Head Unit Relocation in Glove Box?

[Swolzee]

Has anyone done this? I would love to see how you went about mounting everthing, what type of unit you went with, and if there was any need of a wiring harness extension.

I plan to make this work so that I can use it's current location for a triple gauge setup similar to the TRD style gauges.

My thought was to use a single DIN head unit mounted in some type of full enclosure. The only accessories I would want is some way to have an analog volume dial wired outside the glove box, and similarly a power switch. The power switch I believe I'll integrate into one of the switches on a Series Blue panel.

I was briefly hesitant about doing this but I couldn't think of a single reason to keep a head unit over gauges that could be vital. I use a phone and Bluetooth almost exclusively for media, so if I have the phone on a mount showing audio information what else do I need? So here I am.

Even if no one has done this any suggestions or advice would be well received as this isn't an area of expertise for myself.

[DarkPira7e]

You'd definitely need to extend the harness.
I bought a single din without the CD player and replaced the useless cubby with it.

Not what you were asking for, but it is a suggestion

[Swolzee]

Originally Posted by DarkPira7e

You'd definitely need to extend the harness.
I bought a single din without the CD player and replaced the useless cubby with it.

Not what you were asking for, but it is a suggestion

No, but that's certainly a solid option if I decide to not use the Series Blue switches. I'd like to get a simplistic head unit with little illumination regardless of where I mount it. I'll have to start looking into what my options are.

EDIT: A head unit similar to this would be about perfect. Something that looks more like a DAC than a head unit.
Simplistic single DIN head unit

This type of head unit would be my preference if it's visible https://www.crutchfield.ca/S-3A2HYQl...y-RSX-GS9.html

[FR-S2GT86]

Originally Posted by Swolzee

No, but that's certainly a solid option if I decide to not use the Series Blue switches. I'd like to get a simplistic head unit with little illumination regardless of where I mount it. I'll have to start looking into what my options are.

EDIT: A head unit similar to this would be about perfect. Something that looks more like a DAC than a head unit.
Simplistic single DIN head unit

This type of head unit would be my preference if it's visible https://www.crutchfield.ca/S-3A2HYQl...y-RSX-GS9.html

I had this single DIN Pioneer unit (top)


mounted in the glove box of my Torino about 12 years ago, and the Torino had a smaller glove box than my FR-S so I expect that it can easily be done.

That Sony unit that you're looking at does not have an internal amp for speakers. Be prepared to install additional outboard aftermarket amplification if that's the one you choose. It's considered an audiophile quality head unit.....



.....and it better be at that price!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Swolzee

Has anyone done this? I would love to see how you went about mounting everthing, what type of unit you went with, and if there was any need of a wiring harness extension.

I don't see any reason you couldn't do this. I've done it in a couple of previous cars, back in the day. If you are going to keep the glove box closed, then you just need to secure the unit down. You might even be able to secure it to the glovebox door and when you open it, it would be visible on the door (not sure how much weight it would support).

For most radios, a piece of sheet metal of an appropriate thickness bent to support the radio on each side and then secured would work. You could probably just use the standard mounting brackets then form a support for them.

The wiring harness will be the biggest issue I would think.

[2020BRZtS]

Have you considered a-pillar gauge kits as an alternative?

[soundman98]

i think putting a radio in the glove box is dumb. there's too many other options available.

in my teen years, a family friend donated a 12v electric scooter to us to play with. i modded an old kenwood cd radio to it with a few speakers. i mounted the 'brains' on the back, and then extended the detachable faceplate up to the top of the handlebars with 2 runs of cat5 network cable. it worked, at least until i used the scooter as a scooter, and the scooter motor pulled the voltage too low for the radio to work. so i had tunes whenever i coasted.

if all you're going to use is the bluetooth connection anyways, there's a number of alternatives that will work just as simply, usually for less than a typical headunit cost, and without all the relocation needs.

it's now extremely common in marine or powersports to have a single, small controller to do the bluetooth connection that goes to an amp that can be hidden anywhere. just focus your searching skills towards marine or utv/powersports usage, as that's what most of it is geared towards on most electronics sites, though all of it will work perfectly fine in a automotive setting:

https://smile.amazon.com/Hifonics-TP...1309678&sr=8-8

i believe this one would possibly fit in the factory usb button opening:
https://smile.amazon.com/Waterproof-...309678&sr=8-10

https://smile.amazon.com/Memphis-MXA...309678&sr=8-11


there's also a few amplifiers with remote control heads that do similar, just more all-in-one deals.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Systems...1309502&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Blueto...309502&sr=8-20

and if you don't want the knobs, this amp has a built-in bluetooth option. just bury it in the dash, connect it to the radio wiring harness:
https://smile.amazon.com/Pyle-Auto-4...311341&sr=8-11

[Swolzee]

Originally Posted by 2020BRZtS

Have you considered a-pillar gauge kits as an alternative?

Not really my kind of jam these days. Now 10 years ago.. *nods head approvingly*

Originally Posted by soundman98

i think putting a radio in the glove box is dumb. there's too many other options available.

in my teen years, a family friend donated a 12v electric scooter to us to play with. i modded an old kenwood cd radio to it with a few speakers. i mounted the 'brains' on the back, and then extended the detachable faceplate up to the top of the handlebars with 2 runs of cat5 network cable. it worked, at least until i used the scooter as a scooter, and the scooter motor pulled the voltage too low for the radio to work. so i had tunes whenever i coasted.

if all you're going to use is the bluetooth connection anyways, there's a number of alternatives that will work just as simply, usually for less than a typical headunit cost, and without all the relocation needs.

it's now extremely common in marine or powersports to have a single, small controller to do the bluetooth connection that goes to an amp that can be hidden anywhere. just focus your searching skills towards marine or utv/powersports usage, as that's what most of it is geared towards on most electronics sites, though all of it will work perfectly fine in a automotive setting:

https://smile.amazon.com/Hifonics-TP...1309678&sr=8-8

i believe this one would possibly fit in the factory usb button opening:
https://smile.amazon.com/Waterproof-...309678&sr=8-10

https://smile.amazon.com/Memphis-MXA...309678&sr=8-11


there's also a few amplifiers with remote control heads that do similar, just more all-in-one deals.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Systems...1309502&sr=8-5

https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Blueto...309502&sr=8-20

and if you don't want the knobs, this amp has a built-in bluetooth option. just bury it in the dash, connect it to the radio wiring harness:
https://smile.amazon.com/Pyle-Auto-4...311341&sr=8-11

This has given me a lot to think about. Yeah I wasn't thinking outside the box enough and was thinking only of a true head unit. One of the amps with a wired controller would be perfect. The control unit could go in the pedal dance area or behind it in the shallow change area or whatever that is.