How to Install Aftermarket Radio in 8G with Trim
TGC and I are in no way responsible of any damages that may occur during the modification. You are doing this at your own risk. If you do not feel confident to following the procedure I strongly recommend you don't
So as most of us have come to find that the radio trim that came with our sweet new radio will just not clip on because the radio bezel and deck position will not allow it.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-26-48_353.jpg
One solution that personally I don't like doing is to trim the radio trim ring with a bench grinder or rotary tool to get it to fit. I find this solution to leave the trim ring flimsy and usually one will over-trim the trim ring rendering it useless thus back to square one, it won't stay on. So now you're stuck with an incomplete look and a gap either on the top or bottom that you just can't stand. I feel it isn't fair I can't use my trim ring and other cars can.
Another solution some came up with was to ditch the stock ISO mounting radio brackets and use the sleeve the new deck came with to mount the radio with the trim ring. While this option will work for you to use your trim ring and all you have to do is sand the edges of the radio bezel to get the cage to fit, you are left with on very small, almost tiny little issue....YOUR RADIO IS NOW SO EASY TO STEAL A 3RD GRADER COULD DO IT! Since you didn't use the stock brackets the radio never got screwed down with the hidden screw in the back so now it takes 10 seconds to yank off the radio bezel with your radio attached to it and leave. Wouldn't it be awesome to ISO mount and have a trim ring that snaps on all 4 of it's clips?!
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...yyounowork.jpg
My Friends, I have come up with a solution that is easy enough to do by anyone, even if you got your radio installed at a shop and you have no knowledge of wiring radios on your own.
Tools needed:
Drill
Drill bit assortment
Philips screwdriver
Radio Trim Ring (Yea go look for it)
You are gonna want to begin by removing your radio bezel, usually you can just pull on it by gripping the pocket, if you can't you can pry it off.
Remove the (4) Philips screws holding up your HVAC controls.
Lower the controls out of the way.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-28-51_377.jpg
Remove the single Philips screw securing your radio to your dash, it's beneath the radio, in the back on the left side.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-29-29_273.jpg
Gently lift the radio up from where it's wedged to clear the plastic tabs and simply pull it towards you.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-30-25_148.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-30-18_225.jpg
Unplug the radio harness, antenna and any RCA's delivering signal to your amp. (In my neighbors case, he only had the radio harness and antenna. I did his installation today and figured I would document with his since my cars are already done. I hardwired into his stock harness saving him a few bucks on an install harness.)
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-31-10_781.jpg
Now remove the radio from the car and take it to your bench or work area. (The pliers drawer of my 6ft. tool box)
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-32-06_741.jpg
Remove the screws holding the bracket to the radio.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-33-30_744.jpg
As you can see, these are the holes that line up to mount the radio. They are the threaded holes.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-33-53_504.jpg
What were gonna do is space out the radio enough to allow you use the radio trim. We are gonna do this by moving the bracket back a little. Here I have marked where your new mounting points are.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-34-09_160.jpg
As you can see, we will be using this hole here that lines up with the first hole of the radio bracket. The threaded hole that we originally used is behind the 2nd dimple on the radio bracket.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-34-33_168.jpg
So break out your drill and bit. (All I had available was a step bit or unibit, I went as far as the 1/4" mark.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-35-25_740.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-35-57_803.jpg
Beginning with the 2nd threaded hole on the radio, mount the bracket with a threaded type screw through your newly drilled hole. For the first non-threaded hole, you are gonna want to go with a coarse screw (silver one with round head), as in not threaded so finely. (The gold ones are the stock mitsu screws). You radio, if bought new would have came with a bag of screws that would match the silver ones in the following photos. Only use a fine threaded screw were the the radio has thread openings. (Silver screw with flattened head.)
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-37-15_600.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-37-51_605.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-38-39_823.jpg
Run the screw through the leftover hole. As long as the screw is no longer than the ones I have picture you will be fine. Please do not use screws longer than my examples as you may cause damage to the internal components of your radio. Use common sense when doing this, and inspect your radio to make sure it will clear and not touch anything, Usually it won't.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-40-59_296.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-41-21_248.jpg
Now re-peat for the bracket on the opposite side.
Now reconnect your radio harness, antenna and any RCA's you may have. and slide the radio back into place, Don't forget to ground the radio and don't forget the security screw way in the back, I usually ground to it so I don't forget it. mount your hvac controls and re-install the radio bezel.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-43-12_286.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-28-51_377.jpg
You will notice the radio sticks out about a centimeter or so more than it once did, this is what will enable you to snap on the trim ring with out modifying it and it will snap on with no problem on all four corners.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-45-17_786.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-45-05_893.jpg
Here's what it looks like with the trim on, The only downside to this is, since the radio sticks out more, you can see some of the radios body on the side. I really don't mind it, and rather have my trim ring than to hide that centimeter of exposed radio if you will.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-45-34_441.jpg
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...-45-51_580.jpg
View from the drivers seat.:038::038::038:
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...5-46-08_73.jpg
Admins and Mods, I tried to sticky this into 8G Tech and knowledge base but the link to create a new thread opened only to say I didn't have permission to do so.
