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308 Radio

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by RAMMER, Apr 20, 2006.

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  1. RAMMER

    RAMMER Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2004
    1,187
    Miami
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    Rammer
    I am debating wether to upgrade the stereo in my glass 308 GTB. It already has a newer JVC two nob radio and some upgraded speakers that are falling apart. The question is....

    Do I have to cut anything to put a newer radio or is the stock opening only for the old two nob radios?

    I would hate to cut anything but would like to maybe listen to cds without having to add a changer that is vissible in the trunk. I can easily put 2 way 6.5s in the doors, a small amp under the seat, and maybe a tiny sub behind the passenger seat. These things will not be visible except for the modern radio and I can live with that. I have looked the old threads but I am still undecided.
     
  2. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    Aug 3, 2002
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    #2 Mike C, Apr 20, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Without cutting anything, you can put a "standard" unit in the dash, and 5.5" speakers (not larger) in the doors. The place for a subwoofer is in the kickpanel below the dash at the passengers' feet. It's not bothered by having the floor mat over it, and is invisible.
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  3. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    #3 Mike C, Apr 20, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
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    Clever idea
     
  5. RAMMER

    RAMMER Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2004
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    Rammer
    Are you sure my 1976 car takes a standard radio? Why would it have that two nob thing then? Thats a great place to put the sub! I just went to look at my car and all you have to do is remove the original panel (store it safely) and create a new panel for the sub. Its great. I will need a free air sub then. I think it will be a easy to work on the 308....it all looks farely simple. Is it hard to run the amp wire from the battery? Thanks in advance for all the info.
     
  6. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    May 4, 2001
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    Your car will accept a "regular" radio with no problem. I have the old 2 knob Blaupunkt cassette and added a FM modulator CD player up on the spare tire on a wooden disc like Mike's. I also installed a 850 watt 4 channel amp so I can hear the thing on the highway with the top out. The amp has speaker level inputs so it can drive ANY old radio. The doors have component speakers with 125 watt RMS capabilities in the stock locations. The rear has Anthony Gallo Ball Speakers in each corner that look identical to the old Blaupunkt ball speakers that some dealers installed back in the VERY early 80's.

    Basically I have one hell of a loud/great sounding system with a 10 disc CD changer with the looks of a bone-stock dealer installed Blaupunkt system circa 1982. I like it that way.
     
  7. chris marsh

    chris marsh F1 Veteran
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    Aug 30, 2005
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    When you guys say "regular radio" you do mean a modern module type??

    Does anyone have pictures of the dash with the radio out?
     
  8. Grus

    Grus Rookie

    Apr 13, 2006
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    Sweden (EU)
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    Hans Gustafsson
    Hi.
    The two knob version are a DIN-standard and the new ones are a ISO standard.
     
  9. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    I mean a "single DIN" radio (I believe that's what it is called). I's nothing special to put anything in there. No cutting required.
     
  10. chris marsh

    chris marsh F1 Veteran
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    Aug 30, 2005
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    Can not buy two knob (DIN) radios anymore. At least I can't find one.

    I have an Alpine in my car installed in 1989. It seems to have lost its memory it probably isn't worth repairing.
     
  11. wcelliot

    wcelliot Formula Junior

    May 7, 2004
    577
    Maryland, USA
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    Bill
    From an (admittedly) quick glance at my '78 with the two knob stereo, it sure looks to me like some cutting would be necessary to drop a DIN radio in... the knobs appear to come through the dash panel.

    I wonder if those of you who have DIN's in your cars have had the mods made by a previous owner, if Ferrari went to a DIN opening at some point early on (I'm sure they did, but don't know when), or if I'm simply mistaken...

    Bill
     
  12. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Ebay. That's where I bought all my "vintage" radio stuff.
     
  13. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    Not *all* of it! ;)
     
  14. RAMMER

    RAMMER Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2004
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    Rammer
    I still dont have a clear answer.......My car has a two nob radio and I am wondering if I can put in the modern din radio without cutting anything???????? Thanks in advance.
     
  15. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Yes you can. I did.
     
  16. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
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    Rammer, some clarity is obviously still lacking here with respect to your original question. Let's try to clarify...

    If your existing radio unit is secured into the dash by way of three holes (two small holes for each of the knobs and one larger hole for the visible part of the unit (likely, the cassette slot and a radio tuner band) with the whole unit installed from the rear then, no, you can't install a modern DIN head unit in without doing some cutting. A modern DIN head unit is not secured in the above manner, rather, a single opening accommodates the entire unit which slides in the dash from the front of the fascia. A modern DIN head unit is approximately 2.5 inches in height and about 7 inches in width. The opening in the dash is this same size and there are no holes for separate knobs. Hope this helps.
     
  17. loki

    loki Guest

    Jul 25, 2005
    227
    DIN stands for Deutsche Industry Norman, it was a term the Germans came up with in the early 80's. Most after-market radios use this "standard" size, but your car most likely does not unless someone has already modified it. ISO refers to something the Japanese market used around the same time period and is slightly smaller then DIN. You can put a modern radio into your car without too much trouble but you will have to modify the dash. In a 308 the sub in the passenger floor well is the best place for it but don't expect any "booming" bass from it. Most of the bass you will get is from transfer to the body instead of real sound.
     
  18. rcraig

    rcraig F1 Rookie

    Dec 7, 2005
    2,960
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    I just finished putting new Alpine cd-MP-3 in my 79 308. Took out old style two button. New players have a cage system that as far as my month of research could tell is about the only way to go now. New cage just barely fit into the panel where old stereo was. NEW HOLE DEFINATELY HAD TO BE CUT TO GET CAGE IN. MAJOR PAIN IN THE ASS!!!!!!! I cut mine out with a high speed dremel. used a cutting blade first and them when i got it close but a bit smaller ground the rest out with wheel. Corners must be perfectly square to fit cage. I'm not kidding, the one I got was standard size and the dash hole was within 1/16" of cutting into threads in leather all around panel. It did work though and now looks great. Be aware dash is fiberglass with some metal inside on side of ignition. Be careful and wear goggles and breathing mask. Makes quite a mess. Good Luck!!!
     
  19. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
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    Nov 4, 2003
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    from reading lots of posts here, it seemed to me that some 308s had the large whole cut at the dealer's & some had the two-knob cut. Mine had the two-knob radio so some fiberglass cutting was in order. thankfully, no metal.
     
  20. RAMMER

    RAMMER Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2004
    1,187
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    Rammer
    I think my question has been answered by a few of you now......you do have to cut the radio section of the dash to install a din radio. I would really hate to cut anything! Life is all about compromises.
     
  21. chris marsh

    chris marsh F1 Veteran
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    Aug 30, 2005
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    2108 items in car stereo on ebay today. Only 1 two knob.

    And it is advertised as "Dim display may be easy fix"
     

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