i was wondering...i brought my d3 in to be installed by a pro and when i got it back, the screen sits about an inch inside of the actual face plate. it makes it hard to adjust the volume knob, and makes it look a lot smaller than it is. i asked him if it was possible to make it sit more flush and he said that with the brackets, they can only fit on the specific holes that are given on the unit itself. and it is not possible for it to be pushed out some more.

i mean, there are some pluses i guess, it is barely visible when at night even looking right through the window. but the look is not as clean.

for the people with the ford kits, do you have any suggestions?

is there a way to push the unit out any? i will try to take pics to show you guys.

99 ford explorer.

i dont see why you cant if its pushed in way far you can always put something i between the dash kit and your face frame... like abs or even like 8 guage wire rings which can be used as spacers anything liek that

sounds like the installer didnt trim the lip anound the opening in the dash. he probably has the radio sitting behind it. if done properly it should sit as far out as the stock radio

sounds like the installer didnt trim the lip anound the opening in the dash. he probably has the radio sitting behind it. if done properly it should sit as far out as the stock radio

I was thinking the same thing, thats probably an inch and a half back, he has to put it infront of the lip if thats the case.. Pics would help very much so, thanks!

i have a 2001 explorer and installed the D3 myself. What the installer said is true, unless you do a little bit of trimming it will not fit in the opening. It took me a few tries to get it where it looks good. If I can get pics tommorow i will post them. Also you will need to make your own braket to mount it, I looked a three kits and none would fit right, I ended up modifing one for the trim piece for the front and made my own mount to hold it in the dash. Hope that helps.

trim the lip and use metra kit 99-5805. pop rivet the trim ring to the dash opning flush to the edge and just click it in

I slightly modified the brackets that were used on my D1 to bring it out more

please offer some suggestions with steps because i am trembling with the thought of cutting and breaking...

thanks for all the input so far

from the pics, maybe you guys can give me some more detailed information.

sorry for the quality. i'm using my 2mp cell phone...

I'm not sure if you wanna go through all the work since you paid for an installer to do it, but it shouldn't be hard to drill new holes on the bracket to have it sit further out.

thats the dash kit i was talking about. theres no reason why you cant move it out, there are plenty of holes on the brackets

do you know how much further out it can sit?

just by looking at the pics, it looks a good 2 or more inches deep.

misfit, so i can def move it out some?

if i do need to drill holes, do you know where to drill them?

thanks

the trim ring can cme to the edge of the dash, and the radio can be flush to the trim

if i do need to drill holes, do you know where to drill them?

There are brackets on either side of the head unit that your head unit screws into. The whole mounting bracket can come out for you to drill new holes, if need be. I don't know if you've ever seen the inside of a computer, but it is just like mounting a cd-rom drive.

so it shouldn't be a probem for the installer to do right? because when i asked him he said that it was the furthest he could go. if i tell him to drill holes in the bracket, he should know what to do right?

i just feel that i might be undermining his work. i know i paid him to do and he should do it as i like...but what are the chances he said it can' be done...

i'm just being paranoid now...

It should take him like 5-10 mins to do it. With your consent, your installer shouldn't have a problem doing it... unless he's lazy.

thanks for the info...he better not be lazy, i didn't pay him to be lazy.

btw, i finally found the correct wire for the reverse cam. there were 5 wires that were black with a pink stripe. took a bit of time to figure out, but got it done finally.

now, all i need it for it to sit more flush and i'm good to go.

if he is too lazy, i may have to do it myself...vt, will you be able to be more specific if i have to do it myself?

thanks

Same here...mine sits too far back. Pics at following links:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263 ... G_0393.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263 ... G_0392.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263 ... G_0391.jpg

I used 4 spacers on top screws and 2 spacers on bottom, and it still sits out that far.

It doesn't bother me too much, as I'm sick of taking it out time and time again.

did the spacers do anything at all to fix it or not worth the trouble?

yea..im really tired of taking it in and out just because i feel like ima ruin it and being the anal retentive that i am, i will end up breakign it because it's not perfect. but yea..from your pics, yours sits out much further than it does mine..mine is a good 2 inches in deep.

any more info would be greatly appreciated. thanks

Yeah, I hear what you mean about making it perfect. Since install, I think I have taken it out 15 times, each time for something small, mainly not really worth it, but happy to finally be done.

If your's is 2 inches deep I would say yes, washers are worth it. I used 1/4" flat washers. I put 4 behind the top screw and 2 under bottom screw. It did really help bring it out. I just have no clue why the old DD fits nothing like the new DD.

i know right...so friggin irritating. thanks for that info..i will keep you posted

No prob. Have you had any problem with your FM reception? Mine is horrible to say the least.

mine has not been super great...def not as clear in some areas as it has been with my factory unit.

where did you mount your gps antenna? i have mine sitting on the dash, but im contemplating doing what some people have said about putting it under along with the unit. i have a metal piece that i can use, just don't want to take everything out again just yet...i'm sure you know what i mean

I ran mine behind the dash, out underneath the glove box, underneath the floor mat to back seat, underneath that floor mat, underneath seat along side towards door, behind seat up towards back deck, and then put that sticky square on back deck and put gps antenna on it.

Sounds confusing, but the only wire you see is where it goes to the back deck, and I have all 8 satellites with perfect reception. I didn't know about under the dash, and do not feel like taking the unit out once again.

so it seems like i need to do it myself.

misfit, i sent you a pm asking you about procedure.

some people have said i needed to drill holes in my existing brackets, some have said i do not...a tad confused.

help is appreciated. thanks

Just PM'ed you back. I did not drill new holes in brackets. Try the washers first, it really helped on mine. It's not flush, but a lot better.