In the next month i will be installing a new sound system into my beetle, I have noticed some guys mount them in the original radio position and some mount in the glove box.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?
How difficult is it to install a sound system into the originally radio slot on the dash? How do you cut the dash for a larger opening?
Photos of your installed sound system would be great
When you say cut the dash for a larger opening do you mean a double din stereo?
I thought it was only the late bugs with plastic dashes that needed to trim for head units.
I have my stereo mounted in the original location, but then mine isnt a original bug, its custom. If you want the original look then put it in the glove box.
Glove bix would be easier to reach wires etc but then further to reachfor driver, Original spot is a bit of a pain to run wires but if you do all the connections first and feed the headunit throught enough to hook wires up its quite easy.
I ve got a new box atm but my old set up is here
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=79672Thanks well since my car doesn't have original front seats removing the original radio isn't a problem.
Will be a bonus if i don't have to cut the dash as well
I comes down the personal preference I think.
To install it in the original spot, all you need to do is put the unit in the rough spot you want it, mark it out and get a dremel to cut it out. The disadvantages doing it this way is it can get hot fast and easy and can brown the paint, this isn't a problem if you have the frame to go around the to unit as it hides all imperfections. The plus side to mounting it here is that if something happens to your ground cable the unit is still going to be grounded out because of the dash and because it should be touch the bracket for the wiper motor. Just remember when cutting it out always go SMALLER than what you have marked, its easier to take out more then to put more back in.
As for having it in the glove box, the only problem I have heard about units in these places is they bounce around a lot for some reason. What I like about hiding cd players in classic cars is that it keeps that classic car feel and look. I'm a fitter for most things electrical, I mostly specialise in car-pcs and custom installs, however in my 1 year working for autobarn I had my fair share of Beetles and Buses coming in. I would have to say beetles are the easiest to install simply because of the access to the wires.
And don't forgot to wire the acc wire to an accessory wire. I don't know how many people wire there constant and accessory wire together to have there battery flat over right. Even if you turn your cd player off it is still using the battery's power.
Heres a pictures of mine. Close up and what it looks like from the back seats. I show what it looks like under the bonnet but the vents are in the way.
thanks great pics, do you have the system work off the ignition or straight from the battery? Do you get any engine noise in the system?
Its off the accesorry. If you bridge the constant and accesory wire together you have to turn the cd player off, and it's just not in habbit to do that when you leave a car, even IF you turn it off the battery is still getting drained as there is a relay in the unit which opens the circuit when the ignition is off.
You won't get engine noise, the only possible way to get engine noise is if you install an amp and run the RCA and power next to each other, or if you're running some serious gauge speaker cable next to a 14volt line (the line going back to the battery for charge).
Ok thanks I figure easiest way to run speaker wires is under the carpet then drill a hole under the dash to go into the hood?
The family like the original look of the radio that being the case how difficult is it to mount it in the glove box?
Haha yeah. It's the way I did it, I'm really anal about wire placement but at the end of it all that was the easiest way of doing. You can't see my cables unless you lay on your back and look for them under the dash.
I can't wait to see the final product of it all.
I put my cd player in the glove box. The main reson being is that I wanted to keep the origenal look of my car, Plus its away from sight in the gove box for security resons. And remember once you have cut the hole in your dash there is no going back. You have a very well looked after Beetle I wouldnt chop it up.
There are Two ways of mounting it in the glove box, you can buy a special fiberglass face plate that fits in the glove box, so it mounts in the same way as it would in the dash. Or just cut a hole in the cardboard in the back of the glove box push the cd player in and fix it to the metal strap that holds the glove box in, It worked for me.
thanks for the heads up any idea where i can purchase the faceplate?
Try vintage veedub supplies in Sydney or you can see pics of what im talking about at
www.vwheritage.com under beetle then go to interior parts
thanks finky i will have to go and visit Vintage since they don't have an online catalogue but the other site did have a pic so i may go that way providing the head unit i purchased has a remote so i can take advantage of the bluetooth for my phone
Paulc1964au wrote:Thanks well since my car doesn't have original front seats removing the original radio isn't a problem.
Will be a bonus if i don't have to cut the dash as well
front seats can be easily swapped back to original but once a dash is cut its cut forever, you would have to weld in a donor section to get it back to stock
glovebox isnt the only alternative, i dont like them there cos of the accessabililty or lack of
its not hard to make a consol or buy one of those aftermarket ones and put it in that or just mount to the underneath of the dash, still looks ok and is in easy reach and best of all no dash cutting
in my first bug which was a flat screen i made the mistake of cutting the dash for the headunit but i did also have a DSP which is same size as a standard headinuit mounted in that area under the ash tray
looked fine and was easily read and/or adjusted
Joel,
Are you suggesting maybe mounting under the dash in some sort of enclosure?
oh yeah one other point is in the factory radio spot the headunit can get very easily water logged
many flat screen beetle owners have had headunit failures from water damage.
can get in a number of ways, washer nozzel can leak, but usually its the fresh air grille in the hood or the fresh air box itself not sealing
I think you have convinced me lol now where to put it instead? Any pics ?
yeah something like this works well
that ones been modified abit, there not normally as funky looking as that one
Haha that is pretty funky.
Not sure if I'm a big fan of it.
I think I will go with the glove box Idea, I will take some photos tomorrow of where i will go and post here
Here is an option i found from a car in VMA
I could have a panel made and mount the head unit underneath the existing dash?
Would i be able to buy a cover if I were to remove the standard unit?
The advantage of this is i can keep the existing dash standard yet still have access to the head unit
Paulc1964au wrote:I think I will go with the glove box Idea, I will take some photos tomorrow of where i will go and post here
You might have read it already, but if not...here's how i mounted my headunit in the glovebox etc if it helps.
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=78247
Awesome that is certainly an option i'm thinking of although the down side of course is the loss of storage space.
just to add to it my bug is stock as they come and didnt want change that so i put my unit under the dash about 6 inches back from the ash tray.
most new unit come with a cradle which you can screw under the dash and then just slid the deck in.
very hard to see the unit from outside of the car and not to far away that you cant turn up the volume
1970 bug /1500 stock as a rock.
1976 standard bug ready to be modified 😁😁😁😁😁
thanks thinker would you have a pic? I see your not far from me?
Can I purchase a fill in plate for the existing radio or will i need to make one up? Or i could install a digital clock in the space without modifying the dash?
I have a radio you can that will fit in the spot. You don't need to wire it up but it will remove the hole there. Can I see what the space looks like?
thanks for the offer Mickey but i already have a radio in the spot but thinking of removing it when I install the new head unit somewhere lol
i think i have a block off plate if you need it ,will have a look tomorrow after i come back from our club run for you👍
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https://www.facebook.com/FlatFourpod wrote:i think i have a block off plate if you need it ,will have a look tomorrow after i come back from our club run for you👍
Thanks Paul that would be awesome
