Here is the finished product.
I used a double DIN replacement center dash bezel I got from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SRHX43S/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Here is the head unit I used:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKTXS3D/?tag=wranglerorg-20
(I think I'll send it back for one with a volume knob, to difficult to adjust while driving)
Other parts
Basic hand tools
Soldering iron
Fine tooth hacksaw blade (without the hacksaw)
Heat shrink tubing
Black electrical tape
Removal
Pull up on the defrost grill to remove it. Then remove the two phillips screws by the top center tray securing the radio/HVAC bezel. Pull the bezel away from the dash - it's held on by six metal clips, three on each side. The clips will probably stay in the dash, pull them out with some needle nose pliers and save them.
Remove the old head unit entirely and the HVAC controls from the dash (I just unplugged the electrical connectors to get the controls far enough out, I didn't want to mess with the vacuum lines)
There is a plastic piece separating the radio and the HVAC, it has to be cut out. I used a hacksaw blade to cut from the top of each side of it down about 3/4 inch and from the bottom of it diagonally up and out to meet the top cut. Be careful on the right side so you don't damage the vacuum lines to the HVAC controls.
This is what you should remove
Installation
You'll need to connect the new stereo's wire harness to the factory stereo harness adapter (one came with the bezel kit I ordered from Amazon). You can use crimp on connectors, but I highly recommend soldering the connections.
Follow the instructions with the adapter harness to make the connections to the head unit's harness.
Here's mine, it's different than probably anyone else since my old head unit didn't have rca outputs for my amp. So I had to make a new wire harness to send the speaker wires to the amp and back to the Jeep's factory connector. This isn't necessary for everybody, and I'll probably replace this with rca cables to my amp later.
Next mount the brackets that came with the bezel to the new head unit. There is a left and right bracket, make sure you put them on the correct sides.
Put the HVAC back in the dash, and connect the antenna adapter that came with the bezel. Install and secure the new head unit for a test fit. Get the bezel WITHOUT the metal clips attached and place it on the dash. Check the fit around the new head unit, and remove the bezel to adjust the placement of the head unit. (I had to do this several times adjusting the L brackets on the head unit to get it aligned with the bezel)
Once you're happy with the fit, pull the head unit out. The new bezel does not come with the tray, you'll need to use the one from the original bezel. It was mounted by melting plastic tabs
The folded over plastic will snap off with a small screwdriver. Take the tray and mount it in the new bezel, you'll have to melt the plastic ridges to secure the tray to the bezel. I used a pair of needle nose vise grips, a penny and a propane torch. I held the penny in the vise-grips, got it good and hot (not glowing hot!) And pressed the five plastic ridges to "weld" the tray in.
You will also need to pop out the two vents and pop them into the new bezel. They push out from the inside of the old bezel.
I mounted the GPS antenna to the top of the vent in the center so it was hidden under the bezel's tray.
Make all the connections to the new head unit and mount it. Turn on the ignition and make sure all the speakers work, radio reception, etc... If everything is ok, put the six metal clips on the bezel and mount it pushing straight into the dash, replace the two screws on top by the tray and replace the defrost grill.
I used a double DIN replacement center dash bezel I got from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SRHX43S/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Here is the head unit I used:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKTXS3D/?tag=wranglerorg-20
(I think I'll send it back for one with a volume knob, to difficult to adjust while driving)
Other parts
Basic hand tools
Soldering iron
Fine tooth hacksaw blade (without the hacksaw)
Heat shrink tubing
Black electrical tape
Removal
Pull up on the defrost grill to remove it. Then remove the two phillips screws by the top center tray securing the radio/HVAC bezel. Pull the bezel away from the dash - it's held on by six metal clips, three on each side. The clips will probably stay in the dash, pull them out with some needle nose pliers and save them.
Remove the old head unit entirely and the HVAC controls from the dash (I just unplugged the electrical connectors to get the controls far enough out, I didn't want to mess with the vacuum lines)
There is a plastic piece separating the radio and the HVAC, it has to be cut out. I used a hacksaw blade to cut from the top of each side of it down about 3/4 inch and from the bottom of it diagonally up and out to meet the top cut. Be careful on the right side so you don't damage the vacuum lines to the HVAC controls.
This is what you should remove
Installation
You'll need to connect the new stereo's wire harness to the factory stereo harness adapter (one came with the bezel kit I ordered from Amazon). You can use crimp on connectors, but I highly recommend soldering the connections.
Follow the instructions with the adapter harness to make the connections to the head unit's harness.
Here's mine, it's different than probably anyone else since my old head unit didn't have rca outputs for my amp. So I had to make a new wire harness to send the speaker wires to the amp and back to the Jeep's factory connector. This isn't necessary for everybody, and I'll probably replace this with rca cables to my amp later.
Next mount the brackets that came with the bezel to the new head unit. There is a left and right bracket, make sure you put them on the correct sides.
Put the HVAC back in the dash, and connect the antenna adapter that came with the bezel. Install and secure the new head unit for a test fit. Get the bezel WITHOUT the metal clips attached and place it on the dash. Check the fit around the new head unit, and remove the bezel to adjust the placement of the head unit. (I had to do this several times adjusting the L brackets on the head unit to get it aligned with the bezel)
Once you're happy with the fit, pull the head unit out. The new bezel does not come with the tray, you'll need to use the one from the original bezel. It was mounted by melting plastic tabs
You will also need to pop out the two vents and pop them into the new bezel. They push out from the inside of the old bezel.
I mounted the GPS antenna to the top of the vent in the center so it was hidden under the bezel's tray.
Make all the connections to the new head unit and mount it. Turn on the ignition and make sure all the speakers work, radio reception, etc... If everything is ok, put the six metal clips on the bezel and mount it pushing straight into the dash, replace the two screws on top by the tray and replace the defrost grill.