99-02 Double DIN conversion

[r.barn]

Installing a Pioneer AVIC F700BT Nav/Radio in my 2002 Tahoe.
700BT is cool unit. Has some downs but works good and runs
off Microsoft CE so it can be hacked. The AVIC forum is already full
of all kinds of cool hacks and mods.

Now this is a double DIN unit, so it is not going to fit my '02 DIN and a half bezel.
There are 2 ways you can get around this.

1. Use an '03-'07 Bezel, but you will have to trim around the a/c controls
and the ashtray and power plug slot wont open.

2. Hack up your stock bezel and remold using scrap pieces, plastic welding solvent
and bumper repair epoxy.

I'm going to go with option 2 and hope to make it look very "factory"


First off you will have trim out most of the back of the radio box.
I used an old hack saw blade held in fingers. Stuff cuts really easy and
will actually break off easy once you get a little cut and score going.
Very weak plastic/fiberglass stuff.

Next got a head unit install kit from Best Buy and took the little plastic
side clips off and screwed them to the side of the unit using small pieces
of plywood to space it out just right.

Slid right in and clips into factory postion with some careful measuring and
trimming.

Now to wire it up. Nothing special there. Just find your wires and splice.
Most of my set-up was already custom wired from previous aftermarket radio
back to my amps and stuff.

Now I will remold the bezel ........... stay tuned.

 

[Sepiroth]

Nice work indeed. How thick was the plywood you used?

 

[r.barn]

Nice work indeed. How thick was the plywood you used?

1/2"

lucked out, need to fill exactly 1/2" on either side with this head unit.
each install will need to be customized depending on what unit you go with.

 

[littleflyer]

NICE WORK

R.barn- nice work... keep the updates coming... i am feeling more confident already..

 

[JKmotorsports]

:thumbsup:Cool. Be sure to post up some pics when you're done. I'd like to see how it turns out.
Another way to mod the opening is just trim the opening, round the edges to match the factory opening, then refinish. Like in this thread of mine.

 

[r.barn]

Its wired up and everything is working.

Need to figure out where I want to route its USB cable and
I will be able to hook up i-pod or USB flash drive.
Can even watch movies or podcast off an i-pod while driving too.

and of course the more expensive model the 900BT will play DVD's

The GPS antenna is sitting on the metal dash frame just behind the
radio and under the dash. Had read they work fine there and sure
enough it "sees" right thru the plastic dash.

I "hacked" the wire harness per forum instructions so I can access route
controls and watch video with out the "parking brake" applied too.

Now for the fun part of reworking the bezel............

 

[01lt_hoe]

Its wired up and everything is working.

Need to figure out where I want to route its USB cable and
I will be able to hook up i-pod or USB flash drive.
Can even watch movies or podcast off an i-pod while driving too.

heres the perfect place for your ipod & usb cables (IMO)

 

[r.barn]

Went by the auto paint store and got some 3M plastic repair epoxy.

I glob'd it into the corner wet with small plastic knife.
After about 5mins it sets up to the constancy of old chewing gum stuck
under a desk.

You have about another 10mins to lightly mold it with your finger tips
or end of plastic knife or whatever.

Waiting for it to cure now to see how it bonds and sands.
The cured sample at the store looked and felt just like hard plastic.

First test corner

 

[r.barn]

This Plastic Repair stuff should work like a charm.

Started by wrapping a small piece of plywood with aluminum foil.
and taping it to the back of the bezel.

Then glob on the plastic repair resin in a nice thick even coat
around the edge.

About 5-10mins later you can start you can start molding a little
by finger tip take out some of the bigger high spots. and after about
15mins you can remove the wood and carefully peal off the foil.

With in 1-2 hours its hard enough to cut with a drimel and start making
rough cut. Stuff sets up as hard and strong as plastic in about an 1hr.

Repeat, sand, shape, repeat, sand shape ...... you get the point.
Will post up some completion pictures in a couple of days.

 

[YukonJacks]

I ran my ipod and XM interface to my center console. I bought a 4X6 plastic box and mounbted it to the bottom of console. I used the same material that you would use in the bottom of tool box drawers to line the inside of the box. No rattles, nice and snug and accessable. I also gutted out my cassette deck, lined it with the same material. Nice compartment to store cell phone and remote

 

[Kahlil]

Hi there, did you finish the conversion? What did you do after you used the epoxy bumper repair? Any picks when finished?

Thanks