did a search to save you guys answering a question im guessing has been asked before, but couldnt find anything

anyway, i put in a new pioneer cd player into my mates EL, and although it works well, its more the cosmetic side of things that need attention

Q1) can you buy an aftermarket mounting bracket to install the CD player in? (the holes in the side of the new pioneer unit dont line up with the factory item)

Q2) do you need any additional facia 'fill in pieces' to fit around the unit? although the unit is just sitting in the position at the moment, there seems to be a reasonable gap along the two sides and the top which make things look ugly

Q3) is any generic DIN pocket able to be used to fill in the space where the other half of the factory system was? went to ford today and they reckon yo have to buy the whole surround including the ashtray for something around the $160 mark (didnt really want to spend quite that much :0)

Q4) the new pioneer unit doesnt have an electric aerial trigger wire - just wondering how i could overcome this problem and get it to come up when the radio is turned on

if anyone has any links to information such as this that has been covered before that would be great too

thanks in advance - im a newbie to the forums so sorry if ive missed something

regards dan

welcome to fordmods! lol

1: just make up a set of brackets to suit...... thin sheetmetal will do
2: AFAIK, the HU's fit a bit better in the single DIN fascia
3: get a single din fascia, it already has the pocket
4: not a lot can be done about the aerial trigger apart from using the blue power/remote wire, and have a seperate switch for when you dont want the aerial up

I just drilled a tiny hole into the HU and fit a small screw where there was a small hole. If my dash comes apart in the next few days I'll take a pic.

Modify the factory brackets by drilling holes. The factory brackets are alot better as it also stabilizes the rear of the HU. Most good HU have a seperate antenna trigger wire so look if it has one.

Forgot to mention get the single din surround from the wreckers for about $20 and if the car still has the original HU take off the single din brackets and use them, the double ones hit on the pocket of surround.

pioneers dont..... they only have a "power" wire that is more suited to an amplifier remote turn-on than an antenna

i tried drillling holes with no success. blew up dads good makita drill (sparks and all) in the process. my head unit sticks out about 1-2 cms from the dash

how the hell did you blow up a drill???

i would reccomend against drilling holes in your HU..... too much s**t inside that may get drilled through if you're not carefull, as well as issues with the swarf from the drilling either shorting something out inside or interfereing with the mechanisim

there's also warranty issues with drilling holes in a brand new HU.....

i was sitting down for about 30mins with this drill running flat out trying to get through one of my stereo brakets. sparks and smoke stated pouring out near the power cord. i think i may have overheated it or sumpin. i have an ef stereo in my eb and was trying to make the eb brackets fit properly on the ef headunit.

sharpen the drill bit or use pedistal drill.

thanks guys for the replys

i think ill ring around at a few wreckers and see what there asking for a single DIN facia and mounting bracket

you guys wouldnt know if there is an aftermarket bracket available also? (just in case i cant get one from a wrecker)

thanks again

Not that i know of but dont quote me on that, serious get some factory ones and get someone elso to drill the holes if your drill is dead.....