Radio cup repair

[71SSclone]

Before I can paint my dashboard, I needed to repair the broken radio shaft cups. I bought 2- 1” cups from the plumbing section at Lowes. I had to cut them down so they would fit on the dashboard. I also had to cut down the broken cups so the radio would fit properly. I also bought 2- 3/4 cups, thinking I would need to cut those down and install them on the front of the dash. As it turns out, they weren’t needed. 

[71SSclone]

After test fitting, I glued them on the dash with 2 part epoxy. 

[71SSclone]

After test fitting the radio, I sanded down the cups and installed another layer of 2 part epoxy, for added strength. Now, it time to prep and paint the dash

[jft69z]

Nice, creative solution, John. Looks like it'll be very durable too, no more worries about breakage! 

[71SSclone]

I hope so. I didn’t want to buy an aftermarket dashboard. I’ll say one thing, that AM/FM 8 Track is a heavy unit!!

[Marks71]

I like your method for clamping. I did the exact same thing on my 69 Camaro dash, except my original cups were completely gone. I had a little trimming  but I used pretty much the entire pvc cap to create a new cup that I bonded to the back face of  the dash using JB Weld. That was in 1999 and I still have the car. I think someone  makes replacement cups now. 

[willie]

John great job!!!   I happen to stumble across a replacement set of cups in Carlisle and used them to do mine. epoxied them and haven't had a problem either. I don't know who makes them but i have seen them in one of the books somewhere.

[Leghome]

On one of my previous cars I had to put a brace on the back of my radio to the lower part of the dash to keep it from breaking again

[FrankOC]

I found this from a few years ago: 

 

[jft69z]

Stuff regarding the original type replacement cups, plus a bonus sheet with dash removal/replacement.

 

https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=176377

https://macc.chevelles.net/dash_repair.pdf

https://macc.chevelles.net/70_dash_replacement.pdf

[Michael Boyte]

3 hours ago, Leghome said:

On one of my previous cars I had to put a brace on the back of my radio to the lower part of the dash to keep it from breaking again

Larry you are not alone, I too have made that additional brace, actually on several different vehicles. 

[Michael Boyte]

9 hours ago, 71SSclone said:

I hope so. I didn’t want to buy an aftermarket dashboard. I’ll say one thing, that AM/FM 8 Track is a heavy unit!!

Heavy... Absolutely !! I believe theses car manufacturers used them for counter weights 😂 😂 😂 

[Dtret]

They actually come from the factory with a brace. But most are gone hence the broken cups. 

[420ponies]

Now that looks great! John, that's some fine work on your dash. I don't have all of the surround to make mine original again. It was cut before I owned the car. My CD player resides in the space now.

[71SSclone]

I tried to find the radio cup repair kit, but had no luck. That’s why I resorted to back yard engineering. I do have the rear brace for the radio, (Thanks Dennis) so that should help things out.

jft69z- thanks for posting the pdf’s.  I’m sure it will help when I install the dashboard. 

[Scott S.]

5 hours ago, 420ponies said:

Now that looks great! John, that's some fine work on your dash. I don't have all of the surround to make mine original again. It was cut before I owned the car. My CD player resides in the space now.

Hopefully it wasn't cut with a chainsaw like mine was....

[jft69z]

I just saw this while looking on FB. It's from Belden Speed and engineering. Looks like it may be a very interesting kit.

https://www.rustreplace.com/home/dash-radio-tower-repair-kit

https://www.facebook.com/beldenspeed/videos/941465844768001

[Marks71]

I like that installation fixture. Great idea. 

[jft69z]

Just now, Marks71 said:

I like that installation fixture. Great idea. 

Yeah, looks like a real nice system, complete with pretty detailed instructions from the looks of it.

[Dtret]

8 minutes ago, jft69z said:

Yeah, looks like a real nice system, complete with pretty detailed instructions from the looks of it.

I seen a couple hours ago. I think I may try one. 

[Dtret]

Email has been sent. I’ll let you know. 

[Dtret]

Invoice has been processed and the order will ship on Tuesday. I got two kits coming. This could be interesting. But Belden has never disappointed  

[420ponies]

Is the alignment fixture part of the repair?  Mine space in the dash is totally gutted. Lucky for me , I found a cd player that fit right in. Not too worried about it, I mostly listen to the engine noise and other sounds while driving. I know when it's going to break down !

[Rob Peters]

17 minutes ago, 420ponies said:

Is the alignment fixture part of the repair?  Mine space in the dash is totally gutted. Lucky for me , I found a cd player that fit right in. Not too worried about it, I mostly listen to the engine noise and other sounds while driving. I know when it's going to break down !

Jim,

In looking at the pictures, it is my guess that it is for a car where the knob mounting cones are broken off or damaged.  If you are talking that someone sawed a rectangular hole in the dash you would be SOL for this to work on you dash.  But that is just my impression from looking at the photo's.  It says the alignment fixture/tool is only to make sure the cone holes will align with the radio knob stems.

rob

[willie]

Nice find Joe, I think that is a great repair kit. I had epoxied the cones i found at Carlisle but never could find another set. Now we can get them from at will!!!