tape deck in 84 ranger, mounting bracket/grounding

[h_f_davidson]

Hi all--hoping to install an old Ford radio/tape deck (part no. E3AF-19A198-AB) in my 84 Ranger which originally just had a radio. The existing radio (I think it's older than the car, maybe late 70's) is a little shorter back to front than the radio/tape deck, but the tape deck does fit in its place, looks great in the existing dash facing. Swapped the faceplate from the existing radio to the tape deck, no issues there. Issue I'm having is with the mounting bracket. The rear bracket/clip on the back of the radio can be removed and attached to the tape deck, but since the radio is shorter than the deck the deck w/ clip doesn't really attach to the mounting bracket properly (sticks out too far forward past the dash front). Anyone know of a different mounting bracket or clip that'd work? Maybe from a different Ford model from the era? I tried an early-80s Mustang radio bracket but the holes to mount it to the dash frame were slightly too far apart/the whole thing was a little too tall.

Separately, didn't see a ground wire coming out of the deck anywhere. Anyone know how the deck should be grounded? Does it ground directly to the mounting bracket/dash frame or some such? Thanks!

 

[RobbieD]

If I remember correctly, there were different "reach" back braces, longer or shorter depending on the radio type. If you can't score a deeper reach OEM back brace, it's easy enough to fab one out of the multihole "plumber strap" pieces that used to come with aftermarket car stereos. We did that a lot when installing an aftermarket head unit into an 80s/90s Ford; with a bench vise for good right angles you fab a nice sturdy one.

The stock radios grounded through the back brace contact and through the antenna shielding. I do remember some having a braided ground strap from the back brace stud to a bolt on the dash structure. It's a good way to ground yours if want to be sure that it has a good ground.

I like the old school "3 hole" radio setup in the '83-'84s; don't see it much anymore.

 

[SenorNoob]

I went a step further when I swapped in my first radio and actually added a ground wire to the factory harness where the aftermarket adapter expected ground to be. Of course that doesn't apply to a Ford radio.