Compact Disc player in 71 LeMans dash. What are you installing?
 

I pulled the Cassette player that I installed back in the early 90's from the dash yesterday. I hacked the dash back then to fit the unit so it is not like the dash is perfect. I have several CD players here that I can install, but I am thinking I am going to have to enlarge that opening again to fit the units.
Anyone have any other ideas? What have you done?
Is that piece of the dash where the radio goes replaceable or am I going to have to replace the entire dash eventually if I would put the stock AM/FM back in?

Thanks all !!!

The Cassette player was a Panasonic Super Tuner, is anyone interested in buying it?

I put in a single DIN and found a JVC unit online that had bluetooth (music and handsfree phone) and also a small video screen that I hooked up a back up camera. Happy with the installation and it does not look out of place. Car in storage no great picture.

Like others, the dash I am using was hacked for a cassette deck. I really struggled with repairing the dash opening and going to all the trouble of making it look original so I could install a factory radio, but then planned to install a single DIN Alpine unit under the dash or in the glovebox...I refuse to drive a car without a decent sound system :)

My wife pointed out the waste of time and money it would be to restore the dash to add a stereo underneath. What is done is done..so I did as Paul E, and cut the hacked opening to fit the Alpine and will have no regrets once it is on the road. I did have to cut some metal and used a fine saw blade and kept the pieces in case I ever go crazy and want to revert to stock.

While I was detailing the dash, I repainted the raised edges that were originally chrome/shiny with satin black and the Alpine blends in much better. Yes, it isn't correct or original but made sense to me as I like to try and hide things!

Note that by the time you get the opening enlarged for the single DIN chassis, the only part that the chassis will be secured to is the plastic trim, which is not sufficient to support the head unit. I bent up a small bracket and replaced the screw that secures the back of the ashtray with a fine machine bolt/nut assembly that the bracket will attach to.

The unit I am installing is an Alpine HD149BT. Has bluetooth, USB port, handsfree calling for cell phone, external mic, possibility of steering wheel controls, single CD player, SiriusXM upgradable, etc. Pretty much the most tech I could find in a single DIN.

Rear deck has 2-way 6x9's and a 10" sub. Front kick panels are Q-Logic with component 6.5" mid/woofer and 1" silk tweeter. 5 channel amp with 75W x 4 and 200W for sub.

Function over fashion....LOL

More pics

those pics are great!!! My wife and I have been kicking this around now for a few weeks trying to go either way on the dash. I got permission to buy a good replacement dash to put away in storage and finish the one in the car to fit the new stereo. We decided we are going to use this car and enjoy it, not baby it. I have owned the car since 1977 and to do a restoration on it now would be ridiculous. BUT ya never know, I might hit the lottery one day.

Thanks again everyone

I put mine in a box under the dash 12 yrs ago with a fake in place of the original. Couldn't bring myself to cut up the dash like I did to all my cars back in the 80s. We must be the last 3 people with CD players in our cars. When this dies I'll probably get one of the aftermarket stereos that fit in the original dash holes.

wow that looks great also. I have so many discs laying around I just have to put the disc player in. Nostalgia I guess.

I was using a single DIN that had a USB port on the face, but I upgraded to a model that didn't and used a port that has both a USB and AUX on it, can either cut a new hole, or use the lighter hole to mount.

I used an aftermarket insert, so cutting wasn't a concern for me. I added a second USB port so I can use it for my efi ecu interface.

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There are a couple options available now that seem to often get overlooked, or maybe even forgotten.

One is what I installed in my '70 Formula in the early 2000's;
It was a remote operated disc changer that was in the trunk, and it played through a wired connection at a preset frequency. Unlike other players that use a radio frequency, this setup eliminated interference by essentially having the "broadcast" being pumped in.

The other one is either a factory radio, or vintage aftermarket radio with a 'redi-rad';
I am quite incline to go this route when I get my car back on the road.

Now someone reading this might think, "why did this guy seem to go off tangent considering the question?!" - well I did because even good single din radios will require more cutting of your dash than what may have been done to accommodate the aftermarket two post tape player.

I haven't heard much good about the aftermarket "factory appearance" radios;
And the 'redi-rad' is created by one in our community.

https://redirad.com/

Does anybody even have CD's anymore?

Sure do...I keep buying them all the time. Have a 300 disc CD changer at home and it is full of classic rock and other stuff from when I was younger...think I am up to 240 discs now. Just got the latest AC/DC CD and loving it. Nothing better than spending a weekend in the garage with the machine on random play and rocking out!

I may be a contrarian, but I want to physically own my music and not download a compressed MP3. There are tons of people that don't mind the reduction of sound quality in exchange for the storage ability, but I'm not one of them. :)

Having said that, I doubt I will play many CD's in my car, but still want the option. I plan to copy my favorite music tracks as WAV files in full CD quality on a big USB stick and just random play them.

On second thought, I recently bought the soundtrack to Dazed and Confused on CD...that disc just may end up staying in the car...killer tracks!

You are not the only one.
I have a pretty good cd player that I used in my '73 Firebird with the custom 8-track adapter (think a cassette adapter modified with the guts swapped into a dead 8-track cartridge) to play physical media.
I like being able to play real music, and not need wifi (ect) to play it.

Mine was a serious question... I literally didn't know you could still get CD's. I too prefer to "own" music, but thought that wasn't done anymore. I also think I'm the last Netflix customer to actually have DVDs mailed to me.

I guess I need to get out more.

You are not the last Netflix person, we still get them now and again. Not everything is on the Netflix channel. I have a Terminator film from 2019 here now.
Back to the disc player, I have not started to cut the dash yet. But the thing is the dash is probably not repairable for where I cut the cassette player in. I am still thinking about other ideas.

I just looked at the RediRad site. I really wish that was around in the 80's before I cut the dash.

I could put the Super Tuner back in and hook one of these up and listen to Sirius App thru the phone. Decisions. Decisions.

Here is what I did. I installed a Kenwood head unit. Bluetooth iphone control etc. The dash was out years ago by my uncle. So no loss on the dash there. Installed new kick panel speaker mounts and speakers. Mounted 6x9 speakers in the parcel shelf. Built and installed a rear panel for the trunk and installed 2 12" subs. Installed 2 Alpine amps and a power cap. Battery has been moved to trunk. Sounds great good clear highs and nice sharp bass. Might in the future change the fronts over to component speaker set ups.

I’ve gone through this a few times with various results:

In my 70 GTO I bought the $400 factory looking radio that had a USB port in the back. Lasted a year and a half and then dead.

My 68 LeMans I installed a single din and 6x9’s - basically worthless with the top down.

79 TA- single din CD player, two 6x9’s and a 12” sub amped pretty good. Sounds great and very happy with it.

75 K5- I went with a single din media player. No CD player- weighs less than a pound. It’s so light you can mount it directly to the plastic housing. Two 12”s and four 6x9’s. Jams pretty hard but no capability to play cd’s.

At this point I decided to drop $400 on a Sony Bluetooth speaker that has two subs. I throw it in whichever car I want and use it in the garage. Has a 12 hour battery and charges my phone. Throw in the back seat and roll.

I never gave a thought to a bluetooth speaker. The Lemans is a convertible, anywhere you put speakers in the rear and put passengers in there the speakers are useless. Years ago I cut a set of plate type speakers into the rear armrests, they have to be REAL thin or the pistons for the top hit them. I think I am going to get new armrest bottoms and eliminate them. Maybe go with kick panel speakers and the bluetooth for extra sound.

Thanks again everyone!!!!!

I was asked in a PM about the Q-Logic kick panels and what mods are required to use them.

You will lose the function of both kick vents, and there is no mounting provision for the cable to control the dash vents. I am converting to aftermarket A/C and had already lost the passenger side kick vent for hose routing, so this was not a problem for me.

The dimmer switch is not reachable with speakers installed if it is left in the stock location. I had to move it to the right by around 1 3/4" to make it accessible (best done BEFORE cutting hole in new carpet :) which I caught in time).

Finally, the parking brake pedal and arm must be modified as it will hit the speaker. My car is a manual trans so parking brake not optional.

I cut my arm, bent it to the required angle, welded it back up, then cut off the pedal pad and re-welded at the correct angle.

These extensive mods are not for everyone...I knew what was required from reading reviews on the Chevelle site before purchasing and would rather go this route then cut holes in the door panels for smaller speakers.

The Bluetooth speaker (or two) is by far my favorite choice. You can link multiple Sony speakers together and have one in front/one in back if you want.

It’s far too simple and easy for me not to do. Plus, I buy one set for all of the cars and use them in the house, backyard and garage all the time.

Highly suggest it as an alternative to cutting anything or adding any wiring.

Do you have pics of your sub install? Curious how you did that.

I cut out my rear deck, used MDF for the whole shelf, and build enclosures for a pair of 10" subs. If you wanted, you could buy a replacement rear shelf and seat brace, they are available.

My amp board I put all the way against the rear seats.

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