Make a face plate for a non-standard radio opening
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 2:14 pm
This is for my Lexus, but I'm sure its pretty much the same procedure for other non-standard h/u openings.
Tools needed:
Router w/ chamfer, rabbit, and flush bits
Jigsaw
masking tape
paint/primer
Scrap 1/2" MDF
Rulers
Double sided tape
1. Start with the radio bolted to the car
2. Since I'll be doing a lot of test fitting, protect it from scratches by taping up the area with tape.
3.Locate a 1/2" scrap piece of MDF
4.Measure from the outside edge of the radio to the trim panels.
5.Transfer measurements to mdf
6. Ruff cut
7. Using double sided tape, tape on a straight edge
8. Cuts. Make several passes if its too thick
9. Chamfer cut
10. Since my dash tapers inwards, I had to "thin" out the wood by passing it through a rabbit bit. This will take away a lot of material and leaves just enough so you can still screw the radio to the plate.
11. Test fit
Be sure that the radio swings out freely
This sucks for me - my face place arms rub against the face place opening. Not too much of a bid deal though, all you have to do is file it out a little .
As you can see its I filed down the bottom radio opening edges a bit. Its really noticeable now because the MDF is not painted yet, but when it gets painted its will be nearly invisible.
12. Paint/Primer
A few coats of primer (w/ 600 grit sanding in between)
6 "mist" layers of paint (with 1000 grit sanding between the 1st and 3rd coats, and 1500 grit for the rest of the paint layers)
Allow to dry overnight.
13. Test fit
14. Constructing the brackets. I simply used cut down steel "radio" brackets.
To make sure it stays solid I decided to epoxy it
15. Final results. The color doesn't fit perfectly, but its close enough for me.
This usually takes about 2 days to complete - since you have to let the paint dry overnight.
Tools needed:
Router w/ chamfer, rabbit, and flush bits
Jigsaw
masking tape
paint/primer
Scrap 1/2" MDF
Rulers
Double sided tape
1. Start with the radio bolted to the car
2. Since I'll be doing a lot of test fitting, protect it from scratches by taping up the area with tape.
3.Locate a 1/2" scrap piece of MDF
4.Measure from the outside edge of the radio to the trim panels.
5.Transfer measurements to mdf
6. Ruff cut
7. Using double sided tape, tape on a straight edge
8. Cuts. Make several passes if its too thick
9. Chamfer cut
10. Since my dash tapers inwards, I had to "thin" out the wood by passing it through a rabbit bit. This will take away a lot of material and leaves just enough so you can still screw the radio to the plate.
11. Test fit
Be sure that the radio swings out freely
This sucks for me - my face place arms rub against the face place opening. Not too much of a bid deal though, all you have to do is file it out a little .
As you can see its I filed down the bottom radio opening edges a bit. Its really noticeable now because the MDF is not painted yet, but when it gets painted its will be nearly invisible.
12. Paint/Primer
A few coats of primer (w/ 600 grit sanding in between)
6 "mist" layers of paint (with 1000 grit sanding between the 1st and 3rd coats, and 1500 grit for the rest of the paint layers)
Allow to dry overnight.
13. Test fit
14. Constructing the brackets. I simply used cut down steel "radio" brackets.
To make sure it stays solid I decided to epoxy it
15. Final results. The color doesn't fit perfectly, but its close enough for me.
This usually takes about 2 days to complete - since you have to let the paint dry overnight.
