I despise the cheap plastic aftermarket stereo mounting kits and wanted better security for my Alpine so I'm fabbing my own mount with a locking cover. So far I've built a steel box to mount in the dash with a diamond plate face. I still need to mill down the edges of the face to match the dash trim, bolt the face to the steel and come up with the locking mechanism.

I'm thinking tabs over and under the head unit and a rod with a tab for the lock that slides in and locks in the middle. That part might change depending on if I can come up with a simpler or cleaner method. I'm open to ideas.

Here's the rough box, still need to drill mount holes.




And the dry fit in my JK. Probably some counter sunk torx painted to match will hold the face to the box.





I've got texture black Harley spray or might just go flat black.

This is the rough cover. It's just an open bottom steel box so far but you get the idea.

 

Does that whole top bezel with the stereo and vents and window controls come off or I'd it a part of the whole dash?

 

The trim piece includes everything from the left side vent, over and under the instrument cluster to the right side of the center piece. The widow controls come out as well as the kick plate under the steering to get at the screws under it. The stereo is totally separate.

 

Working out the locking cover.





So basically the plan is to drill a hole above and below where the cover fits onto the face plate. The top pin welded to the cover gets fitted in first then the bent rod with the nut fits into the bottom matching up to another nut welded to the cover. Slide the lock through and taadaaaa. Concealed and protected head unit.









This was just a test piece of diamond plate by the way. Wanted to get the hole placement on scrap first.

 

Locked and loaded

 

Paint it black