kenwood DNX-6180 in 1991 ZR-1 Install inside - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Torchred96 · 01-04-2012

You can read about the install of the DNX 6180 below, and it looked nice. But honestly it was a poor performer, sluggish to react to any command and frankly annoying. Worse, it died with less than 10 hours of use in the same way all DNX series eventually do, an endless startup loop failure. To be fair, I purchased it as an ebay refurb. Still, AVOID KENWOOD is my advice. I won't send it back and reward Kenwood because they put this series out with the known sluggish issue and did nothing to mitigate the endless loop which is an obvious factory flaw. Instead, I have gone back to Alpine, which has always been a solid performer since by first one in the mid 80's. This one is a double din INE S920HD, and it fit using the same kit I used for the Dnx (just transferred the parts) without further modification shown below. While it isn't blindingly fast, when you compare it to the DNX, it's a speed demon. Sounds great, looks as good or better, and like the DNX had, I like the volume knob. Plus it's an Alpine. Updated 8/25/15
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I'm in the middle of my porting project and the intake is off to the powder coater, so in the meantime, I thought I would get my Kenwood double din dnx 6180 install started. I basically followed Rex Ruby's 1993 install of his Pioneer Avic for the mock up. I think the wiring locations are different, as I didn't find the power leads in the passenger side back compartment of my 1991 zr1 where his 93 power and antennae leads were found. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

This is a mock up of my install. There is absolutely no cutting of the stock radio bezel. I would have bought a regular corvette bezel before I cut this one up. In this pic, there is no wiring done or any speakers installed. I plan on putting 8" subs in the stock locations later on, but for now, I have a pair of 10 JBL's in a pretty compact box that fits okay in the back. Haven't decided on the fronts yet. I like the 6x9's Rex did, but I also like them to be hidden. Try to ignore the finger prints.

This is the install kit I used. Only the two ears are used in this kit. I just put the stock radio side by side and put the ears where they matched the stock radio's mounting tabs. Per the instructions that came with the kit, the radio sleeve and trim ring are not used in this install.

In this picture, you can see the plastic that has to come out and the next pic is what I cut out. I had my grinder handy that I used to port the intake, so I used a cone style burr and took out the piece in about 2 minutes time....cut like butta

01-04-2012	#1
Torchred96 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Homestead, Fl Posts: 248	kenwood DNX-6180 in 1991 ZR-1 Install inside You can read about the install of the DNX 6180 below, and it looked nice. But honestly it was a poor performer, sluggish to react to any command and frankly annoying. Worse, it died with less than 10 hours of use in the same way all DNX series eventually do, an endless startup loop failure. To be fair, I purchased it as an ebay refurb. Still, AVOID KENWOOD is my advice. I won't send it back and reward Kenwood because they put this series out with the known sluggish issue and did nothing to mitigate the endless loop which is an obvious factory flaw. Instead, I have gone back to Alpine, which has always been a solid performer since by first one in the mid 80's. This one is a double din INE S920HD, and it fit using the same kit I used for the Dnx (just transferred the parts) without further modification shown below. While it isn't blindingly fast, when you compare it to the DNX, it's a speed demon. Sounds great, looks as good or better, and like the DNX had, I like the volume knob. Plus it's an Alpine. Updated 8/25/15 ================================================== =========================================== I'm in the middle of my porting project and the intake is off to the powder coater, so in the meantime, I thought I would get my Kenwood double din dnx 6180 install started. I basically followed Rex Ruby's 1993 install of his Pioneer Avic for the mock up. I think the wiring locations are different, as I didn't find the power leads in the passenger side back compartment of my 1991 zr1 where his 93 power and antennae leads were found. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. This is a mock up of my install. There is absolutely no cutting of the stock radio bezel. I would have bought a regular corvette bezel before I cut this one up. In this pic, there is no wiring done or any speakers installed. I plan on putting 8" subs in the stock locations later on, but for now, I have a pair of 10 JBL's in a pretty compact box that fits okay in the back. Haven't decided on the fronts yet. I like the 6x9's Rex did, but I also like them to be hidden. Try to ignore the finger prints. This is the install kit I used. Only the two ears are used in this kit. I just put the stock radio side by side and put the ears where they matched the stock radio's mounting tabs. Per the instructions that came with the kit, the radio sleeve and trim ring are not used in this install. In this picture, you can see the plastic that has to come out and the next pic is what I cut out. I had my grinder handy that I used to port the intake, so I used a cone style burr and took out the piece in about 2 minutes time....cut like butta __________________ Sam 1991 ZR-1 :salute: Last edited by Torchred96; 08-25-2015 at 03:22 AM.