Post by Candyman on Jan 22, 2010 3:13:58 GMT -8
Hey Everyone,
I wind up answering this question pretty often, and figured I would put a quick post here to try to archive this for the better of all PT kind.
The stock Head Unit in the 2001 - 2005 PT's is a 1.5 DIN. A lot of people often inquire about installing a double DIN Head Unit in its place. In fact at one time I wanted to do the same as I have a friend who has a relative over in Japan who has a Stereo Shop and has way ubber cool Double DIN Import Units which can't be bought in the States, but alas, I am sad to say they won't fit unless you pretty much destroy your center bezel of your dash to do so. Amazingly, some people just won't believe me, but after trimming and reworking my own dash, their just is simply not enough room behind their to pull it off.
Still need proof? Oki Doki, but it ain't gonna be pretty. Here is a guy who did not believe me and went for it. Notice how he wound up cutting the top and bottom supports almost clean out to fit the chassis. By doing this, you need to replace the structural supports or you will have issues. In addition its also pretty messy, and unprofessional looking, at least to me.
On mine, I went a different route by which trimming enough to allow for a single DIN and enough room to allow the face to rotate down and out while still allowing clearance to use a custom digital Equalizer still mounted underneath. It just barely fit and still allowed for enough fiberglass work to clean it up nice and neat and tie it all up in a nice neat little package. Here of course is a pic of mine once again.
See, nice clean, and painted up to perfection. ;D Of course it was a way expensive route to go, but the end result looks pretty clean and it actually fits without going overboard with chopping your dash to pieces.
Now if you still would really like to put a double DIN in, but are now the much wiser, and aren't ready to break out the old Dremmol and start hacking away, then here is a very easy, cost effective way to get the best of both worlds.
Simply build a small enclosure to fit up snug between the forward part of the shifter handle, and the lower part of the center bezel as shown here in my good friend Roger's PT. Simply replace the Monitor with your Double DIN Head Unit and you are in business. It is a clean, simple, and effective solution without getting complicated, and doing unnecessary work.
So to recap, Double Din Head Units won't work in the dash without really making a serious mess out of your dash, but if need be, you can create a very simple solution by making a simple enclosure to go with your center console as outlined in the last photos.
Go easy, and as always, if you have any questions please feel free to ask way as I am always around here most every day, and always big time more than willing to try to help out any of my PT Cruiser Family anytime!
Take care,
Candyman
I wind up answering this question pretty often, and figured I would put a quick post here to try to archive this for the better of all PT kind.
The stock Head Unit in the 2001 - 2005 PT's is a 1.5 DIN. A lot of people often inquire about installing a double DIN Head Unit in its place. In fact at one time I wanted to do the same as I have a friend who has a relative over in Japan who has a Stereo Shop and has way ubber cool Double DIN Import Units which can't be bought in the States, but alas, I am sad to say they won't fit unless you pretty much destroy your center bezel of your dash to do so. Amazingly, some people just won't believe me, but after trimming and reworking my own dash, their just is simply not enough room behind their to pull it off.
Still need proof? Oki Doki, but it ain't gonna be pretty. Here is a guy who did not believe me and went for it. Notice how he wound up cutting the top and bottom supports almost clean out to fit the chassis. By doing this, you need to replace the structural supports or you will have issues. In addition its also pretty messy, and unprofessional looking, at least to me.
On mine, I went a different route by which trimming enough to allow for a single DIN and enough room to allow the face to rotate down and out while still allowing clearance to use a custom digital Equalizer still mounted underneath. It just barely fit and still allowed for enough fiberglass work to clean it up nice and neat and tie it all up in a nice neat little package. Here of course is a pic of mine once again.
See, nice clean, and painted up to perfection. ;D Of course it was a way expensive route to go, but the end result looks pretty clean and it actually fits without going overboard with chopping your dash to pieces.
Now if you still would really like to put a double DIN in, but are now the much wiser, and aren't ready to break out the old Dremmol and start hacking away, then here is a very easy, cost effective way to get the best of both worlds.
Simply build a small enclosure to fit up snug between the forward part of the shifter handle, and the lower part of the center bezel as shown here in my good friend Roger's PT. Simply replace the Monitor with your Double DIN Head Unit and you are in business. It is a clean, simple, and effective solution without getting complicated, and doing unnecessary work.
So to recap, Double Din Head Units won't work in the dash without really making a serious mess out of your dash, but if need be, you can create a very simple solution by making a simple enclosure to go with your center console as outlined in the last photos.
Go easy, and as always, if you have any questions please feel free to ask way as I am always around here most every day, and always big time more than willing to try to help out any of my PT Cruiser Family anytime!
Take care,
Candyman
