8T6K5
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2012
- Posts
- 1,128
- Reaction score
- 112
- Location
- AZ
- First Name
- Jerry
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- K5
- Engine Size
- L98 350 TPI
So the PO of my K5 butchered the radio port when the removed the OE. Looks like they may have had an aftermarket head unit there for awhile. The head unit currently sits in the Tuffy center console, with one amp inside and another under the driver seat.
Ive had the truck about 5 months now and couldnt stand looking at that gaping hole in my dash. I know there are other ways to fix this problem, but heres the route I went.
Looked and looked for an '86 bezel that could still mount an oe radio...then of course Id have to find an oe radio. Preferably non-working because it wont get used. I want it primarily for looks. Id like to keep the interior as factory, or close to as possible. Already ditched some new Tahoe seats that were trashed in favor of a clean set from an 84'.
The good thing about the SQB's is interchangability. I found a super clean 89' bezel, but apparently a newer radio was offered in 89' too. I didnt see any reason why it wouldnt fit with a bit of grinding......
So here what I did this morning, need to button it up tomorrow:
Disassembly had already started, but here is old bezel and cut out
New bezel showing what needed to be cut away:
Notice the 88' + bezels stick out a bit just in the upper right of radio.
After some grinding (IE hacking)
Time for the radio...its in-op and thats fine with me. It just needed to fill a hole, and maybe some turd will peek in and say, Im not gonna steal the pos radio.
Done....almost.....: Just need to screw the bezel in. Little hole to the left of radio is where the rocker switch for my front fog lights goes....
Probably more work than was necessary, but I like it. What it would look like cleaned up and with a better camera....
Ive had the truck about 5 months now and couldnt stand looking at that gaping hole in my dash. I know there are other ways to fix this problem, but heres the route I went.
Looked and looked for an '86 bezel that could still mount an oe radio...then of course Id have to find an oe radio. Preferably non-working because it wont get used. I want it primarily for looks. Id like to keep the interior as factory, or close to as possible. Already ditched some new Tahoe seats that were trashed in favor of a clean set from an 84'.
The good thing about the SQB's is interchangability. I found a super clean 89' bezel, but apparently a newer radio was offered in 89' too. I didnt see any reason why it wouldnt fit with a bit of grinding......
So here what I did this morning, need to button it up tomorrow:
Disassembly had already started, but here is old bezel and cut out
New bezel showing what needed to be cut away:
Notice the 88' + bezels stick out a bit just in the upper right of radio.
After some grinding (IE hacking)
Time for the radio...its in-op and thats fine with me. It just needed to fill a hole, and maybe some turd will peek in and say, Im not gonna steal the pos radio.
Done....almost.....: Just need to screw the bezel in. Little hole to the left of radio is where the rocker switch for my front fog lights goes....
Probably more work than was necessary, but I like it. What it would look like cleaned up and with a better camera....
