Write-Up: Installing Double DIN head unit in '96-99 Riviera

nigelf wrote:

There are several sizes, they are referenced as "a din" the Pioneer in the picture is a 1 Din the original is 1.5 times taller so is 1.5 din and a 2 din is twice its height. The width is generally the same for each Din and the front to back can also vary i have a picture of the 95 original against this 1 Din pioneer unit.

whoa! thats a big difference.

wish i just had enough for a double din in the first place so i didnt have to waste all my time with using the dremel

Well if you moved the temperature controller to the centre console below the dash you could fit a double din in the main dash area. This would however require a massive use of the dremmel and a good amount of bondo! but i think it would be a real winner and look great. I probably will try that in the next iteration of the PC install. So if anyone has a second hand dash fascia I would love to hear from them.

yea i saw that in the other post. looks pretty nice. i think i just might do one too now....may put a monitor there instead and sneak a dvd player in the glove box? idk but ya got my mind going now lol

^scratch that. i thought of something good

nigelf wrote:

There are several sizes, they are referenced as "a din" the Pioneer in the picture is a 1 Din the original is 1.5 times taller so is 1.5 din and a 2 din is twice its height. The width is generally the same for each Din and the front to back can also vary i have a picture of the 95 original against this 1 Din pioneer unit.

Isn't the factory radio in here a double din? Or how would two dins fit in it's place?

Im probably wrong but the 95 is (again ) different to newer models

here we go...

I just got finished installing my setup in my 97. I put in a used Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD, and a SWI module. Everything works, but my climate control doesn't dim anymore when the head lights are on. Anyone have a work around for this?

Do any of these double Din units have security features, like a removable face plate? I'd like to install one of these eventually for more power and blue tooth capability, but I'd worry about someone destroying my dash to steal it.

I Just Bought This Radio To replace My Factory Radio Its A Single Din Radio With A 7 Inch Touch Screen The Good Thing Is The Screen Points Downward Heres Some Picture & An Ebay Link Haven`t Got It Installed Yet But I Will Keep You Posted

POWER ACOUSTIK PTID-7000NR 7" 1 DIN DVD PLAYER MONITOR

$ 209 ain't that bad of a deal,can't wait to see it installed.Goodluck.

Not too shabby. sounds like a great price.

Looks great! Can't wait to see it installed.

Well I Got It Installed We Relocated The A/C Controlls To Where The Radio Was & Installed The Radio In The A/C Location Installed A PAC Steering Wheel Control Unit So I Still Have Use Of My Steering Wheel Control Installed Navibox So I Have Navagation & Removed The Factory Cd Player & Added A Pocket An Ipod Cord

NOW The Bad Part This Unit Is CHEAP As Hell You CAN`T

1. Use The Nav & Hear Music @ The Same Time
2. Adjust Bass & Or Treble While The Music Plays
3. It Doesn`t Allow You To See A List Of Cd Track While The Music Plays

That What I Get 4 Buying A Cheaper Brand Unit So Heres The Pictures




So Now I Think Im Gonna Deal with This Unit This Summer & Next Year Relocate The A/C Controlls Down To Where The Factory CD Player Was & Go Real Double Din

So All & All I Feel It Was A Flop.........

hmmm..cant adjust bass & treble while music playin?..odd,are you sure it aint defective?have you spoken to the manufacture?

No I Havent Its A Cheap Unit You Know What They Say You Get What you pay For

Thanks for sharing the pics, BigRay. Sorry to hear about your experience. Most of us have made the same mistake at one time or another (I remember the Boss EQ installed in my first car - HORRIBLE!). If the price seems too good to be true, don't buy. Stay away from the 'flea market brands': Power Acoustik, Boss, Pyramid, Boss, Rockwood, Kenford, , Targa, Legacy, Majestic, Sound Storm, etc.

Well...It may be a cheapy, but it looks great. Don't beat yourself up too bad.

Yea I know Better I Always Buy Kenwood Alpine Or Pioneer But This Time Dumbness Got The Best Of my I Just Hooked My Amp & 2 Rockford P3s Up To It & It Sounds Really Good But Im Still Gonna Get A Bezel From A 96-99 & Put A Real Double Din In Kenwood Alpine Or Pioneer No More Off Brands For Me.....& Thanx For The Uplifting Word

..so you say that's a bad/cheap unit,too bad it won't play music and use the screen at the same time that would kill me.Can you post a pic with the screen inside so we can see how it looks when inside.

Hey I'm looking into buying a double din Alpine IVA-W505. It's 7 in. wide, 6.38 in. tall and 3.94 in. deep. The part that concerns me is that this unit is a flip down screen. When I press the open button, the screen slides down and I put the cd in behind it. I'm worried that maybe when I try to open the unit the screen will hit the tiny 1 in. wide plastic shelf at the bottom of the stereo. Anybody else previously tried this unit? Or could you maybe give me your imput? Thanks

Can anyone tell me (roughly) how deep the space for the stereo goes back before hitting the firewall?
I understand i will have to trim some bits out as the OEM unit is really shallow.
I am just wondering if anyone can tell me what kind of room we have to work with on the 98's.

FWIW i would just go take it apart and see for myself, but i live in Chicago and it's freezing!
Trying to get a game plan going for Spring. Got my eye on this: JVC KWNT800HDT,
but i am worried about that fan not being able to get enough air to keep it cool. Any thoughts?

Also curious, with regards to depth, are the 95s even more shallow than the 96-99??

I had installed in my '99 an Alpine IVE-W535HD which is 6-1/2" deep. Some trimming was needed, but it fit.