Better yet, grab it with some pliers, twist it a few times and break it off.  Gives you at least another inch of depth. 

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Craig Cowan
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 8:56 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Need Recommendation: Audio System for 85 Vanagon

Ignore the dimensions and just buy whatever. It will fit.
Not at first, but I'll share with you the secret. 
Take a 2x4 and insert it into the radio hole with the radio out. Take a hammer, large, and smack the 2x4 repeatedly bending the stupid bracket in the back. 
Now install your stereo. 

I've put at least a dozen stereos in Vanagon with this method and it works. Everything I've ever used has fit. 
With that said I like pioneer. 

-craig

On Aug 26, 2012, at 11:17 AM, Art <awa0330@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> I bought an Alpine CDE-124SXM. Crutchfield said it wouldn't fit.  It 
> fit easily with room to spare, and we discovered that there are far 
> more radios that will fit the Vanagon than Crutchfield allows.  The 
> radio works great, has CD, satellite, USB, iPod synch, Bluetooth, 
> telephone integration (which I don't really use because of cabin 
> noise), BUT does not have a tape player .It sold for about $160.  
> Maybe you can look for comparable same brand radios with tape, 
> although I imagine they are getting hard(er) to find. I did upgrade 
> the speakers with inexpensive off the rack choices at Best Buy as 
> well.  A true audiophile wouldn't be happy, but I just wanted 
> something that would sound good above the internal noise of the vehicle.  You may want to consider slowly burning CDs of your tapes at home to convert them.
> 
> Art
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: George Laubach
> Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 10:56 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Need Recommendation: Audio System for 85 Vanagon
> 
> Jon,
> 
> I put in a Blaupunkt last year, if you want to go German.  
> Crutchfield. Fits fine.  Maybe not the best, but I was buying name. 
> Not premium priced, either.
> 
> Skip
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On Aug 26, 2012, at 9:33 AM, Jon Durham <jon_durham@KNOLOGY.NET> wrote:
> 
>> I replaced the original Heidelberg radio with a Sony in 92. Fit 
>> perfectly but has given up the ghost. Now I can't seem to find one 
>> that fits.
>> 
>> I'm interested in a radio/tape combination with a CD changer but will 
>> settle on a radio/CD player if need be.
>> --
>> “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by 
>> the way its animals are treated” --Gandhi