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Just wanted to share the double DIN install I did on my 87 Firebird. I used 1/8" ABS to make the L bracket mounts and some slightly thicker stuff (could have been 1/8" too) to make the little filler pieces on the sides. Just used a heat gun (can use one of those little torches too) to heat and make the 90 degree bends on the edge of a table.
For the bezel, I just made the hole taller all the way across and then used a tiny round file to blend the radiused edges of the sides of the old hole into the new hole because I didn't feel like trying to round it evenly all the way around. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Definitely not as nice as some of the really well done OEM looking 3D printed bezels though. I might try having one printed one of these days.
The Alpine iLX-W650 is a short chassis radio (< 2.5") so I don't think it would require much modification to a stock radio/HVAC pod. I had already hogged out a bunch of plastic inside mine when I had it out to repair the usual broken bits some time back because I knew I would eventually put a double DIN in, just wasn't expecting it to be a short chassis. Very happy with the head unit so far. It's pretty no-frills, but what sold me on it was support for a backup camera (actually supports 2, front and rear), Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay), 9-band parametric EQ, time correction, high/low pass filters, and front/rear/sub pre-outs. There is no screen dimmer wire, but it can detect that the cabin is dark and automatically dim/switch to night mode. Apparently Alpine makes a 50x4 amp specifically for this head unit that attaches to the back of it, which requires its own 10-12 gauge power wire, and it's still relatively short.
Holey cow. I started making 3d printed bezels because i was unhappy with the work being done on these installs. That is really really clean.
How are you enjoying it? I put one in my own GTA 3 months ago and haven't looked back. I can confirm it fits with oodles of space on an unmolested pod.
The ILX-650 is such an underrated deck and anyone who knows what it is can't keep them on the shelves. Considering the short depth of the radio pod, the only reasonable install to date has been a parrot asteroid smart and that came out almost 8 years ago now. Most of the market just hasn't been able to get their act together since. :/
Yeah part of the reason I posted this was because I never really liked the installs in a lot of the pictures I've seen, aside from the ones with the 3d printed bezels. I assumed this was going to look pretty bad because I figured someone else would've done it already and shown it, but I was pleasantly surprised. I think this head unit being flush with both the bezel and the filler wings is a big factor in making it clean. The ones that stick out, and especially the ones that have their own trim ring, add a lot of visual clutter. Especially if you also still have to add the fillers.
I absolutely love this head unit so far. It sounds great, the audio controls are darn good, Android Auto works flawlessly so far, the touchscreen works great, and it's somehow only $300. I added the back up camera the other day and it works great too. The back up lines are adjustable so I was able to put a tape measure down behind the car and set them to known distances.
I've been playing with the time correction and holy crap, I can't not have that anymore. The difference is crazy when flipping between 0 and everything adjusted, and I'm not sure I'm done adjusting it (doing it by ear). My old single DIN was capable of it too, but it never really sounded right and it was really annoying to try to adjust so I just stopped at "better than it was." With the touchscreen, you can quickly adjust each of the 5 channels arbitrarily and even set presets to A/B make sure it's actually improving.
I just have Pioneer TS-A series speakers so they're nothing special, but I've read/heard that they're pretty great for running off of head unit power. I'm starting to want to step it up a little with a small amp (probably the one that attaches to the iLX-W650) and some better speakers though.
Yeah part of the reason I posted this was because I never really liked the installs in a lot of the pictures I've seen, aside from the ones with the 3d printed bezels. I assumed this was going to look pretty bad because I figured someone else would've done it already and shown it, but I was pleasantly surprised. I think this head unit being flush with both the bezel and the filler wings is a big factor in making it clean. The ones that stick out, and especially the ones that have their own trim ring, add a lot of visual clutter. Especially if you also still have to add the fillers.
I absolutely love this head unit so far. It sounds great, the audio controls are darn good, Android Auto works flawlessly so far, the touchscreen works great, and it's somehow only $300. I added the back up camera the other day and it works great too. The back up lines are adjustable so I was able to put a tape measure down behind the car and set them to known distances.
I've been playing with the time correction and holy crap, I can't not have that anymore. The difference is crazy when flipping between 0 and everything adjusted, and I'm not sure I'm done adjusting it (doing it by ear). My old single DIN was capable of it too, but it never really sounded right and it was really annoying to try to adjust so I just stopped at "better than it was." With the touchscreen, you can quickly adjust each of the 5 channels arbitrarily and even set presets to A/B make sure it's actually improving.
I just have Pioneer TS-A series speakers so they're nothing special, but I've read/heard that they're pretty great for running off of head unit power. I'm starting to want to step it up a little with a small amp (probably the one that attaches to the iLX-W650) and some better speakers though.
I haven't had a chance to play with the time delay. Maybe that's what i'll be doing tonight.
I have a boosted system attached to this deck with some custom mounts (1800w rms class A amps) and can say that this deck is clean. Totally worth your time and if i remember right, the power pack should still fit in the radio pod too
I wonder if you could do me a favor when you have time. Can you measure the dimensions of the face place where it goes into the front plate. Right along the red line, length and width,
Hope you don' t mind me using your image.
Thanks,
Louis
Last edited by Ct1987; 09-18-2019 at 03:46 PM.
Reason: typo
I wonder if you could do me a favor when you have time. Can you measure the dimensions of the face place where it goes into the front plate. Right along the red line, length and width,
Hope you don' t mind me using your image.
Thanks,
Louis
Hi Louis,
It's about 5-8mm smaller than the ISO standard double din (7736,180 x 100.3 mm) dimension on each side, depending on how good your centering is. I'll go snag a photo from my car as a reference.
Edit: Was difficult to get a good photo with the glare in a parking garage, but it gives a rough idea at least.
Last edited by RunawayRadio; 09-23-2019 at 11:45 AM.
It's about 5-8mm smaller than the ISO standard double din (7736,180 x 100.3 mm) dimension on each side, depending on how good your centering is. I'll go snag a photo from my car as a reference.
Definitely not as nice as some of the really well done OEM looking 3D printed bezels though. I might try having one printed one of these days.
Who 3D printed them to look OEM?? Where can I find info on it? I've been wanting to do this for years. Just never liked how the aftermarket ones looked.
Who 3D printed them to look OEM?? Where can I find info on it? I've been wanting to do this for years. Just never liked how the aftermarket ones looked.
I found a great place to make the radio panel. Its called Makexyz. I had one made with the checkered pattern and its perfect. I had it made in ABS and it only cost me 26 dollars, free shipping.
You can find the template on this forum. I tried to attach the file, but could not. Here is a link to the site. I think you will be very happy.
I found a great place to make the radio panel. Its called Makexyz. I had one made with the checkered pattern and its perfect. I had it made in ABS and it only cost me 26 dollars, free shipping.
You can find the template on this forum. I tried to attach the file, but could not. Here is a link to the site. I think you will be very happy.
I was inspired by the post, so I ordered the trim plate from Shapeways, finished it (took me three tries on the paint to get it looking right) and installed a $110 Android 8.1 unit from Amazon (GPS, Bluetooth, USB, etc.). Downloaded the free car launcher, plugged in my music flash drive and set to random play. I ran the GPS antenna under the center console and stuck it down right behind the console. Works great and was a lot easier than pulling the dashboard, though I think the metal structure of the dashboard would probably block the GPS signal anyway. The screen saver screen (in the photo) shows the time, date and MPH, so I was able to verify my speedometer, too. Pretty happy; spent about $200 all told. BTW, the little squares are flat black vinyl transfer (also from the Firebird trim plate thread). I have four more of the vinyl transfers sitting in the drawer (they output five-wide, so I have four left over) if anyone else wants to attempt this. Be aware: transferring this to the trim plate is not easy to get right. Took me two tries; first time was a mess, which is why I ordered five more. One was $27, five was $32.
I was inspired by the post, so I ordered the trim plate from Shapeways, finished it (took me three tries on the paint to get it looking right) and installed a $110 Android 8.1 unit from Amazon (GPS, Bluetooth, USB, etc.). Downloaded the free car launcher, plugged in my music flash drive and set to random play. I ran the GPS antenna under the center console and stuck it down right behind the console. Works great and was a lot easier than pulling the dashboard, though I think the metal structure of the dashboard would probably block the GPS signal anyway. The screen saver screen (in the photo) shows the time, date and MPH, so I was able to verify my speedometer, too. Pretty happy; spent about $200 all told. BTW, the little squares are flat black vinyl transfer (also from the Firebird trim plate thread). I have four more of the vinyl transfers sitting in the drawer (they output five-wide, so I have four left over) if anyone else wants to attempt this. Be aware: transferring this to the trim plate is not easy to get right. Took me two tries; first time was a mess, which is why I ordered five more. One was $27, five was $32.
Hi, that looks great. I have yet to paint mine. I like the finish you got. What paint did you use and the procedure you used to finish it.
Hi, that looks great. I have yet to paint mine. I like the finish you got. What paint did you use and the procedure you used to finish it.
Many thanks,
louis
Sanded the panel smooth (400 wet sand, then 600), applied three coats of Dupli-color primer (600 wet sand between coats), four coats of gloss black Dupli-color acrylic enamel, two coats of Dupli-color gloss clear acrylic enamel, buff with polishing compound.
Sanded the panel smooth (400 wet sand, then 600), applied three coats of Dupli-color primer (600 wet sand between coats), four coats of gloss black Dupli-color acrylic enamel, two coats of Dupli-color gloss clear acrylic enamel, buff with polishing compound.
Thanks for the reply. I am not familiar with the checkered design you did. I had/have a cad file that has the checkered design and it worked out good. How did you do the design.?
Thanks for the reply. I am not familiar with the checkered design you did. I had/have a cad file that has the checkered design and it worked out good. How did you do the design.?
Louis
I downloaded the checker.svg file from the Firebird trim panel thread and sent it to a local company that did a vinyl overlay in flat black.
Just wanted to share the double DIN install I did on my 87 Firebird. I used 1/8" ABS to make the L bracket mounts and some slightly thicker stuff (could have been 1/8" too) to make the little filler pieces on the sides. Just used a heat gun (can use one of those little torches too) to heat and make the 90 degree bends on the edge of a table.
For the bezel, I just made the hole taller all the way across and then used a tiny round file to blend the radiused edges of the sides of the old hole into the new hole because I didn't feel like trying to round it evenly all the way around. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Definitely not as nice as some of the really well done OEM looking 3D printed bezels though. I might try having one printed one of these days.
The Alpine iLX-W650 is a short chassis radio (< 2.5") so I don't think it would require much modification to a stock radio/HVAC pod. I had already hogged out a bunch of plastic inside mine when I had it out to repair the usual broken bits some time back because I knew I would eventually put a double DIN in, just wasn't expecting it to be a short chassis. Very happy with the head unit so far. It's pretty no-frills, but what sold me on it was support for a backup camera (actually supports 2, front and rear), Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay), 9-band parametric EQ, time correction, high/low pass filters, and front/rear/sub pre-outs. There is no screen dimmer wire, but it can detect that the cabin is dark and automatically dim/switch to night mode. Apparently Alpine makes a 50x4 amp specifically for this head unit that attaches to the back of it, which requires its own 10-12 gauge power wire, and it's still relatively short.
09-14-2019, 11:46 PM
