Fitting old ALPINE single din to NA6

[Basho]

I have recently aquired an ALPINE 3DE-7886E 3 stack indash CD car head unit I intended to fit this into a 1992 NA Mazda MX5.
In order to fit this unit into this car and have it look presentable it is neccessary to change the toombstone for the later 1997 one, this and all ther fitting pieces neccessary-wireing etc I have.

Except--the facia surround of the Alpine unit is not removable and the car factory set up provisions for the stereo unit to be installed before the factory facia trim centre.

This means that the stereo needs to mounted from the front after the facia centre trim is installed in other words you can't bolt in the radio then install the trim it won't go over the radio facia.

I need a mounting kit copacetic with an ALPINE single din unit and an NA series Mazda MX5 or the piece/s that bolt into the car to support the Alpine unit

After a heap of searching I cannot find one.

Can anyone post a link to where I can find the right fitting kit--or is this a make it up as you go ?

[Jace]

another thread, yay!

[aka_juffa]

Hey Basho,

The facia is removable. From memory there are 4 screws holding it on, two on top and two on bottom. I think it also clips on, so you may have to slip a small/thin sharp edge and lightly pri it off.
I used the original headunit mount with the Aplin unit.

1. Remove original HU mount and hu from dash.
2. Remove original HU from mount.
3. Place Alpine headunit in mount. You will need to tweek the mount to get the headunit in. Use the correct screws to hold the HU in place in the mount.
4. Reinstall mount with Alpine HU into dash. Tweek HU position until you are happy with the fit.
5. Install '97 tombstone
6. Fit facia (without screws). I think I used some small dabs of blue tac to hold it in place.

J.

[Basho]

Thanks for the reply, , I finaly fitted this but what a pita , I've fitted a few head units but this one took the cake for fetling.

Taking out the old unit was straightforward but thats when the fun started, the Alpine unit had one set of tapped screw holes that would actualy allow the unit to be mounted, thats one each side , but the unit protruded to far foreward and was to high, there was no other corresponding combination that came close.

I ended up making up two side cradles from the sleeve that came with the head unit and fettling them to mount into the factory carrier then drilling them to allow the us the two screw holes that did line up to be used to lock the unit into the cradles.

You are right, the facia surround did unscrew (one each side on this unit) and the furry side of Velcro secures them nicely back in place , I got the tip on Velcro from a stereo fitter, and was duly amazed when it actualy worked.

This has to be the first time I've come across a factory carrier that would not accept another aftermarker head unit totaly but changing the tombstone to a 97 may have complicated things as well , I believe there were a couple of different models of this unit so this one could be an early one perhaps adding to the nuisance.

Possitive side of things--sound is hugely improved and I can reverse back to stock without a problem.