To cut or not to cut (that is the question)

[PenR]

Finally finished painting the engine bay - has anyone run into the colour code 46 disparity mix question - first place colour was screaming bright red, second place was a bit darker but still nowhere near. I eventually sat around for ages adding 1ml at a time of black until I got it right - took me all day to get it.
Sorry about that - had to get it off my chest!!
Anyway this IS the question (and its fairly anal at that) Should I cut the dash to accept a modern stereo? I refuse to buy one of these overpriced 'classic' stereo's - ridiculous money.
The Austin A35 owner (and complete pest - buy some bloody tools of your own) from up the road says that it detracts from the originality etc etc and thus devalues the car and I guess he's right up to a point. So whats the concensus - if any?
I do have a wonderful Clarion unit with all the bells and whistles and really want to fit it (somewhere?)
Ah details details details eh!
Cheers all
PenR

[940_Turbo]

I tend to put modern radios on the parcel shelf. I dislike cutting the dash, to my eyes it looks horrible having a modern radio inserted into an Amazon dash.

[Tail]

I put mine under the dash on the right hand side, pictures in this thread here:
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...=stereo&page=3 . You can't see the stereo at all from outside the car, the buttons are a little hard to see but i use the remote control it came with to switch on and change between radio and a memory stick with all of my out of date tunes on.

[dheming]

Originally Posted by PenR

Anyway this IS the question (and its fairly anal at that) Should I cut the dash to accept a modern stereo? I refuse to buy one of these overpriced 'classic' stereo's - ridiculous money.
The Austin A35 owner (and complete pest - buy some bloody tools of your own) from up the road says that it detracts from the originality etc etc and thus devalues the car and I guess he's right up to a point. So whats the concensus - if any?
I do have a wonderful Clarion unit with all the bells and whistles and really want to fit it (somewhere?)
Ah details details details eh!
Cheers all
PenR

Just to give you an idea of what this ends up looking like: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=83911
Of course you could try to find a more classy looking CDP so it doesn't clash as much with the Amazon's interior.

[Volvo Canadian]

Sounds like you are going at it from the bottom up, if you are painting the engine-bay.

Planning on selling? If not, I'd say in the dash, but it does make a stmt. Mine - I kept the original AM radio.

[jimbo1593]

mine is under the dash on the left...suits fine.

[Burdekin]

It is one of those little originality things that most guys don't like, so if you can it would be best not to cut the dash. The thing is they can always be welded back up if you did cut it though. Mine has been cut by a previous owner and I have a modern stereo in, doesn't look too bad but doesn't look quite right either so I might put an old one back in at some point in time.

[222s]

Originally Posted by 940_Turbo

I dislike cutting the dash, to my eyes it looks horrible having a modern radio inserted into an Amazon dash.

Agreed - looks horrible. Also, the modern stereo is then highly visible to any potential thief.

Originally Posted by PenR

Should I cut the dash to accept a modern stereo? I refuse to buy one of these overpriced 'classic' stereo's - ridiculous money.

I'd also recommend against cutting the dash. Whilst it could be welded up later, it would be a lot of hassle. However, the Retrosound units (not to be confused with other similar modern spindle mount units) are actually very good from all reports, with a much more powerful onboard amp (4x100W max, 50W RMS, rather than the usual 50W max & between 25 to 30W RMS), and the higher specced one has all the aux-ins & aux outs necessary for running mp3s, external amps etc, should you wish, as well as a remote control - very useful in an Amazon, given the distance it would be located from the driver.

Originally Posted by PenR

The Austin A35 owner (and complete pest - buy some bloody tools of your own) from up the road says that it detracts from the originality etc etc and thus devalues the car and I guess he's right up to a point. So whats the concensus - if any?

It would only devalue the car if done unsympathetically, i.e if you hack the dash & / or door trims.

Whilst the parcel shelf is a location where a stereo could easily be hidden, it's not within easy reach of the driver. A modern unit will fit under the centre of the dash in front of the gearstick, provided it is mounted far enough back. By mounting it there, it is in easy reach of the driver, and when the faceunit is removed, it isn't at all obtrusive & at night, it is completely hidden in the shadow under the dash. If you have an ipod, the ashtray is also just the right size for a dock. I can take some pics of how I've mounted mine in that location, if that's any help?

[PenR]

Overwhelming opinion has convinced me that I am not going to cut my dash.
The Phillips radio that was supplied with the car (I have the original bill of sale for the car) will be repaired and will remain and I will attempt to manufacture an underdash (central) mounting for the Clasrion unit.
So a large thanks to all who contributed to the decision and when I get around to doing it I'll attempt a 'how I did it' bit
Cheers all and thanks as ever
PenR

[PenR]

222s (Paul) - can I take you up on the offer of some pics of your install please?
Cheers
PenR