

Since either you've got a real gift for modification or you're a brave idiot, or maybe a little of both ill ask a longshot question: Why would a radio quit displaying sound all of a sudden but when I plug the old stock unit back in the amp works fine? Had a pioneer appradio wedged in the dash and it just quit playing sound at all. Functionally it appeared fine - like it was on mute.

Upon removing it, the swc and gmos unit I noticed a wire nut (father in law did the initial install!) fall to the floor. The ground wires were dangling and one was disconnected. I didn't think a lot of it since one wire is ground from radio to gmos, one is from gmos to radio, and the third is from the swc. We wired them all together since the factory wiring is grounded somewhere. I'm afraid it was due to being crammed too tightly in the dash and a pigtail connection might be bent or something.

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

It could be, if it was crammed up against that center support it is possible that you all messed something up in the plug/connectors. You can check that though, you can remove one wire/pin at a time from the back of the plug and make sure they are sound and then reinsert them making sure they are firmly secured and flush.

I am a little of both, I have SOME skills, but by no means a master mechanic. But I also don't like anyone else but me working on my vehicles. I just have a pet peave about that for some reason.

 

[clarkvstewart]

How do you pull and reinstall the wire into a pigtail?