Hi all, Is there anyway to install an aftermarket head unit in a series 2 WH statesman? It's got a woodgrain center console with annoyingly rounded edges so no single dim or double dim head unit will fit. I was wondering is there an insert you can install or a way of getting around this??
Please HELP!! I'll definitely owe you a beer :beer chug:
Back in 2007 i fitted a WH surround to my VT Calais as i wanted the clock and like the look of the surround better.
I have a single-DIN Blaupunkt Bremen MP76 (and one of those Ford/Mazda pockets underneath) and faced the same problem. There actually wasn't enough room to take off the detachable face of my radio, plus it looked shocking. I had to do something. There are no aftermarket options for the WH though so i had to somehow use the factory surround. I didn't buy woodgrain as the two pieces are much dearer, so i bought a pair of silver WHII pieces instead as they are much cheaper. I also i wanted to paint them gloss black anyway to match other bits i'd fitted (i.e. painted gloss black speedo dials facia, factory WL Caprice strips at the top of the door trim inserts, and the factory centre console rear air vent surround off a V2 Monaro).
So i modded my silver WHII radio surround and carefully squared out the stupid rounded corners with a very fine file. I then built up the corners where needed, more so the bottom two corners, with an epoxy resin (Selleys Knead-It). It hard to explain, but i did this really carefully so to minimise the opening so that when looking directly at it, you couldn't see very much of the resin at the edges. I then sanded it up and had it primed then painted in 2-pac gloss black by a panel shop. It was a bit of effort on my part but i think it was worth it.
I found when fitting the two rectangular metal brackets/cages (i.e. that the radio and pocket sit in) i needed to have them stick out about an inch from the dash opening. I attached them with rivets into the dash at each side. This was so that when the radio/pocket and plastic surround was all fitted it sit flush (see pics). I am happy with the result.