The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench 1954 and first series 1955 radio plate...

We've been talking about an FM/MP3/Bluetooth radio for the 1954 and first series 1955 pickup and Kevinski has been kind enough to send some measurements. Helpful because like the Task Force trucks I don't have these to actually see...working blind so to say. The work on the Task Force model is almost finished. I'm just working on a decent antenna connection now. Not a lot of room to work on that one.

I have done some work on the plate to hold the actual radio piece for the 1954 and 1st series 1955 and thought you might be interested to see what is involved.

First, I cut a piece of solid core plywood to the right size (8 3/8 x 1 7/16).
Second, I radius the edges and sand a bit to be certain I like the look.
Third, I determine the center point and use the CNC machine to slowly cut out the recess for the radio faceplate. It takes about an hour following several directions for the x, y and z axes.
Fourth, I sand and clean up any stray wood threads or pieces and check the fit of the radio faceplate.

Next I'll seal it, let that dry well, sand again, seal again and then we'll make a silicone mold for the fiberglass. More to follow as time allows...

Looks nice👍

Yes. I like it!

S2

Thanks! Glad you like it. I've sealed it and it is now drying. That will take between 24 and 30 hours. I'll sand lightly to make sure it looks good to me and then I'll make an extended well for the center cutout and then the silicone mold work will start.

I'm going to need some help on a scheme for the speakers. I think (and I'm operating from memory) the original AM speaker was a 6 inch by 9 inch oval that was fastened to a fiberboard piece which was held in place using 3 metal clips (which were twisted to hold it in place). My hope is to figure out a mounting plan to let us use twin 3.3 inch high quality speakers (since we will have stereo). I think I know how the fiberboard piece can be anchored at the bottom. Some digital images of the dash (underneath images) will be helpful. I need to find something up top that will offer an attachment point. In the AD, I had the luxury of using the two screws that hold on the radio grille trim.

A small progress report. Yesterday a fiberboard piece was cut to raise the piece in the mold (to make the cutout rectangle sit higher). This was attached to the piece using double sided adhesive and then a mold box was made using common cereal cardboard (coated side facing inward). The piece was attached to the bottom of that box to keep it stable. Then the 2 part silicone was mixed (it took 100 ml), poured into the mold box and tape was put across the sides to keep them from falling outward. Then the silicone was poured in and this was left for apx 18 hours. Removed from the box this morning and all looks okay...a couple of spots I didn't exactly like but I believe it will be okay. The slight defects look to be "innies" which will leave "outies" on the finished piece which can be sanded off after the fiberglass cures. After the mold sits for a while I'll see how it does with fiberglass cloth and resin.

If anyone is interested here are the other molds...one for the AD and another for the Task Force types. I didn't have any more colored silicone to use on this one.

Just FYI Jon: The 55.2-59 GMC Radios (Blue Chip models) is sort of upside down from the Chevy TF radios. The bezel that sticks through the dash is VERY similar, but is on the bottom front of the radio and mounts in the rolled bottom edge of the dash that is GMC specific. I've attached the SAMS for the GMC radio.

Is this what you're looking for, Jon?

S2

Thanks guys. Yes but I'm trying to figure out what the speaker panel can be attached to. I remember there were metal tabs in there but I'm wondering if there was anything above the tab I can see in your images there. Do you know what else is up there? Thanks again!

FYI, I poured the fiberglass into the mold tonight. We'll see in the morning how it looks when de-molded.

Here are a few images of the dash area of the 55.1 I still need to clean up that area.

1955 1 Series, I noticed a welders helmet in your first picture. I don't suppose I could talk you into coming up here and do my floor boards and kick panels, could I? LOL

S2

Thanks very much. Can you tell if the three "tabs" stand straight out or are they bent or twisted? Sorry but I can't be sure from the image.

Believe me, I am probably the last person you would want welding on your truck. Mine was a refugee from the scrapyard, so I can practice on it. It is a hodge podge collection of parts right now. I want to get off the body work so I can actually see some progress. Snails look at me in their rearview mirrors.

The tabs appear to be bent over. I think they should probably be upright. As I said, refugee from wrecking yard. No telling what has been done to it over the years.

I think that truck originally may have had a radio. I also think those tabs fit through slots in a fiberboard plate which held the speaker. Our task is to figure out how to attach a speaker plate either in a different fashion or to utilize the tabs which may or may not be in place...

Thanks very much for the image.

Is this of any help.

Those tabs may just to hold on the grill screen that I have never seen as they may deteriorate over the years ,I found this on the old car Manuel site.

Thanks...it is. The measurements I had gotten from another blank-out plate were 8 3/8" and yours seems just a wee bit shorter. I made the mold for 8 3/8".

As for attaching it to the dashboard, there are two options. Which one I choose depends on how the speaker plate can be mounted. It would be really nice if GM had put some screws up there somewhere but they didn't.

Thanks again.

They may be, Kevinski. Something had to hold the speaker plate in place, however. It was separate from the radio itself, so that is sort of a mystery. Thanks for the info!

Could a bracket be made that could be fastened to the flat surface below the radio opening.

Thanks! It is one solution and I think it may be the best idea. It requires the use of screws that would be cast into the fiberglass piece but as long as I get an accurate measurement of the two holes (center to center) I can make a jig for that. The only thing that gives me pause is today's speakers are heavier and I would prefer there be some way to connect the top part of the speaker panel to the top part of the dashboard. I suppose support pieces could be cantilevered back to the flat surface below the radio opening. That's a possibility.

Maybe an aluminum frame with fiberglass covering.

Gusset reinforced.

That might work. We may have to dodge the ash tray stuff...I can't tell how close it is to the knob hole over there...

I will try to mock one up.

Probably steel sheet metal.

A friend (retired engineer) says common 1/4 inch plywood should be structurally fine for this. His thought is to attach it on the back side of the dash using the two 1/2 inch holes, make the cutouts for the radio and speakers and put foam at the top to stop rattling, squeaking, etc and add some stability. Sheet metal is a good idea but handling (cutting speaker holes, other holes, etc) is going to be a challenge from my point. Another thing...I've been hoping two 3.3" diameter round speakers could be used. I don't have dimensions, though. Could somebody measure the speaker opening (height/width), please? Two small oval shaped speakers could be used but those are going to be more costly and not the same quality as the German speakers I prefer. Also if somebody could cut a piece of cardboard and set it in place on the back side. I need to see the angle and what difference it will make at the top. Thanks!

Looked at the radio area and have more information. I tried get this out earlier today, but internet has been down until now. The delete cover is designed to completely cover the whole radio area, including the knob opening. Attaching photos to show dimensions on the radio slot. Hope this is more helpful.

Slot

Drawing so far.

How about simpler? I've checked 1/4 inch plywood this afternoon and I agree with my engineer friend. It has plenty of rigidity/strength and the cost factor is favorable. I think something like the quick and crude drawing below might be a starting point. The piece would sit in the trough below the radio and be held on at the bottom by screws/nuts...similar to the way the radio was intended to be attached. Two 3.3" diameter speakers would sit side by side and a foam pad (not shown in the drawing would sit at the top to prevent rattling.

I was leaning towards steel as it would also make a good ground if needed. Would the old radio volume and tuning holes be used for mounting the speakers and radio unit?

Yes...Flat or slightly rounded (like modified carriage bolts) bolts and nuts would secure the plate at the bottom. In an ideal world we would have something at the top to attach to but we don't in this case, so a cantilevered rod might be a good and easy alternative. It depends on how it all fits/sits (the angle of the part of the dash where the knob holes are might cause the speaker plate to lean forward or be straight). From what I can see in all these images, it might lean about 5 or 6 degrees. Since I don't have one of these trucks to look at I'll have to depend on others for guidance. Steel or aluminum would be further down on my list of choices. Either will cost more to purchase and both will be more difficult and costly to work (cutting holes, bending, etc).

As for the two carriage type bolts, there are a couple of possibilities. The fiberglass cover plate can be recessed to fit over them or they can be cast into the fiberglass when the cover plate is made. The more I've thought about it, the more I lean toward recessing cuts in the cover plate and securing that plate and the radio with toggle anchors. What I mean to say there is the cover plate and the radio would sit independently of the speaker plate.

There is a handy channel at the bottom where the plate could sit but it will have to have something to prevent sideways motion (the two nuts in the volume/tuning holes). Also my experience has been anything on these trucks that isn't anchored will rattle, squeak, etc.

In the image below you can see what I'm thinking...the vertical line being the speaker plate, the bolt and nut at the bottom and a leaning (sloped) support rod coming up from the other edge of the dash channel there. It might be a U shape since that channel would run straight all the way across. If any sort of bolt or securing device extended out of the speaker grille part of the dash it would make this an easy slam dunk but there is just nothing there. The other image sort of shows the fiberglass cover plate with the radio oval in it.

And alternatively we could fasten locking clips like the ones shown below on the edges of the speaker plate. These would be pushed onto the edges of the grille bars (the outer edges of the outer bars, that is). That would keep the top part of the speaker plate from moving. Actually there are things about this approach (particularly from a DIY standpoint) I like the best. I need to get some and see what sort of thickness they'll work best with.

This is a picture of the panel mounted in the 55.1 truck. The box on the left is the ashtray. I still need to cut out holes for the speakers and for the radio itself. It is mounted to the bottom of the dash panel. it clears everything and is about a half inch from the inside of the dash at the top.

Trial fit the radio and faceplate, and the quality is excellent. Jon is truly a craftsman. It is just sitting in the dash, and I will set it aside until the rest of the interior is complete.

I LIKE IT !!! I like to order 2 setups, please!!!

Stewart - Please PM Jon G for further discussion on ordering. I'm sure he will love to hear from you.

Thanks! Please do contact me. I'm out of town for a bit over a week trying to repair some flood damage but will be happy to help when I return.

I can wait till you get back. Sorry to hear about the flood damage. Good luck.

S2