{"id":343,"date":"2013-02-06T18:30:49","date_gmt":"2013-02-07T00:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/areciv.com\/blog\/?p=343"},"modified":"2013-02-06T02:32:50","modified_gmt":"2013-02-06T08:32:50","slug":"vw-gti-amateur-radio-cubby-mount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/areciv.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/vw-gti-amateur-radio-cubby-mount\/","title":{"rendered":"VW GTI Amateur Radio Cubby Mount"},"content":{"rendered":"

After I tackled the antenna installation<\/a>, I had to get the radio installed. I've seen several different ways of approaching the issue, but I've never seen one I was really happy with. Here's what I did for a seamless install.<\/p>\n

Browsing around on a Mk V Golf forum<\/a> I ran across a cubby that European models have that is not included in the US model, due to some additional bracing behind the dash. After looking at measurements and photos, I finally decided to attempt this and ordered the cubby.<\/p>\n

The dash and fuse box limit how wide you can go, and the radio I chose, the Kenwood TM-D710, is about the largest that will work. This radio has a main unit that contains the antenna and mic ports, and a remote head unit for control.<\/p>\n

To keep cable runs convenient, and since the speaker is also in there, I decided to mount the main unit under the driver's seat. If I didn't have the factory stereo amp there, I'd mount it to the floor, but instead I had to attach it to the seat frame. There are some under-seat drawers you can get that already have mounting points in the seat bracket. On the Mk 6 forum, I found a post<\/a> showing the mounting locations. I used the two central holes labelled Torx-20 and tapped them for M4 screws like the drawers use.<\/p>\n

Of course the radio mounting bracket needs to sit 90 degrees from those holes, so I used a piece of aluminum to make a mounting plate. I had to make a few cutouts to go around the connectors attached to the seat bottom. You can also see in that image that the bracketry where those screw holes are located is recessed from the rest of the seat, so I also had to make some spacers to support the adapter.<\/p>\n\n\t\t