FYI: Dentside AM/FM stereo radio does fit bumpside bezel

[FORDification]

I've heard for quite some time that a late dentside AM/FM radio will fit a bumpside radio bezel without modifications, and after picking up an AM/FM stereo radio from a '79 Ranger XLT over the weekend, I decided to give it a try, using a bumpside bezel that's been sitting on a shelf in the garage (hence the dust). As you can see, it fits pretty well overall.

Stock '79 AM/FM radio



Stock '79 AM/FM radio 'installed' into unmodified '68-'72 dash bezel

You'll notice that the slightly-smaller opening of the bumpside bezel does cover up the Ford logo along the upper window of the AM/FM radio, but the main dial readouts can be read just fine. You could always take a file to the upper portion of the window to slightly enlarge it if you wanted the Ford logo to show.


As you can see in this shot, there are just enough threads left on the shafts to use the thin hold-down nuts. If you wanted a little more thread engagement, you could always just take a file to the chrome circular bezels around the shaft holes to make it flush there.


These pics were just to show that they WILL fit without modifying the bezel...though a tiny bit of filing around the shaft holes and along the upper edge of the bezel opening could be done to 'enhance' the installation.

[Joe Kriston]

Keith, do the 67-72 stock knobs work with that getup?...I had a very similar radio I tried installing in my old 70 and everything was great until I tried to slip the inner and outer knobs on...there wasn't enough for them to grab onto...