VT / VX / VU HU install

[TehFastyOne]

I've got another one coming up soonish but I'm so sick of getting out the dremel!!!

Yes, I actually do it the hard way. To fit an aftermarket HU with it's security cage, you need to sandpaper/dremel the inside wall of the main double-DIN casing inside the vehicle. Cause it's a helluva snug fit (bent the cage once by forcing it in tee hee... won't do that again)

Now my dremel does a nice job of grinding away the more protruding bits (those rised impressions in the center of each side of the walls and the top corner areas where the metal is connected to folds). I actually had to use a 90o gear to get the corners and grind them down.

Alas, the other method is to rip the whole f'ing dash apart and screw the bastard in. Now I've gotten as far as ripping off the parts around the gear stick and taking out screws for the main dash. I haven't gone any further than that cause I've always had to do a quick install on that type of commodore, even mine! I've still yet to actually hard screw the HU into the casing on my car but been too busy with other things.

Out of all the installs I've done... this is the type of car that has eluded me somewhat.. give me a VS or the majority of the E(A/B/D) Fords anyday.

What my questions are (only for VT / VX / VU models):

1/ Since some of you have aftermarket HU's in those models, who has done the install themselves or knows how it was done and what methods did you use to fit the HU into the cavity?

2/ Has there been a detailed instruction on ripping the dash completely for these models and does anyone have it? I've ripped plenty of dashes off before but the next job I'm doing is one of those 'if there's a hairline crack... i'm farked'... even though 8/10 times I can rip off the dash without damaging anything. Want to be on the safe side and it saves me having to a55 around with it.

3/ Does anyone have a cold beer?

[253@7k]

Ok here we go...

1/ alpine h/u into VT. did it myself, methods used: pushed it in there and it stayed. (not really. no mods needed, just screwed the alpine bracket into the space and put h/u into the bracket)

2/ dont have details sorry. I just took out all the screws i could find and worked it out some how.

3/ yes. 1 carton of crownies, 1 6 pack of TEDs and some various others. All packed into one very small fridge.

hope i could help. if not tell me what else you want to know.
SLundy

[StoneX]

There is 3 main ways to mount a head unit in the VT/VX...

1. Slightly bend the black mounting section (the part you grind) out at the sides so that the cradle (bracket thing) will slide in... It will still be VERY firm but it needs to be to hold the unit in place. You don't need to grind, bending it with slight tapping is sufficient.

2. Dismantle the dash, drill holes in black mounting section of car, screw head unit in through sides of stock mounting section. It takes a while to pull the dash apart, then to work out how deep and at what height the holes need to be, but it's more secure. The black section has ridges too, these lined up where the screws needed to be and made the gap to large for the screws supplied, so the ridges needed to be flattened.
Dash removal instructions: instrument_full.pdf

3. Make up a SIMPLE bracket and screw the head unit in without removing the dash. A tutorial has been done on another Commodore forum and I don't want to steal his (KAL SPL) info, so check it out for yourself. It's sticky so, 4th top post in the car audio section.

[TehFastyOne]

Thanks lots for that Slundy and StoneX. The help is invaluable.

Update: I found a beer... near the couch... must've been one my friends forgot about when he crashed... stuck it in the freezer for a bit and it still tastes alright!

[253@7k]

I take it you are like me and all the money goes to the ute?

[customcaraudio]

There is 3 main ways to mount a head unit in the VT/VX...

1. Slightly bend the black mounting section (the part you grind) out at the sides so that the cradle (bracket thing) will slide in... It will still be VERY firm but it needs to be to hold the unit in place. You don't need to grind, bending it with slight tapping is sufficient.

2. Dismantle the dash, drill holes in black mounting section of car, screw head unit in through sides of stock mounting section. It takes a while to pull the dash apart, then to work out how deep and at what height the holes need to be, but it's more secure. The black section has ridges too, these lined up where the screws needed to be and made the gap to large for the screws supplied, so the ridges needed to be flattened.
Dash removal instructions: instrument_full.pdf

3. Make up a SIMPLE bracket and screw the head unit in without removing the dash. A tutorial has been done on another Commodore forum and I don't want to steal his (KAL SPL) info, so check it out for yourself. It's sticky so, 4th top post in the car audio section.

Hey man. Ive been installing stereos for a while now and have bought some indespensible tools over the yaers and 1 is my right angle drill. Absolutely makes this job so easy since there is no pulling out the dash at all. Ya can do it with a regular drill but it is a little harder since the drill is on an angle and the right-angle drill is straight on. Then after you drill the two holes through the cradle and the black housing you chuck 2 pop rivets in there. Holds there as good as. prob done about 100 of these h/u installs.

[StoneX]

Thanks for the info I've seen a few people do it like that too. Number 1 can be done a few different ways... Jammed, rivetted, ground out like slundy said and there's probably more.

As i've only done installs as an amateur, I had always preferred to rip the dash apart and screw the head unit into the car so it's impossible to remove without dismantling the dash.

But recently, I just made the cradle fit like I said above. It's VERY hard to move, let alone pull it out.

KAL SPL's way looks pretty simple though.

[VQXTC]

There is 3 main ways to mount a head unit in the VT/VX...

1. Slightly bend the black mounting section (the part you grind) out at the sides so that the cradle (bracket thing) will slide in... It will still be VERY firm but it needs to be to hold the unit in place. You don't need to grind, bending it with slight tapping is sufficient.

2. Dismantle the dash, drill holes in black mounting section of car, screw head unit in through sides of stock mounting section. It takes a while to pull the dash apart, then to work out how deep and at what height the holes need to be, but it's more secure. The black section has ridges too, these lined up where the screws needed to be and made the gap to large for the screws supplied, so the ridges needed to be flattened.
Dash removal instructions: instrument_full.pdf

3. Make up a SIMPLE bracket and screw the head unit in without removing the dash. A tutorial has been done on another Commodore forum and I don't want to steal his (KAL SPL) info, so check it out for yourself. It's sticky so, 4th top post in the car audio section.

Hey Stonex, need to be careful about tapping that dash as unfortunately sometimes the dash lights in the heater controls above end up blowing....i know this as where i use to work the guys there use to tap the sides to enable the headunit to fit and we ended up getting a heap of these cars back to replace the globes.....

Lets Work as a TEAM and do it MY WAY!!!!

[TehFastyOne]

I take it you are like me and all the money goes to the ute?

Nah haven't been working on my car for a while. If I keep saving up, might put a Vortech turbo in it or something...

Got to do this next car and I'm buggering off to Shidney for a few months.

[Tasmaniak]

I always did them via the right angle screwdriver. I haven't used the method KAL SPL does but I have seen headunits that have been done that way and there is certainly nothing wrong with the install. Looks like any other.