2 DINs in 1.5 DIN space? 1996 Buick Roadmaster

Hey all. I'm planning on eventually buying a 1996 Buick Roadmaster and trying to modify the hell out of it. Most important, of course, is if I can get an empeg and a decent stereo setup in there. But the beast has a typical cumbersom American 1.5 DIN radio that's burried behind dash trim.

Attached are photos of what I (will eventually) have to work with (taken from dumpit.org/94buick).

So, how can I get two single DIN units in this 1.5 DIN space? My next post will show a pic of the full dash, so maybe I could do what Paul did by mounting it low.

Thanks for your help all.

The pic of the full dashboard spread. Can the Alpine radio go down in that ash tray or whatever it is? Or...... can the TEMPERATURE controls go down there! Stupid temp controls, I'd rather freeze in the winter if it ment having my empeg and Alpine stacked at eye level.

Repeat after me...

I don't need two stereos. I only need the empeg and an amp. (And a dash kit).

I am not sure that you will have the dash depth necessary to go into the ashtray area. It is also at a pretty bad angle. I would recommend the single DIN approach in your case.

What is that smaller unit under your factory radio - a half DIN EQ? It might be possible, if you absolutely need either a tuner or a CD player, to retrofit one of those functions into that space with either an empeg tuner or a slimline CD player...

Hmm...

Has anyone tried to retrofit a data/PC slimline CD player to a 1/2 DIN space, leading to the aux in of the empeg? ... I wonder... Probably easier to have a slim walkman style CD player, but...

> "I don't need two stereos. I only need the empeg and an amp. (And a dash kit)."

It's odd, I still listen to the radio at least 50% of my driving time (my local university radiostation plays great uninterrupted classical music for my morning commute). And it's nice to have radio (and CD, which I never use) on a second unit so I can leave the empeg at home when I can't protect it at my destination. Haha, maybe I should just invest in one of those in-car bomb proof safe boxes to secure the empeg when I can't take it with me. It'd solve everything.

Haha, maybe I could get a tuner on the empeg for everyday radio use, THEN a backup AM/FM/CD in the glovebox for when I want to be secure and leave the empeg at home, but still have music.......

Or, Paul's slimline CD player idea? I wonder if there IS a 1/2 DIN AM/FM/CD. It might sound like junk, but it would fulfill the design goal.

That, or just get out the chainsaw and hack the dashboard to bits, which would make it tough to have a fake stock faceplate to cover up when I'm out of the car. Hm..... Thanks for the ideas.