802 Radio Mount location ?

[49Bseries]

O.K. I need some advice please - My dash originally had the radio block off plate (a B2) but I purchased an 802 Radio without the mount. I have searched the forum and see the proper type of mounting bar/strap for the 802 Radio, but I have been under the dash looking and can find no evidence of where to bolt it. Does it attach directly to the firewall? Just drill a hole or what? Thanks!

[JBNeal]

Yep, bolts directly to the firewall...look at the hood latch hook, there is a stud with a hex nut and a external tooth lock washer; that be the radio...

[49Bseries]

Thanks 49Dodge1ton! Anyone happen to know the length of the mounting strap?

[geopcanuk]

Thanks 49Dodge1ton! Anyone happen to know the length of the mounting strap?

Here's a pic from a previous post,no dimensions though.shouldn't be too hard to fabricate

[HanksB3B]

that metal strap stuff with holes punched every inch or so. I'm not sure of the application is it for ducts or some sort of pipe supports?

Just a thought,

Hank

[ggdad1951]

that metal strap stuff with holes punched every inch or so. I'm not sure of the application is it for ducts or some sort of pipe supports?

Just a thought,

Hank

yah, that is strapping for duct/plumbing work, you can find it at about any hardware type store.

[49Bseries]

I have some of that duct/plumbing strap, but it seems a bit flimsy for the weight of this radio, so using the photo as a reference, I located some thicker metal strap and I was planning to replicate the original. It is difficult to guess the length from the photo and also I have no mounting hole on the firewall to measure from. Guess I was hoping someone would know off hand.

[Don Coatney]

that metal strap stuff with holes punched every inch or so. I'm not sure of the application is it for ducts or some sort of pipe supports?

Just a thought,

Hank

Correct term is plumbers tape.

I have some of that duct/plumbing strap, but it seems a bit flimsy for the weight of this radio, so using the photo as a reference, I located some thicker metal strap and I was planning to replicate the original. It is difficult to guess the length from the photo and also I have no mounting hole on the firewall to measure from. Guess I was hoping someone would know off hand.

Make a mock up with plumbers tape then fabricate what you need using the measurements from the mock up.

[49Bseries]

Correct term is plumbers tape.

Make a mock up with plumbers tape then fabricate what you need using the measurements from the mock up.

That is basically what I plan to do since no one has the length, but I hope the extra weight pulling on the front two knob posts do not damage the radio. I might make up a mock cardboard radio. That may be overkill, but the radio seems fairly hefty for the knobs to support by themselves. I will have to pull off the firewall pad and guestimate the location. I will post the length if anyone is interested. Thanks everyone.

[HanksB3B]

Oh no! The most Nightmarish part of the whole rebuild! Can't you just poke an ice-pick through the firewall pad from the engine compartment? Rather than mocking-up a cardboard radio can't you just use some safety wire to hang the radio until everything is fastened? (I'm assuming that you have the stock knobs (and escutcheons if that's what they use to secure it to the dashboard)

Hank

[49Bseries]

Good recommendations Hank. I'll give them a try. Thanks.

[Desotodav]

Hi guys. I have just signed up as a member. Forgive my lack of knowledge as I am new to the forum game. I browsed through your 802 radio mount location thread thread with great interest. I am in the process of adding the finishing touches to my 1950'ish Desoto 108b truck (ute). I recently bought an 802 radio and have found that there is minimal space between the firewall and the dash (due to the length of the radio) to fit the radio. I have pushed out the radio delete plate and drilled the holes out for the 2 radio knobs. I noticed a 3-4 inch rectangular shape pressed into the firewall on the left hand side from the inside of the cab to the engine bay. Can anyone confirm for me whether this was done in the factory to aid in fitting the radio?

If this is the case, then I may have to cut and weld a similar pressed section in the right hand side of my firewall to cater for the right hand drive vehicle. I haven't seen any trucks over here with radios fitted - and now I think that I know why!

[ggdad1951]

welcome, nice looking truck!

[52NowWhat]

Welcome!

I love your BLUE truck! Could you post more pics...interior too! I am working on a blue one as well and would love the inspiration and reference!

Sandra

[Desotodav]

Thanks for the favorable comments. The truck has been a labor of love over the last 5 years with probably way too much money thrown at it. I'm happy with the way it turned out.

I need to sort out my radio mounting issues before installing the wiper motor.

There are 150 photos of the truck on the internet with a running commentary of the build progress- search 'Davin's Desoto' on Google and follow the link if you are interested.

[Frank Elder]

http://gallery.oldholden.com/Streetneat/album73/Davins+Desoto/

[HanksB3B]

Is the truck bed stock?

Good Job,

Hank

[Dave72dt]

Thanks for the favorable comments. The truck has been a labor of love over the last 5 years with probably way too much money thrown at it. I'm happy with the way it turned out.

I need to sort out my radio mounting issues before installing the wiper motor.

There are 150 photos of the truck on the internet with a running commentary of the build progress- search 'Davin's Desoto' on Google and follow the link if you are interested.

I just went through all the photos. All i can say is very impressive work and a very impressive truck.

[Frank Elder]

Is the truck bed stock?

Good Job,

Hank

Yes, down under style. They had desoto, fargo unibodies.

[Desotodav]

The 50 Desoto truck body is stock. We had a few varieties of bodies available in Oz. I have 5 trucks at present. My next project is possibly the 54 Desoto. Hopefully I won't have the same issues with a radio in that vehicle!

[Tony WestOZ]

Gees I am going to have to sit back and take all this in.

That Blue one is stunning. If its a 108B its 53 or 54.

Radio`s, hmm tricky. I have only ever seen one that I believe was an 802 and that was in a pre 52 Canadian import truck. From 53 on Australia used AWA or Astor brands. Both with horizontal heads and 12 volts.

Now I am going to make a cup of tea (or two) and have a look at you build on the truck.

Ps If you want to let me know what the tag details are off your trucks I could be able to give you a more accurate info on the year models.

Edited February 10, 2011 by Tony WestOZ

[Desotodav]

I am back on to trying to install the 802 radio in my 51 Desoto 108 truck. I am somewhat handicapped here in Oz because you people in the States have the steering wheel on the wrong side of the vehicle!

Can anybody confirm for me whether the bolt protruding from the center rear of the radio mounts directly through a hole in the firewall? I see this was implied in a post by 49Dodge1ton earlier in this thread.

I saw mention of a metal mounting strap later in the same thread in a post by geopcanuk. Can anybody tell me where this mounting strap might mount to?

I am trying to keep my truck as original as possible so I would prefer to mount the radio in the right manner. Although, in saying that I haven't seen an Oz truck yet with an 802 radio installed.

I've attached a number of thumbnails...

The first attachment shows the right side of one of my chopped up cowls. The grey painted spot shows roughly where the rear bolt of the 802 radio should be located. The painted red spot (for a reference point) shows the hole where the rivet would come through the firewall for the bonnet support bracket on a 48 truck.

The second and third photos show my 802 radio with the rear bracket that came with it attached. I now believe this bracket was for a car mounted radio - can someone confirm this for me?

The last attachment shows the let side of the cowl where an American radio would be mounted (our glovebox area in Oz). The grey painted square area is the pressed out section that I thought may have been made to assist with the initial install of the radios in the factory. The black '+' mark shows roughly where the rear bolt of the radio would fit. The red spot above is again a reference point showing the hole where the rivet would come through the firewall for the bonnet support bracket on a 48 truck.

Apologies to all for the length of the post. I'm hoping that someone out there can supply me with the information that I need to install my radio.

Desotodav

51 and 55 Desoto 108's

53 Dodge 108b coupe truck

57 Dodge 108e van

[48Dodger]

"....because you people in the States have the steering wheel on the wrong side of the vehicle!"

haha....Dodge is an American company...wouldn't that mean you guys are 'wrong"?......

48D

[49Bseries]

I test fit mine today and the bulge or relieved area factory pressed into the firewall appears to be there specifically for the radio. This is of course on the left side of the interior in the States. I had to cut the pad out of that area in order to even mount the radio - it was a tight fit. If I understand your paint spots correctly, then I think you should use the outer rod mount rivet as a guide rather than the inner one. The strap shown in the earlier photo should be rotated downward to mount the radio and the stud will penetrate the firewall just beneath the firewall bulge as shown in the first photo. It may not take much hammer work to tap out enough relief in that area for the radio to fit.

I am back on to trying to install the 802 radio in my 51

Desoto 108 truck. I am somewhat handicapped here in Oz because you people in the States have the steering wheel on the wrong side of the vehicle!

Can anybody confirm for me whether the bolt protruding from the center rear of the radio mounts directly through a hole in the firewall? I see this was implied in a post by 49Dodge1ton earlier in this thread.

I saw mention of a metal mounting strap later in the same thread in a post by geopcanuk. Can anybody tell me where this mounting strap might mount to?

I am trying to keep my truck as original as possible so I would prefer to mount the radio in the right manner. Although, in saying that I haven't seen an Oz truck yet with an 802 radio installed.

I've attached a number of thumbnails...

The first attachment shows the right side of one of my chopped up cowls. The grey painted spot shows roughly where the rear bolt of the 802 radio should be located. The painted red spot (for a reference point) shows the hole where the rivet would come through the firewall for the bonnet support bracket on a 48 truck.

The second and third photos show my 802 radio with the rear bracket that came with it attached. I now believe this bracket was for a car mounted radio - can someone confirm this for me?

The last attachment shows the let side of the cowl where an American radio would be mounted (our glovebox area in Oz). The grey painted square area is the pressed out section that I thought may have been made to assist with the initial install of the radios in the factory. The black '+' mark shows roughly where the rear bolt of the radio would fit. The red spot above is again a reference point showing the hole where the rivet would come through the firewall for the bonnet support bracket on a 48 truck.

Apologies to all for the length of the post. I'm hoping that someone out there can supply me with the information that I need to install my radio.

Desotodav

51 and 55 Desoto 108's

53 Dodge 108b coupe truck

57 Dodge 108e van