AppRadio 2 DIN installed in 2001 Astro

[mervchapman]

Got this installed over the weekend, I used a single-din mounting kit modified and a dremmel to trim the opening in the dash cover.

[mervchapman]

Playing a movie off an iPad:

[mervchapman]

US version of the software must be the only place where there's a "01:30 PM".

add it to the list of bugs. Who the bleeding' heck are QA departments hiring these days?? ...

[justsomeguy]

Looks great! Makes me wish I had looked for a double din solution instead of settling for a single din. And where did you get those cupholder inserts? Do they prevent cups and water bottles from falling over?

[mervchapman]

Thanks! I had gone with a single DIN Alpine IDA X305BT but was not happy with it's reliability. I will say however that the Alpine had superior audio quality. I did cut up the mounting bracket I had with the Alpine to put in the Pioneer I did not need to buy any additional stuff to install this radio. It took about four hours total.

The cup holder inserts I believe are stock (2001 Astro AWD LT trim). They do hold cups & cans upright, they are a sort of plastic-rubber compound. All the cup holders in the rear (one each side of the rear bench and one right behind the driver seat) have them also.

[mervchapman]

I would like to reverse the position of the ac controls and the radio sometime. I don't think it would be a huge amount of work. 'till then, got to be careful to not get distracted with the radio controls. The low position takes traffic out of peripheral vision when screwing around with the radio.

[ccookie66]

Wow, it looks nice! It makes my van look like its from the 90s! Oh wait...I only have the stock radio and clock and such, only my rear speakers work. Very nice setup.

[justsomeguy]

Good to know. If I get tired of my Pioneer DEH P9400BH anytime soon (single DIN), I'll have to look into a nice double DIN. At least I know it can be done now. Even with mine, I find it's easy to take your eyes off the road while going through radio settings, stations, etc. But, considering I just got mine a few months ago, and aside from a few little annoyances, it's not that bad. I'll stick with it for a while, but now I kind of want a double DIN! So much nicer units available in double DIN.

And I'll have to check the junk yard next time for those cup holder inserts. Must have come on the higher end models - mine's just a base model. I've tried a few aftermarket cup holders, but none of them fit or make it any better. I'd love to be able to drive and not worry about my bottle of water falling out onto the floor, unless it's at least half empty (but not too empty or it will also fall out).

[mervchapman]

Here's a quick mock-up of how I'd like to set it up. I'll need to get another dashboard cover/ panel to modify but should be pretty easy to do.

[scott936]

Thanks! I had gone with a single DIN Alpine IDA X305BT but was not happy with it's reliability. I will say however that the Alpine had superior audio quality. I did cut up the mounting bracket I had with the Alpine to put in the Pioneer I did not need to buy any additional stuff to install this radio. It took about four hours total.

The cup holder inserts I believe are stock (2001 Astro AWD LT trim). They do hold cups & cans upright, they are a sort of plastic-rubber compound. All the cup holders in the rear (one each side of the rear bench and one right behind the driver seat) have them also.

I wanted to do that with my 02 van but didn't think it would fit, can you give some of the finer points of your install.... Great job

[justsomeguy]

Thanks! I had gone with a single DIN Alpine IDA X305BT but was not happy with it's reliability. I will say however that the Alpine had superior audio quality. I did cut up the mounting bracket I had with the Alpine to put in the Pioneer I did not need to buy any additional stuff to install this radio. It took about four hours total.

The cup holder inserts I believe are stock (2001 Astro AWD LT trim). They do hold cups & cans upright, they are a sort of plastic-rubber compound. All the cup holders in the rear (one each side of the rear bench and one right behind the driver seat) have them also.

I wanted to do that with my 02 van but didn't think it would fit, can you give some of the finer points of your install.... Great job

Are you talking about the stereo or the cup holder inserts? j/k!

['cudapaul]

Okay merchapman, now that you have teased us with your newly adopted technology, how about some pictures and details of the install behind the faceplate??

[Leeann_93]

And I'll have to check the junk yard next time for those cup holder inserts. Must have come on the higher end models - mine's just a base model.

They came stock - most people trashed them for some reason. I got mine on eBay for like $15 shipped.

[justsomeguy]

And I'll have to check the junk yard next time for those cup holder inserts. Must have come on the higher end models - mine's just a base model.

They came stock - most people trashed them for some reason. I got mine on eBay for like $15 shipped.

Ah, I see. I'll have to check eBay then too. I don't recall seeing any at the junk yards, but then again, I wasn't specifically looking for them either. Maybe when the cup holder inserts got dirty, people took them into their house to clean them, and they just never made it back into the van...

[TDMobile]

Even my bank-used basic as a sheet of paper cargo has those cupholders!

[justsomeguy]

Even my bank-used basic as a sheet of paper cargo has those cupholders!

My van is a base model van previously owned by a police department. It has front a/c, cruise, tilt, power windows and power locks. But not much else. No rear heat or a/c, no AWD, no Dutch doors... just really basic. It might have had those cup holders, but with all the coffee those cops probably drank in there, the cup holder inserts got worn out! Or really dirty and it was easier to throw them out rather than clean them. Or maybe the used car lot I bought the van from threw them out.

But that gave me an idea... maybe next time I go to the junk yard, I'll check other makes and models of cars, trucks and vans for cup holder inserts that might fit. I'm pretty sure all the ones in the Astros and Safaris are missing at my local U-pull junkyard.

[DGE73]

Looks awesome!!!!!! Yours sits just a little lower than mine. Did you have to trim the metal cross Bar below? It think you cut up the same single DIN kit I did, but did a little nicer job. Did you have to modify the defrost duct to fit yours? Mine just fit.

I also like the idea of moving the Heat/AC controls. Something I'll be thinking about. What about defrost duct clearance up that high?

[mervchapman]

Hi all,

I ordered a double-din trim kit metra part 99-9999. I'll take pics of the existing install and of my "up with the radio, down with a/c" project as soon as I can source another dash trim piece.

I did not have to cut the lower metal bracket, just used some double-sided adhesive foam stuff to stick the radio to the lower frame and on the top to the bottom of the a/c panel.

I've not really looked closely at the clearance for switching the positions, may do that tonight once the kids go to sleep....

Thanks for the props :0)

[mervchapman]

I went to the local wreckers and found five late model Astro/ Safaris. I got a dash bezel from a '97 that ought to clean up pretty well and I'll take my time to cut out bit that crosses between the a/c controls and radio. I'll have to do some custom bracketry to position and hold it all in the right place. I'll document the process and post it here.

Any interest in my current bezel? It's as pictured I'll include the brackets I made to hold the AppRadio where it is today. Just cover shipping and I'll mail it to you.

It'll likely be a couple of weeks. Watch this space.

BTW one of the vans is a Regency conversion that has a beige power sofa/ bed that's beige cloth and should clean up well. They said $250 for it - San Jose, CA.

[Sailing_Faith]

What is the trick for getting the instrument cover off in one peice? I have searched and can not find the answer..

... my new Pioneer is sitting in the van awaiting the answer.