I’m trying my hand at installing a car stereo (doesn’t seem too tough). I bought one on e-bay that came without the sleeve/cage.
My question(s): Is there a difference between sleeves for different manufacturers? Is there such a thing as a generic or universal sleeve? Does anyone know of a source to buy them?
If it matters, this is the model stereo I bought:
Are there any knowledgeable individuals out there that can help a poor novice?
In my experience, each manufacturer’s cage design is different, there is no universal one that I know of. I actually just ran into this because I had a Pioneer head unit from a car that I sold, but I forgot to get the cage out of the car before selling it. I wanted to install the head unit in my wife’s car. I called around to all the local stereo shops to see if any of them had any Pioneer cages laying around they would sell. None did, so I went to E-Bay and got one for around $10. If you can’t find any locally that would be my suggestion.
Thanks for the quick response!
Yahoo answers suggests that I might be able to use mounting brackets and screw it to place…I may see how possible that is…
I don’t know anything about putting stereos in a car. Now if you wanted to know how to get one out…
Well, TriPolar, maybe you’re the person I need to talk to to get a better stereo… 
what kind of car?
It’s a 1995 Honda Civic. Supposed to be pretty easy to work with (for stereo replacement).
I pull units from the junkyard all the time. Many of the sleeves are indeed interchangable (as long as we are talking DIN chassis) and usually quite useless.
Chances are good you don’t even really need it. Depends on the car. I know some Toyotas have little “ears” that screw directly to the unit and secure it to the consol of the car. Many vehicles will secure the unit by the single bolt/nut arraingement in the center of the back of the unit.
Get creative and carry on! If you really think you need a sleeve, PM me and you can have one for the price to ship it to you.
if screwing directly into the chassis of the radio make sure you check that you don’t screw into any internal workings, really stuffs your day up bad! So my suggestion take the cover off and check the clearances Clarence.
But if you can get a cage, get one.
AFAIK the '95 Civic already has a DIN-size radio in it, so you shouldn’t need the cage. You may be able to simply take the mounts off of the factory radio and put them on the aftermarket one.
Thanks for all the replies guys/gals/dopers!
jz78817, you’re right - the car currently has a single-DIN radio in it now.
I hope to get to put this in this weekend.
Thanks again, all!