wuzafuzz
Member
I just completed installing my Kenwood TM-D710 in my '03 Blazer. It took a few weekends and help from a few friends, but it's finally done.
Not visible in the photos is a VHF quarter wave that's mounted on the roof. That will be for my scanner, which sometimes lives on the seat, and may do double duty for a CAP radio. A 2m/440 antenna lives on the driver side cowl mount.
The design of the radio includes a separate control head, which allowed for a creative install. First to go was the center console. A power saw cut the console at an angle, losing everything behind the shifter. The transceiver is mounted on the bolts that used to hold the rear part of the center console. The speaker fires straight up. The angle cut on the console remains was covered by some sheet aluminum, bent to cover the console and strengthened with stringers and rivets. That's covered with some free scraps from a local upholstery shop, glued to the metal with some super-duper 3M spray adhesive. I left a loose skirt of fabric at the bottom of the new console to drape over the cables between the console and radio.
The control head is mounted on a custom bracket facing directly up for me to easily see it from a normal sitting position. I extended the mic cable with a CAT 5 cable and a crossover adapter. That permits the mic cables to be hidden in the console as they run to the base of the dash.
Overall, I am pleased. This Blazer doesn't leave much room for radios. So I made room!
Not visible in the photos is a VHF quarter wave that's mounted on the roof. That will be for my scanner, which sometimes lives on the seat, and may do double duty for a CAP radio. A 2m/440 antenna lives on the driver side cowl mount.
The design of the radio includes a separate control head, which allowed for a creative install. First to go was the center console. A power saw cut the console at an angle, losing everything behind the shifter. The transceiver is mounted on the bolts that used to hold the rear part of the center console. The speaker fires straight up. The angle cut on the console remains was covered by some sheet aluminum, bent to cover the console and strengthened with stringers and rivets. That's covered with some free scraps from a local upholstery shop, glued to the metal with some super-duper 3M spray adhesive. I left a loose skirt of fabric at the bottom of the new console to drape over the cables between the console and radio.
The control head is mounted on a custom bracket facing directly up for me to easily see it from a normal sitting position. I extended the mic cable with a CAT 5 cable and a crossover adapter. That permits the mic cables to be hidden in the console as they run to the base of the dash.
Overall, I am pleased. This Blazer doesn't leave much room for radios. So I made room!
