i think i blew my mind last night trying to figure this out.
i'm installing an aftermarket stereo in a friend's '89 chevy van. (actually the one that was in my car when i bought it, works great but i prefer hands down the jvc that i had from my previous car)
figured it would be straightforward enough, bought the $10 frame kit and removed the old stereo. this is what came out...
obviously modified at least once but the factory stereo (a '93) still fit very nicely using only the two L brackets, so i wasn't concerned in the slightest... i fitted the new radio to the frame kit and attached the L brackets to the side, using the handy 'L' and 'R' stamps someone had kindly marked.
so far, so good - all wired up and sounds really good with the alpine/sony speaker combo that some p/o had installed at one point - i go to put it in tho and the holes don't line up. hmmm... must have put them on the wrong way round so i flip them. then i switch sides, then i flip them again.
hmmm... that's really strange.... so i get the old radio back and attach the brackets. same thing! i spent well over an hour in the van trying to figure it out and never did.
so it's no big deal i'm just making my own brackets (right now i'm waiting for my drill batteries to recharge) PITA but whatever. seriously tho i am wondering what the hell i did ?
so you know - i did not lose anything, i swear that is all that mounted the stereo, no washers, no nothing. it was in tight and solid. i didn't bother double-checking exactly how the brackets mounted because i figured with 2 bolts and 2 L brackets, how could i go wrong? there is no other way to mount the bracket and they have to face forward so that the faceplate lines up with the dash trim.
like i said, no big deal on the install, but i might need trauma counselling, that's a serious blow to self-confidence getting mindfreaked by two L-brackets.
edit- ok there we go i'm still freaked out tho.
hard to believe someone put that stereo in a bmw with black and tan interior isn't it?