Stereo installation

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Has anyone install a stereo unit with a flip down face plate? I brought a Blaupunkt New Orlean MD70 to replace the Alpine unit that cam with the car. Wanted a mini disc system in the car and I got a cd changer to go with the unit.

The Blaupunkt unit has a flip down face plate that interfers with the fog light and rear defrost knobs (knob are push all the way in). The diameter of the knobs seems to be the problem.

Does any know if some one makes smaller diameter knobs just for this purpose?

Thanks in Advance for any help

tryan · 03-24-2003, 06:01 AM

i would try to adjust the mounting angle of the head unit. if you can raise the rear of the unit, you might have enough clearance on the two knobs. see if crutchfield or somebody has a plastic din bushing you can belt sand on an angle .

you could also fabricate a din dash plate with the hole a little lower.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Or cut a little bit off the bottom of the knobs, making them sort of "D" shaped.

scottb · 03-24-2003, 09:00 AM

I agree with the suggestion to try to change the angle of the mounting bracket. I put a Blaupunkt Heidelberg in my 84, and the face plate opens up without hitting the knobs.

Good luck!

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

There is a mounting bracket in the car that supports the bottom of radio.

It seems like an OEM bracket since since there is a bracket that is welded to the air box for the a/c unit. The top of the radio bracket slips into the welded bracket and the radio bracket is secure at the bottom with a self tapping sheet metal screw.

I think that I can raise the back of the radio by removing the original radio bracket, and replace it using one of those strap with a bunch of holes in it and securing this to the hole that held the original bracket. I'm just concern that the top of the radio doesn't have a big gap where it meets the dash.

Scottb did you have a big gap at the top of the radio when you install your Blaupunkt?

toman · toman's Garage

not sure if it would help in your case r not, but i've seen people make spacers out of various thicknesses of mdf... not hard to do and might solve the problem. Or just get a deck without the flip face...

scottb · 03-24-2003, 12:44 PM

Ruf: My radio has no gap whatsoever...it fits like a factory installation.

My suggestion is to loosen up or remove that support bracket, and with your hand gently force the mouting sleeve up a bit at the back, then try the flip face. If you're able to open the face, then you'll know how to proceed.

As I recall, I had some difficulty (not much) sliding the radio past the knobs when I installed it, but once the radio was in place I was able to open it without it hitting the knobs.

I hope this helps...

Scott

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Hey Scott

I removed all the knobs yesterday and test fitted the new radio in the opening and it look really nice. It wasn't until I went to put back on the knobs that I notice the interference with the face of the radio. I will work on the stereo system again this weekend.

I brought the Blaupunkt system because the radio is made in Germany (at least it's a German co.) and it has the mini disc format that I wanted and it is a digital receiver instead of an analog receiver (Digi receiver). I also brought a 5 channel Blaupunkt power amp and a 10 disc cd changer. I brought some Infinity components speaker to replace some Alpine speakers that the PO installed.

I only hope that I can get it to work with the 911 or else it's going into the Lotus. That would be a waste because the car is so loud you wouldn't be able listen to this system.