TA22 headunit and speaker mounting

[PULSE]

Hey guys, I know there was a thread on something similar to this a while ago, but I've searched and searched and I can't find it. Basically I want to mount my headunit in place of the stock radio. The radio section has already been cut out by the last owner of the dash I have, but I have no idea how to structurally mount the headunit in place. Just wondering if anyone has any easy ways/tips/pics of how they've done it before I start trying to work it out.

Also, what have people done in regards to the trim plate thing that goes around the face of the headunit, do you put this on over the front of the dash? Reason I ask is that mine is too big and won't fit in from the front, unless I cut out some of the upper, lower and side walls to the inset section that the radio/heater controls sit in.

Cheers, Matt

[rj_darlow]

Has the headunit got one of those metal 'cages' that slips over it? If so, can you bend the tabs on that outwards to hold it in place on the dash?

Hope that makes sense, otherwise I can get some pictures of what it looks like in my Corolla.

[PULSE]

Nope I didn't get a metal cage with it, but I'm sure I can buy one. Not to sure how you mean to secure it, pics would be great!

[rj_darlow]

No worries, I'll take mine out tomorrow (today?) when I've got a break from uni and take a few phone pics. Might look like I'm trying to steal the stereo if I go do it now!

[RiceburnaGTV]

Its a kent of a job mate!

Unfortunately you will have to grind some of the heater control metal bracket away basically all of the L shaped edge untill it is just flat. Get the width of the hole right first and get it as far left as possible. The you can use the narrowing gap for the height to help hold the stereo in place.I have never had any luck mounting the metal sleeve in aswell and the little borderd plastic clip on bit that goes around the edge of the head deck I have only ever been able to make fit by cutting the side closest to the steering wheel completly off.

I will get some pics up. I have only ever seen one neat install and that was simons wifes red gt replica off the classic celica site,if I remember correctly it seemed to sit perfectly with the border and didnt seem to foul on anything

[rj_darlow]

Here you go. Like Riceburna said, it's more of a sleeve than a cage. Something like this, and you just bend the tabs out so it fits snug. Pictures are a bit blurry, but you get the idea.

[PULSE]

I think I do actually have one of those sleeve/cage things. I just assumed it was part of the casing.

When you use just the tabs at the front, does that support the weight of the whole headunit? I would think it would need some support at the back somehow, especially when driving and getting bumped around it looks like it would move,, or possibly bend the tabs/break the plastic.

Thanks for the pics though!

Riceburna - I was wondering if it would foul on the heater control bracket! Some of what you said doesn't make complete sense just yet, I need the dash/headunit in front of me, sometimes its hard to visualise. Pics would be great!

Cheers, Matt

[rj_darlow]

It's been like that for a couple of years now and hasn't broken, so I guess it should be okay as long as it doesn't move around to start with.

Good luck with it.

Cheers,

Richard

[RiceburnaGTV]

Yeah you will see when you do it.
This is how mine sits.


I will only be able to use the 3 sides of the clip for the face but I will be spraying that black so it blends in with the facier a little more.

I will get a better pic of the install later tonight.

cheers
Nath

[river]

Hi,

Get a bit of matt black plastic and tack in (blutak works) over the front where the stock radio sits. If you want, you can stick a Celica badge on it - that's what I did. It saves all the stuffing about of hacking more into the dash and frigging around with the heater controls.

Then, you get an under-dash bracket and mount the head unit under the dash between the steering column and the console. It's a perfect fit and fills up the space, it's easy to reach and get to while driving, its also easy to connect and wire up. Then, later on you may find an umolested dash on eBay or wherever, you buy it and whack in the new dash and maybe even the stock radio. That way you have the stock setup and your new headunit. I got a new dash to go into my car, it's just that I've been too damn lazy to change it over.

seeyuzz
river

[Sigmeister]

I'm with River. I am not a fan of the cages. They don't support the HU properly and it bounces around a lot. Plus, from a security point of view they are the easiest way to steal a HU. 2 knives down the side and goodbye HU.

I'd look at making a nice solid mount or bracket for it that it can be secured to safely and wont bounce around. It will require more work, but will be worth it in the long run.

[PULSE]

Hmm I definitely want to mount mine in place of the stock radio. I'm all for updating the interior so I have no need to keep the stock radio, plus I think it will look cleaner there.

I have nothing to do today so I thought I would mount my speakers in the doors. Pulled the trim off and it looks like I have to use pods because the speaker magnet fouls on the window mechanism(I want them mounted in the bottom front corner of the doors), so I went off to autobarn and bought myself a couple of door pods. How are these usually mounted? I know some people just screw them into the door metal with self tappers, but I would prefer something that I can remove and reinstall lots of times before it starts wearing away and getting loose.

[joey]

In terms of mounting the HU in the original mounting position. The last owner of my 22' did a pretty dodgey job on it but it works fine, it consists of cutting out the radio stuff to fit the HU with metal casing in (obviously) and they have put 2 pop rivets near the back of the raised section that pops out in the front where the original radio is.
The metal casing on mine has a small lip around the edge of it and they have got it to slide real snug inbetween the facia raised section and the pop rivet itself and the lower lip rests on the bottom of the fascia, however there is no support at the back of it like some of the other guys which is a bit worrying but havnt ever had a problem with it so far.
Its prob best not to do it this way, but it is a way never the less, the shoddy enginuity of some back yarders never seases to amaze me
Catcha, Joe

[PULSE]

I ended up ditching the speaker pods and made a spacer ring out of MDF, and stretched some black vinyl over it. Secured the speakers to the door with some longer metal screws and they go through the speaker, spacer, trim then into the sheet metal, all feels pretty snug and tight now and looks decent.

Then I got onto mounting the headunit. I've found it looks/fits best using the cage but having it sit out from the facia/heater panel a few cms, so it is close to the edge of the actual facia if that makes sense. It fits snug but can be moved by hand so tabs aren't going to be enough. I'm thinking of using glue or some kind of sealant to glue up the edge of the cage to the facia from behind, and then make up some kind of bracket to hold the back of the headunit. I'll get some pics up tomorrow.

[PULSE]

Here are some pics to show what I'm talking about:





It actually fits quite snugly in there, but I would like to add some additional bracing. I can't really find anywhere on the headunit that I could put a bolt in or anything to bolt a brace to?

And heres how I installed the speakers.





I'm just about read to reinstall the dash with the headunit, but i need to do the wiring for the headunit first. Where are the best wires to tap into for 12V constant and ignition switched power?