Ok I know some of you have done this, I have this three gauge set (Ammeter, Oil Preasure, Temp) that I wanna install but I also wanna install a radio. With a little help from MavMark I found a non-key'd 12v power source for the radio (I want the radio to work without the need for the ignition to be on or even a key to be in the ignition), I also found a source for the gauge lights. Problem I now face is mounting them. I don't want either of them to rest on the Shelf esp the radio I do not have a radio mount and I doubt the stock mount would fit this AudioVox Deck I have. I thought about putting the gauges more toward the center and the radio where the stock radio normally goes but I don't wanna have to tear up the dash by drilling a bunch of holes to do it. I would love any idea's anyone might have here Photo's too esp would be great, just something to give me an idea on where to go here I plan on getting a cordless drill because I just know i'm gonna need it. I don't have a digital camera or I would post a pic of the gauge setup I mentioned but i'm sure most of you know what i'm talking about.
i'll answer on the radio but as far as guages thats up to you. i'd love a piller mount for my guages but as usual no one makes one. anyway my suggestion is you don't hook the radio up direct. from experience on some fo the project cars we have down stairs that have radios and amps hard wired like that always kill the battery for some reason... and those are done my audio installers! (they need to be hooked up that way becuase of shows and what not) i also had the same problem with my own car hooked up that way.. dont; ask me why.. im no electrical guy but just seems too alike to me. as far as fitting your audiovox in your stock location you will have to cut your stock radio mount since i'd say all maverick radio mounts came with knob radios and I am resuming your audiovox is a singal DIN radio. but it will fit you just need to do some cutting.... all you need is a dremel and lots of soap to wash your mouth out with after you sware at it! good luck
Gauge mounting I know my int is not that pretty, but when I got my MAV I tore out a/c heating ducts and made good use of the hole where my dash vent was for mounting. They fit nicely, just an idea
Your interior is no uglier then mine trust me , alas however I have the standard dash (No A/C Ducts) that is a very nice way the gauges are mounted though and that gauge setup looks exactly like the one I have, I wish I could mount it that way. As far as the direct way for the radio I got that idea from a Ford Focus I rented a few weeks ago I thought that was a pretty clever setup and thought maybe I could do that for my Mav as I do not have an Ignition Switch with an Auxillary setting (I suppose I could add one but that seems like more of a hassle). I do not have even the stock radio mount when I bought my car it didn't have it the previous owner got rid of it he apparently had a CB hooked up. I can see how it could kill the battery though this deck in particular has two small nobs on the far left side (a digital camera would be great right now), a clock display (w/seperate wire for the clock), equalizer, etc as well as a tape deck (no CD), It also has memory presets hince another reason why I wanted to hook it up directly. The wire I was planning to use for the power source was the light blue w/white stripe normally used for the cigarette lighter, I do not have a cigarette lighter so right now the wire isn't used for anything. The problem is I'm also thinkin of hooking up a 12v Power Port and I can't obviously use the same wire for that as it could overload the circuit. I thought of running that one directly to the battery and using a fuse holder to protect it (dunno if anyone has done that and I know it seems kinda micky mouse). Saying I do hook it up directly (the radio that is) wouldn't one of those battery rundown protectors Auto Krafters sells work to keep it from killing the battery?
For your gauges, if you didnt want to mangle your dash you could do what The Maverick Man did, which I just might copy. If not that I'm plannin on putting them in my granada console. here is his interior, which I have to give mad props to. way to go!
Ideas... I have seen some dashes that were hacked up to install gauges. I say hacked because that is exactly how MOST of them look. I think that I have seen 2 that did look like someone knew what they were doing. I would look at mounting them under the dash, or possibly coming up with some type of housing for the gauges. Ford Pintos came with a small little console forward of the shifter. It was almost like a little cubby hole. You may be able to fit your gauges inside of that. OR your radio may fit there. It would take some retrofit work. Other 70's Ford/Mercury cars came with consoles. If you do not have bucket seats, look for a short console in something like a Ranchero. Check the boneyards. As far as radios, I agree with Maverick Man that you should wire the system through the ignition and not hard wired. I have a 71-73 Mustang/Cougar console. My stereo is mounted the in the console. I have the original radio in the stock position. My gauges are mounted below the dash in front of the shifter just above the console. Seth
Hey Seth, do you have a picture of your console in the car. I always wanted to see what one of them looked like in there, but I've never seen a picture. Thanks. -Corbin
You can make or buy smal panels that will fit between the tranny hump and the bottom of the dash. This way you don't have to cut up the dash. You can make your own from Tin, aluminum or even carve one out of hard wood and make it look like factory stuff. Or the easy way is just get the mount bracket for the three gauges and mount them to the bottom of the dash. Tip- cant them towards you so they can be seen easier. Mounting them straight will make you see them at an angle that will not allow you to see exactly where the needles are pointing.
It looks as though I will have to wire the radio to the ignition system reason being because when the Audiovox deck has power the whole thing lights up. I test wired it last night wired it briefly to the cigarette lighter wire and hooked up a ground just to test the deck to see if it even worked. Got it to come on and was able to play around with the buttons, the min I plugged in the battery the deck lit up when I turned the knob to the on position it mearly indicated it was on (little black arrow illuminated) So it looks as though I will have to find the stock radio wire and hook it to that better that then a dead battery I guess .
That is a very nice setup bmc, like the wood paneling what are those 4 dials under the radio though? Also I can't seem to find the stock radio wire I'm beginning to wonder if the Previous Owner completley tore it out (why anyone would do that I dunno) what color wire should I be looking for and what gauge wire is it if anybody knows?
i also got some guages mounted out side as well.. thing is i only run them this way when there is no hood on the car.
