The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Radio delete question

I am in the middle of a restoration on my 53, and was wondering what did they use in behind of the dash grill ? Thinking there was some kind of padding or something so you cant look all they way through to the firewall. Must be correct appearing.
Any help is appreciated

Thanks, Steve

Steve,

I also have a 53. Some of these guys that have owned multiple trucks may have seen a solid piece of material back there. But, when I took my speaker grill off to paint, there was only a metal mesh piece back there. The mesh holes are small round holes. It had either lost most of its paint. Or, it just got some light overspray from the factory painting the outside of the speaker grill. I media blasted it several years ago and painted it black. It looks nice behind the speaker grill. You can see it, but you have to really get at the right angle to see through it. I chose to install the old, original radio back into the truck. There is no light that comes up from behind it. It you are not planning to install a radio, I would imagine you get a little light from behind the dash. Not much, but a little. I have not seen that piece of mesh in any of the reproduction catalogs. I suppose somebody on the swap meet page may be selling one. Or, look on line at the auction sites. Hope this helps. Good luck with your restoration.

Rugo

Thanks Rugo, now I know what to look for.

A picture of the screens mentioned. These are true wire screens, not like light window screen now, more like the type found on older screens (40's or 50's).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8599570908/in/album-72157631868452754/

I have a number of speaker grills of unknown vintage with the screen. I have a '52 which has what looks like tar paper and no screen. Did GM make this a part of their War Era metal conservation deals, or was this done by the former owner of this truck?

Carl,

I have never seen the paper and screen on the same grills. I have removed these grills into 1949 but believe it was phased out as a running change sometime in 1950.

Carl, my 98% original 52 half ton also has that same paper type material, no metal mesh so I also believe it was due to war era. Thanks.

Steve -

I researched the cardboard radio grille screen for my '54 a few years ago. A cardboard baffle was inserted behind the dash grille at the factory. It was removed and discarded by the dealer when a radio was installed. Don't know about earlier trucks, but no wire screen or perforated plate was used in 1954. The cardboard screen is shown in a '54 dash in the Factory Assembly Manual.

Here my old post about reproducing the cardboard grille screen in my '54". Photos were linked to Photobucket and no longer are visible. I can send to you if you need them.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=891514#Post891514

The cardboard was described in the '51 installation manual. Similar description in the '54 Accessories Installation Manual.

> 1951 Installation Radio 986515-986516: "Remove cardboard radio grille cover from inside of radio grille and discard."
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/radios/51rs/51rs06.htm

> 1951 Installation Radio 986443: "Remove the decorative plate, the two buttons from the center of the instrument panel and the black cardboard baffle from the rear side of the radio grille."
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/radios/51rs/51rs41.htm

BTW - Radios were not installed at the factory, so the plate is not a "radio-delete plate." A better term is a "radio block-out plate." Radios were installed by the dealer.

- Lonnie

Ha! Thanks all for taking your time to unravel this mystery for me. Once again Stovebolters rock!!

My '51 has a metal cover plate behind the faceplate and knob holes. Of course it was a non-radio truck, so they may have wanted something more permanent than cardboard.