The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench 47-53 radio interchange with later models?

Does anyone know of any later 50's or even 60's car radios will fit the stock dash cutout? I'm pretty handy with electronics and would like to try to refurbish something for my dash, but it seems l'd have better luck tracking down a unicorn than a stock radio. I've considered the aftermarket replacements but that lcd display light just kills the mood Anybody using a later model stocker without cutting the dash?

Contact Ray Holland [email protected] can supply 6V or 12 Volt original--Bill

GM Canada used a common radio for some of it`s cars and trucks. They are called a `GM Auto Radio`. There is one, a model 500 on Ebay right now. The dial that is shown is for a car mounting with the dial at the bottom of the unit. For the truck it would be flipped upside down and another dial installed. The controls are adjustable in the horizontal direction at the front and the angle of the controls and dial assembly is adjustable. They are comparable electronics wise to the US Delco radio for these trucks. However the power output is higher due to the push pull output stage. You can read about these types of radios on the ``Old Chevy Manuals Online `syte, starting with model 510.

As an update to my own question, yesterday I picked up a box of about 3 dozen old radios and not a blessed one would fit the dash. Closest was a '50 Oldsmobile but the knobs are 7" on center instead of 7.5" like the Chevy. Fortunately my dash is already hogged out to accept a 7" on center. Ive ordered the Chevy trim pieces to see if I can make something work.

You might try contacting Mongo on this site.

One of the best solutions I ever saw was this one:

http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p535/JonGoodman/Radio.jpg

It has on/off and volume knob on one side, the illuminated dial in the center and the tuning knob on the other side. These attach to cables which in turn attach to any radio you want to use...which attaches to the firewall behind the glove box and above the heater. I used an AM/FM radio out of a VW. If for some reason I want to listen to AM, I simply reach under the glove box and slide the AM/FM switch. I converted the dial to show in the circular station sweep the respective numbers for AM and FM back around 1977. If you were especially handy and had the blank-out plate to use as a form, a plaster mold could be made from which fiberglass copies could be made. The chrome bezel and the glass came from a flashlight. I used some silicone caulk to attach them to the front as the original bezel was rust-pocked and the glass was cracked. I would imagine a relatively clever person (electronically speaking) could add touch switches to control MP3 or maybe CD play...although few people are using CDs now it seems. Just an outside thought...