Relocate A/C control?

[Dave Ladely]

I was thinking of moving the A/C heat control from the upper part of the dash down to where the cigarette lighter panel is so that I can replace it with a head unit. That is a better location than the DIN area that is stock and also frees the DIN area for custom mounting a nice speaker set up for center channel sound.
Anyone know if this is feasible, such as cable length being long enough?

 

[jelloslug]

It's been done seveal times before. I sure that everthing should reach with no problems.

 

[DHMag]

on a Gen1, there is more than enough wiring and vacuum tubing there to move it. on mine, i discarded the coin tray DIN panel, located my head unit in its place. the EATC is under it, where the radio used to be. triple guages occupy the original EATC location.

 

[Dave Ladely]

I installed Greddy guages in a triple A illar pod already. I have a Pioneer audio/video head unit I would also like to use for navigation; I think the best place in where the EATC is and relocate the EATC down where the useless cassette/cig lighter panel is, leaving the DIN area open for installing a decent center channel speaker. I am using 6 1/2" Focal kevlar speakers and bought a slightly smaller set for the center channel as the head unit will do surround sound. Very few cars have any place to even hope to install a decent center channel, so this nice size DIN area looks very promising for a 4" or 5 1/4" with separate tweeter. I got the 5 1/4" for better lower end, should be easy to customize the area and be able to fit it in OK.

 

[crizzaSHO]

you mean like this??? all of the wires reach!

 

[SHOMA]

I have often times thought of moving the EATC unit, but the more I think about it, wont that make controlling the radio without the remote, that much harder? I think its an awesome mod, but dont know about the radio not being right there in front of my hand.. thoughts?!
Kevin

 

[40BelowSummer]

is it harder on a genII?

I would love to do that. how exactly is the EATC secured in the din slot?

 

[crizzaSHO]

guitar333:
is it harder on a genII?

I would love to do that. how exactly is the EATC secured in the din slot?

It's time consuming, but removing the whole panel, you can attach the EATC with small hex bolts. when you re-install it, you don't see the bolt.

 

[92sho16]

I wouldnt say it was to time consuming, took me maybe 45 minutes. My eatc is just held in because i pressed it in there. I havent really bolted it down maybe thats why it took me so little time. If your looking to do it just get the mounting kit for the year ford you have, i bought a 1979+ kit i think that it had the parts to bolt up like the eatc did in its stock position.

 

[40BelowSummer]

cool, any problems mounting the cd player where the eatc used to be? Any cutting? (it looks a little bit smaller)

 

[92sho16]

with the cd player mounting kit it bolted right up.

 

[40BelowSummer]

I am currently right in the middle of trying to do this.

The eatc is wider than the cd player because of the tabs that flare out. Did you cut those off? I dont wanna screw my new hard button up. So I just wanna make sure if you cut yours before I cuts the tabs off mine?