Glove Box Question

[rjm65]

Did all Corvettes ('78-'82) have the 8-Track trays in the glove box regardless of whether the car was optioned out with 8-Track or Cassette Radios?

 

[bill81vette]

According to NCRS manual,only the vettes that had the 8-track or cassette options did.

 

[6880 Mike]

According to NCRS manual,only the vettes that had the 8-track or cassette options did.

Correct. My car has the original 8-track player with the tape racks in the glove box. Nice, but takes up room.

 

[rjm65]

So they never actually made a glove box with vertical dividers designed for cassettes? Guess GM thought 8-tracks were going to have longevity. otfl

My '81 came with the ETR cassette radio, and I always wondered if maybe they had put in the wrong glove box in the car at the time of assembly.

 

[mkapp7879]

The cassettes should fit sideways.
My white 79 that originally came with AM/FM/CB doesn't even have the holes in the glovebox for the dividers to snap into.
Took the dividers out of the black 79 so I could actually put something in there.

 

[bill81vette]

they used the same one for 8-tracks and cassettes...

 

[401KVet]

Mr. Knapp,

My 80 also has the dividers and I would like to take them out? How difficult was it. Do you have to remove the hold box?
Thanks, Glenn

 

[22229stingray81]

401KVet,

It's pretty easy. You just remove the screws from inside the box, slide out the sleeve, and take the slats out. I can't remember where the screws are, but they are not hidden. All are in plain sight and easy to remove.

-Tatortot

 

[401KVet]

Tatorto,

Thanks for the help. I will try it tommorrow. I'm wanting to install a after stereo/cd player and I think putting it in the glove box would work. It didn't come with rear speakers, so I'll have to figure that out. Mounting the speakers may be a problem.
Thanks again,
Glenn

 

[6880 Mike]

...It didn't come with rear speakers, so I'll have to figure that out. Mounting the speakers may be a problem....

The 1980 AIM shows the factory installation of the optional rear speakers if you want to go the factory route.

 

[401KVet]

Yes, I have one on order. I want to stay with the factory look. I'm leaving the original stereo in with the dash speakers. My plans or to install another CD/stereo in the glove box, and a amp in the floor compartment behind the passenger seat. Great 6x9's for the rear speakers, and maybe some speakers in the kicker panels, keeping all the look, but future sounds and old at the turn of a knob.
Thanks for your help,

 

[1COOL81]

So they never actually made a glove box with vertical dividers designed for cassettes? Guess GM thought 8-tracks were going to have longevity. otfl

My '81 came with the ETR cassette radio, and I always wondered if maybe they had put in the wrong glove box in the car at the time of assembly.

My 81 (built in Sept 80) has the original AM/FM/8-track with the dividers in the glove box too. The radio amd 8-track works but is flakey sometimes. I'd like to keep the original in place and looking for a good compact modern alternative. In the glove box would be ok but I haven't found a good solution. Any ideas or sites that have a radio with IPOD input option would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[401KVet]

If I understand you right, you are wanting to keep the original stereo in the dash, and then put some sort of after stereo/CD with IPOD in the glove box. ??

 

[1COOL81]

If I understand you right, you are wanting to keep the original stereo in the dash, and then put some sort of after stereo/CD with IPOD in the glove box. ??

Yes. Sorry if I wasn't clear on what I would like to do and 401KVet maybe your intentions are the same or similar.

- I want to leave the original radio/8T in the dash so it has the correct look.
- Remove the dividers (but save them) in the glove box.
- Install a new radio/CD unit with IPOD support in the glove box.
- Leave the dash speakers wired to the original radio.
- Replace (but keep) the rear speakers with new 6x9s that will fit in the existing holes and wire them to the new radio/CD. 2 channel stereo is fine with me.

I think I will have to run new wires to the new rear speakers. Huge wattage and ground shaking sound isn't what I'm looking for. Just something that works and sounds better than the original sound system.

Has anyone done this or something similar? Thanks.

 

[401KVet]

Well you and I are wanting to do almost the Exact same thing. I have already removed the deviders in the glove box thanks to 22229stingray81.

I am planing on putting a amp in the storage compartment behing the passenger seat. New 6x9's in the rear, and maybe new 4x6's in the kick panel. I have no speakers at all in these locatons now.

The amp will be pushing at least 75RMS x 4. This should really sound great. The dash speakers will be used only for the factory in dash stereo.

Rhonda with Cruthfield is putting together some suggestions on what she thinks will work and sound the best. Her number is 1-800-388-2911 Ext. 4068.
If you choose to talk to her, tell her the guy from Baton Rouge with the 80 Vette sent ya.
Hope this helps.

 

[IrishJoker]

Tatorto,

Thanks for the help. I will try it tommorrow. I'm wanting to install a after stereo/cd player and I think putting it in the glove box would work. It didn't come with rear speakers, so I'll have to figure that out. Mounting the speakers may be a problem.
Thanks again,
Glenn

Why not make it a clean appearance by buying an after-market new Center Gage Bezel that already has the 1 DIN height cut-out for a modern radio? Also you will find the rear speaker wiring harness IS installed in your car - regardless of whether or not your car came with rear speakers - they are tucked in the angled side panels where your rear speakers would have been.
Additionally - contact Crutchfield's for the adaptor harness for radio installation (matching the brand of new radio you purchase) so you don't go chopping up your original radio harness. They also sell the back speaker adaptor harness as well.

Here is how I did it:

 

[401KVet]

Looks Great:
Yes I've seen the aftermarket oversized bezels, but I want to stay original as much as possible, even if its just the look.
But you are right, what you did does look very clean and very SHARP!

I'm glad to hear that the rear speaker wiring harness is in place. Do you think the same is true for the front kick panels?
Thanks,

 

[karl24]

I used custom auto sound for a current head unit but looks like the original radio. Equalizer in the glove box, alpine amp under drivers seat, 10 cd changer attached to lid where tire jack is stored, new speakers front and rear and a small sub in the back. Unbelievable sound!! But still nice to listen to the engine w/ the new exaust system.

 

[LannyL81]

If anyone has installed better 6x9 speakers in the factory location...could you let me know how you did it? I tried once, but could not get the newer style to fit in the grills and ended up going with stock speakers....gives the original sound....uggh!....would like better sound quality...even with the sidepipes. I did put better ones in the dash though. I sure like that setup that Irishjoker has.....where did you get that one from???

 

[401KVet]

Rear Speakers:

If anyone has installed better 6x9 speakers in the factory location...could you let me know how you did it? I tried once, but could not get the newer style to fit in the grills and ended up going with stock speakers....gives the original sound....uggh!....would like better sound quality...even with the sidepipes. I did put better ones in the dash though. I sure like that setup that Irishjoker has.....where did you get that one from???

I am wanting to do the same with my rear, dash, and kick panel speakers. Haven't tried yet. What kind of problem are you having with the rears. Will they not fit it the mounting bracket, or the grills want go over them?
I am trying to keep the stock look. Which speakers did you use in the dash, and are you going to replace the kick panel speakers?
Thanks,