Auto: 1986 Lincoln Mark VII -- Bill Blast edition


Problem:

Installed new stereo that is inset in console hole. Ugly.

I just had a Pioneer stereo installed in my Lincoln. It is high-end stereo with all the whistles and bells, including MP3 capability, satellite radio, and iPod.

The problem is, all the models available are too narrow for my console opening, so, while its an attractive stereo face, overall the area is ugly because it does not have a face plate to cover the opening.

The installers at the stereo store said the problem is that the stereo design works for modern cars.


Any suggestions?

Go to a local car stereo instalation specialist...a company called American International makes dash kits for all makes and models and I'm sure they have what you need to make the opening look closer to factory. Some stores use dash kits from another company called Scosche and should work just fine also. Depending on where you live, though, it may be easier to contact Crutchfield.com where you can plug in the year, make, and model of the car and get the exact dash kit you need. Fabulous! Brilliant!

Paul

PS

Good night & good luck.

Auto: 1986 Lincoln Mark VII -- Bill Blast edition

This is growning tiresome...

You have a Bill BLASS edition Mark VII. :mad:

I think Bill Blast is passed-tense of a Bill Blass. :p

Auto: 1986 Lincoln Mark VII -- Bill Blast edition


Problem:

Installed new stereo that is inset in console hole. Ugly.

I just had a Pioneer stereo installed in my Lincoln. It is high-end stereo with all the whistles and bells, including MP3 capability, satellite radio, and iPod.

The problem is, all the models available are too narrow for my console opening, so, while its an attractive stereo face, overall the area is ugly because it does not have a face plate to cover the opening.

The installers at the stereo store said the problem is that the stereo design works for modern cars.


Any suggestions?

How about posting some pics of what you have now, let's see what you are dealing with. :)

Aww hell.. . just think of the problems that owners of '65 mustangs have with their radio space when they want such a system for modern times...
I'd say, either learn how to do some custom modifying yourself or get the $ to pay someone to do it ! Sounds harsh, but it's gotta be done, right? ;)

Semper-fi !!!

This is growning tiresome...

You have a Bill BLASS edition Mark VII. :mad:



Actually, Josh, what is tiresome are pompous assess. :cool:

Obtain a copy of Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Number one rule: Never, ever, correct any one because it’s the quickest way to alienate people.

P.S. I’m aware that the international clothing designer’s name is Bill Blass. Referencing the car as a Bill Blast edition is a play on words. It’s sarcasm because my Mark VII is a piece of junk that has been nothing but a money pit. Blast seems appropriate as most days I want to blast the misbegotten beast into the next dimension.

Other than that, I like the smooth ride. :p

Actually, Josh, what is tiresome are pompous assess. :cool:

I believe you meant to use the word "asses," a plural form of the noun "ass" as opposed to the verb assess, which otherwise is completely grammatically incorrect.

Obtain a copy of Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Number one rule: Never, ever, correct any one because it’s the quickest way to alienate people.

Sounds like a few issues. First, you mistake me for attempting to win friends. I don't need or desire internet friends. I am here to help people make the most out of cars that we as a community love and value. Second, Dale needs a reality check. If no one were ever corrected we would all walk around making asses out of ourselves, as we would all be doing so many things wrong. Without correction there is little progression of correct knowledge and an abundance of falsehoods. Third, if being corrected alienates someone, there are deeper underlying issues that they need to resolve. People make mistakes; thus the phrase "human nature" and as such we need to be able to accept that. I'm not one to coddle anyone for any reason, especially in hopes of letting them be wrong so as not to alienate them.

P.S. I’m aware that the international clothing designer’s name is Bill Blass. Referencing the car as a Bill Blast edition is a play on words. It’s sarcasm because my Mark VII is a piece of junk that has been nothing but a money pit. Blast seems appropriate as most days I want to blast the misbegotten beast into the next dimension.

And now that you have made this clear your sarcasm can be better appreciated. There have been other threads where you reference your "Bill Blast" and this is the first time you have made any clarification in your sarcasm, along with the fact that you have been corrected before about your misprint without reply.

Otherwise, I believe you have been set on the right track for your issue at hand. Personally I would complain to the place that installed it for you. If you paid to have it installed, it should be done to your satisfaction. Their excuses do not change your satisfaction with the finished product, and there are plenty of ways to pretty-up the installation. I would start there.

send a picture of the radio and a picture of the radio in the cAR

Poo Poo Head (pu-pu-hed) n. anyone that says or does anything to purposely upset anyone else. "He's a poo-poo head because he's always trying to make me mad." - six year old Adam Richard Dancy

Guys and Gal (yes, I meant the singular); thanks for not being Poo Poo Heads.

what i did a few years ago in my 1987 chevy silverado. i called up a local metal fab shop made a plate to cover the hole im cutting out took the metal slider that goes around the radio and use it to mark the metal where you want it to sit. put
4 self tapping screws into it and whahhalalalala you got the radio in.
as for wires its just as easy to figure out whats what. i just wired up my mark 8 took 35 min. i also had to cut speakers holes in the doors.

what i did a few years ago in my 1987 chevy silverado. i called up a local metal fab shop made a plate to cover the hole im cutting out took the metal slider that goes around the radio and use it to mark the metal where you want it to sit. put
4 self tapping screws into it and whahhalalalala you got the radio in.
as for wires its just as easy to figure out whats what. i just wired up my mark 8 took 35 min. i also had to cut speakers holes in the doors.



That is similiar to what I did with my old Chevy Impala. The area where the radio is located is a flat surface with an opening. I switched the radio from its oem to a modern one with the removeable front. I went to a local plastic shop and had them cut a peice of black with taperd edges to cover the hole and then radio fits over it and it looks professional.


But my stinkin' Lincoln has the simulated wood grain metal with a concave area around the opening. The new mp3 stereo is smaller than the opening, so it is inset (flush with the opening).

I figured I must not be the only that has encountered this situation and wondered how the rest of you resolved it so that it looks natural.

How about posting some pics of what you have now, let's see what you are dealing with. :)




Here are the pictures. Took awhile to acquire a digital camera.

The first photograph is the dash in question. The second photograph is a sideview of my Bill Blast (yes Blast). Note the cardboard under her because she's leaking like a sieve.

Thanks for getting the pictures up!

That "gap" is truly minor. Though not an audio aficionado (nor grammatical genius) there has just GOT to be some aftermarket kit for situations like this. Maybe even a product that you cut to length and install in the edge of the opening like you would the edge of your door:
http://www.thefordsource.com/store/truck_accessories/images/expedition/large/expedition_doorEdge_blk_lr.jpg

Second, nice car. Shame about the leak.

I had a Pioneer head unit just like that, and it can fit just fine. The issue with yours is that it is mounted with the plastic surround behind the wood trim. What you should do is mount the stereo forward some more so that the plastic surround can sit over the wood trim and it will look much better.

I had a Pioneer head unit just like that, and it can fit just fine. The issue with yours is that it is mounted with the plastic surround behind the wood trim. What you should do is mount the stereo forward some more so that the plastic surround can sit over the wood trim and it will look much better.
Two heads ar better than one Josh (even though mine is a cabbage).

I missed the frame hiding behind the BB trim work. Looks like abot a 1/2 inch adjustment. 1986_MarkVII, are you able to remove the wood tone trim and then the radio and then reinstall the trim and the radio frame/surround/reveal on the OUTSIDE of the BB trim?

What they said! ^^^

Pictures definitely helped! :)

I used plastic washers between the mounting brackets and the dash to bring the stereo out to a better location. It should only take about a quarter inch.

John, you better give that noggin some attention our you'll be smelling of sauerkraut. ;)

Poo Poo Head (pu-pu-hed) n. anyone that says or does anything to purposely upset anyone else. "He's a poo-poo head because he's always trying to make me mad." - six year old Adam Richard Dancy

Guys and Gal (yes, I meant the singular); thanks for not being Poo Poo Heads.

PooPooHead... :bowrofl:

...
John, you better give that noggin some attention our you'll be smelling of sauerkraut. ;)
Nah.
That's why I have you guys around. Thanks for pointing out what I didn't see in the pictures, Josh.

...Thanks for pointing out what I didn't see in the pictures, Josh.

It was pretty easy since I had a similar head unit at one point in time. Just doing my job. :cool:

Hello gentlemen.

I printed your recommendations and went to my Bill Blast (yes, Josh, the Blastmobile) and put the key in the ignition and drove the car to the dealer that installed the car and showed the manager your notes.

He apologized profusely that his guys had allowed me to drive away unhappy with the finished product. Something about the mounts and blah, blah, the stereo looks better. :p

At least now you can blast off listening to some cool tunes from your aesthetically pleasing head unit install. You're welcome. :D

Looking good Girl!

I'm glad that you approached this as a calm headed Customer that wasn't quite satisfied with your finished product. Most business Owners appreciate calm Customers over load mouthed, demanding idiots.

Congratulations.

Looking good Girl!

I'm glad that you approached this as a calm headed Customer that wasn't quite satisfied with your finished product. Most business Owners appreciate calm Customers over load mouthed, demanding idiots.

Congratulations.




Yes, you truly catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Of course I find it helps to bat my big greens at men and its amazing what gets accomplished. :rolleyes:

Yes, you truly catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Of course I find it helps to bat my big greens at men and its amazing what gets accomplished. :rolleyes:
How come when I do it I get punched in the mouth?

They hacked up the console trim pretty badly when it would have been cheaper and easier to hack up the radio trim as that is readily available from Pioneer. Ask them to pay for a new trim piece. Then, carefully Dremel away at the Pioneer and/or new trim piece until they fit. There is barely a gap on my Continental and only a slight gap in my Mark VII because I took a little too much off.

As the old adage goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." :D