Tidbit of FSJ trivia

[Sitting Bull]

I know this is a little silly, but it may come up for someone else in the future. I was installing a new CD player in my dashboard of my 77 chief (OK, just cutting the hole before it goes to the body shop) and having a hard time getting it to fit and clear the glove-box opening. In other words, just making the hole large enough to accept the new style radios would have almost went down into the g-box opening. After a little cussing (I already bought the radio), my wife came out to see what all the fuss was about. I showed her the problem, and she pointed to another dashboard I had for parts (from a 79) and told me to try it on that one, or at least see for sure if it will clear the box. I told her that they were all the same in the 70's, and if it wouldn't fit in one, it wouldn't fit in the other (in a smug tone).

She went back inside, I continued to cuss. Then I took the down the spare to see if there was something else I could do, shorten the glove box or something. I got looking at it closer, and lo-n'-behold, AMC changed the dashboard at the radio opening. The "hump" above the radio does not run straight across like on a 77, but it notches up about 3/8" right at the radio. To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised.

And yes, I went inside and apologized for being smug and planted a big one on her. Then I made her come back out into the garage and see she was indeed correct. After she went back in, I apologized to Jeep for cussing at it as well.

Hope this may help someone on a 70's FSJ planning on doing a radio update in the future...

[sandmanb]

i wonder what year they actualy changed it? i have a 79 and a 78. i wonder which way the 78 is set up? i'll check in the next day or two and report the findings. maybe we can nail down the exact year of the changeover.

[John V]

My 78 took a new deck with no problem, the 77 is not up yet but 1 way or another it will have tunes! :cool:

[PAJEEPER]

I know the radio hole got bigger around '80 becuse my '77 has the small hole. Would take alot of cutting to get one in there. I'll just build a console for my CB and stereo.

[Tubro]

Well I can tell ya that in my 79, there was more than enough room to cut it out for a DIN radio. I had no problems other than there is nothing to mount the stupid thing to behind the dash. Gonna weld me a few little supports to make the thing solid. Looks great and interfears with nothing at all.

[Sitting Bull]

Yip, the 79's have plenty of room. A 77 dash would be very tight though!

[River Beast]

I didn't want to cut my dash... so I ordered the high-end Kenwood knob radio and installed a 6 pack CD player....