Date:         Fri, 7 May 2004 00:44:26 -0400
Reply-To:     Tolga Morawski <tolga@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tolga Morawski <tolga@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Blaupunkt in Canada?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

  I can only speak for my '84 Vanagon but the ashtray actually sits over
the radio slot.  The size is a standard DIN though.
  Two things limit the depth, the first is a metal piece behind the
stereo that you can mount a deck to for security or perhaps grounding.
This can be removed easily the only consequence being that the little
plastic grill behind the ashtray mounts to it as well.  I just bent the
unit back in the dash to keepit out of the way or alternately you could
clip the metal as it's very thin sheet metal.  The other thing is the
"firewall" bulges out behind where the deck goes as the radiator fan is
on the other side.  That all said I have an average, off the shelf deck
and it fits perect.  I would ignore Crutchfield and other vendor's lists,
which gravitate towards popular cars (and are updated less often if at
all for less common cars) and simply take measurements of your current
deck and try to find something similiar.  If it's a little longer than
stock you have some flexibility, at least an inch, maybe more.
  As for Blaupunkt, I have one of there Sydney head units (cassette) in
tandem with a 10 disc cd-changer of theres which I've had a few years
(bought via Crutchfield.com and they ship to Canada though they may no
longer be carrying them?) with no problems.  I like it because it's not
all flashing lights like the other options from Alipine, Sony, etc which
all look like Times Square ar night lately.  Too busy for me.  The nice
thing about the unit and other blaus (and some other vendors now) is you
can color match your backlight to your dash lights.  Blend right in to
seem factory.  I have a thumb control on the steering wheel and a remote
in the back, both wireless and I love it.  I'd say if you can find Blau
on the web go for it as they still make good stuff but I wouldn't go way
out of your way for one.

Good Luck!
   Tolga

>------------------------------
>
>Date:    Thu, 6 May 2004 15:04:27 -0500
>From:    Andrew Gies <andrew_gies@CANGENE.COM>
>Subject: stereo size for vanagon? (was RE: Blaupunkt in Canada?)
>
>OK - stupid question time...
>
>How can I be sure that a certain stereo will fit before I purchase it?
>
>Does anyone know what "size" stereo a Vanagon will fit?
>
>According to that "crutchfield" website, only 3 Kenwood stereos on their
>ENTIRE database came up as the right size for an '86 Vanagon - and there
>must be a 1000 different in-dash players on that website.
>
>Andrew
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: David Brodbeck [mailto:gull@gull.us]
>Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 2:23 PM
>To: Andrew Gies
>Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Blaupunkt in Canada?
>
>
>On Thu, 6 May 2004, Andrew Gies wrote:
>
>> Isn't the size of the Vanagon stereo the standard after market stereo
>size?
>> Aren't all the common aftermarket stereos this size?
>
>No...while there is a common "DIN" size for width and height, stereos
>still vary in depth.  The maximum depth of a Vanagon stereo is limited by
>where the ash tray projects into the dash, IIRC.
>
>
>David Brodbeck, N8SRE
>'86 Volvo 240DL wagon
>'82 VW Vanagon Westfalia Diesel