'84 radio replacement?

[av8r210]

I want to replace the AM-only radio in my 84 diesel ranger. This is the old-school type opening in the dash...seperate holes for the controls, etc. Has anyone bought a new aftermarket AM/FM stereo unit (like RetroSound) designed for the older-style dash panel? Opinions and suggestionswelcome.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

There are still options for the old "2 knob" radio design. Most do not include a CD option though.
You might want to look around in a salvage and see if you can a later Gen 1 radio faceplate and mounting bracket to accept the DIN type radio. I believe they started offering the DIN type as early as 85, since that's when they converted the F-series to the DIN type.
This would open up the possibility of adding a CD player, with untold options available.
I did this in my 80 F150, using factory 85/86 faceplate and radio mounting plate.
I cannot recall if the early rangers had a seperate radio trim bezel, like the full size trucks do, or if the entire cluster/radio trim is all one piece. Been too many years since I have been inside one. It was an 86, and I remember it had the DIN style radio.

 

[av8r210]

Yep, I thought of that, too. Problem is the early Ford Ranger dash panels have an integral idiot light trim cover beween the two gauge clusters. The late Gen 1 Rangers have an opening in that part of the dash panel and the idiot lights / trim are seperate.

Normally I would have just gotten a new dash AND instrument / idiot light cluster from a late Gen 1 and move on. Ah, but my Ranger is the Mazda/Perkins diesel and I do want to keep that diesel cluster. (OK, the only diff in the gauges is the diesel cluster says "Diesel Fuel Only"...but I want that.)

Thought about using a Dremel to make a modern cutout. Decided it would not look factory. ANyway, I had an email exchange with Chris at Retro Audio and they are coming out with a bezel for these old school Fords in the next 90 days (say July, 2011 to be safe). Think I'll wait and get one.

 

[av8r210]

Old School Radio issue resolved.

So after some thought I decided what I really wanted was a stereo FM radio with an input jack for my iPod. The old school Ford radios were offered in AM-only, AM/FM Stereo, and AM-FM-Cassette stereo during the 70's and early 80's. I found a good pushbutton AM-FM stereo from a '79 Mustang, fully reconditioned, for $75 on eBay. Then I shipped it off to Ward's Classic Car Radio Repair in Huntsville, AL where they installed an MP3 female jack input for $79 plus $15 shipping. See: www.wardsclassiccarradiorepair.com. Got what I wanted for half the price of a new after-market old-school-sized unit.