I didn't even think about it! 
The New Scuba Wagon... 2016 350 Transit XLT
- Thread starter The Chairman
- Start date
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Awesome work there Pete , very cool vehicle
OP
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
It's taken the entire morning to install the Kenwood Nav/Stereo and get it set up. I didn't want to drill any holes if I can get away with it, so I used a trick taught to me by Kevin C from the Hialeah Best Buy store and ran it along the weather stripping. What a genius idea!!! I started at the top, right by the seam of the the sliding side door.
The trick is to tuck the wire under the weather stripping. I did the small XM Radio wire first and then followed with the GPS sensor.
There was a nice little splice where I went under the weather strip and then under the main weatherstrip.
This fed to a hollow just under the right cup holder and behind the glove box.
The glove box pops out rather easily and I came up through a hollow under the ducting. I was careful to keep wires out of the duct.
The trick is to tuck the wire under the weather stripping. I did the small XM Radio wire first and then followed with the GPS sensor.
There was a nice little splice where I went under the weather strip and then under the main weatherstrip.
This fed to a hollow just under the right cup holder and behind the glove box.
The glove box pops out rather easily and I came up through a hollow under the ducting. I was careful to keep wires out of the duct.
OP
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
It was time to do what I dreaded most: cut the dash!!!
This bar has to come out...
So these two plastic brackets can be put in...
They come out in order to screw them to the radio. I got lucky and they fit on the first try...
The unit had to come out though. The top would not fit until I stuffed the Maestro and the XM tuner with all their wires under it. Here's the finished piece.
Yes indeed, I am ready to navigate! The only thing I don't have is the light for the passenger side air bag. I ordered it, but they sent me the switch instead. Time to go to Ford.
This bar has to come out...
So these two plastic brackets can be put in...
They come out in order to screw them to the radio. I got lucky and they fit on the first try...
The unit had to come out though. The top would not fit until I stuffed the Maestro and the XM tuner with all their wires under it. Here's the finished piece.
Yes indeed, I am ready to navigate!
The only thing I don't have is the light for the passenger side air bag. I ordered it, but they sent me the switch instead. Time to go to Ford.
OP
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
It was about $50: Metra® 99-5832G - Single / Double DIN Gray Stereo Dash Kit
It was a very complete kit too. The only drawback is that it had no instructions with it.
Here it is on the back table as I'm transferring clips and ducts from the OE (right) to the Metra.
Here are all the clips that came with it...
It was a very complete kit too. The only drawback is that it had no instructions with it.
Here it is on the back table as I'm transferring clips and ducts from the OE (right) to the Metra.
Here are all the clips that came with it...
Happy to see your side kick is still enjoying the view from the dash!
OP
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
Road report... I took the Transit up to Cave Country for a test trail. Wow, what a blast. I was worried that all the hanging gear would make it like a moving wind chime. Fortunately, it's been quiet. Very quiet. I'm having a bit of an issue with my tank restraining straps. They are slipping so I need to find a different solution.
OP
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
Road trip report #2: of all the improvements of the Transit over the Sprinter that I've done, the best was probably the simplest. I added a dehumidifier that is simply AWESOME. OK, it's a dehumidifier. Big whoop, right? Yesterday after a dive, I parked with my sliding door open. Of course, the rain came down, soaking the interior of the van.
Crap.
So, I closed up the van and plugged her in. This morning I was pleasantly surprised with an incredibly dry van. The sopping wet clothes from yesterday were bone dry. The floor was even a bit dusty. Nothing was damp or musty. The hygrometer was reading %37. This was amazing! What was more amazing is that the dehumidifier was full to the top and I had just emptied it the day before. I really like this. I like this a lot.
Crap.
So, I closed up the van and plugged her in. This morning I was pleasantly surprised with an incredibly dry van. The sopping wet clothes from yesterday were bone dry. The floor was even a bit dusty. Nothing was damp or musty. The hygrometer was reading %37. This was amazing! What was more amazing is that the dehumidifier was full to the top and I had just emptied it the day before. I really like this. I like this a lot.
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