The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench Task Force radio update...and a question...

Hi folks,
The Task Force truck radio work is just about done. As I've mentioned, I won't be offering a speaker option as cutting the roof of a cab up isn't something I (and others here) don't seem interested in doing. So I'll leave that to other options.

As for the mounting of the radio, I've decided on what some call toggle bolts and others may call molly bolts (and no...I have no idea who molly was). The ends will be rubber coated. This will eliminate the option of using the tiny black cover plugs like the ones used in the AD trucks, however I don't think the difference will be too bad. You can see in one of the images below. The blank-out plate was secured by clips but those won't work with this approach. It will make mounting the radio very easy. The mounting piece is made of fiberglass and you'll paint to match your dash or as you wish...same as for the AD trucks.

And now for a question. The blank-out knob covers for the Task Force trucks are different from the AD. After church yesterday it occurred to me there are three options here and I ought to ask what you people think. Option one: I duplicate the stock blank-out knob covers in fiberglass and let you paint them either to match your dash color, silver, black or whatever you wish. You can see those below in a couple of images. Option two: I let you buy duplicate chrome-plated covers being sold by others...those are about $20 for a pair plus shipping. They attach with press-on spring clips on the back sides. Option three: I just use the AD covers I already have a mold for and you paint as you wish. They're different, however some folks may not object to that difference and before I do anything I'd like to know. Images below show these knobs.

Are the knobs controls in any way? I vaguely recall one of them acting as a power switch on the AD version?

What is the difference on your side between the chrome knobs and the fiberglass blockoffs?

My personal preference would be to use the chrome knobs if they do anything and the paint-to-match blockoffs if they don't.

Since I won't have any other block-offs, I would be fine with the AD version. If someone else had TF style blockoffs already, I could see a valid desire to get those replicated in this.

Thanks for the reply. No, those were only used as decorative block-off, blank-out...whatever term you choose...items. When the radio was installed, they became functional, though. The left knob was on/off and volume. The right one was a tuning knob and a deluxe version of the radio had an larger (flat with little flipper pieces diametrically placed) knob which sat behind the on/off and tuning knobs and the left one controlled tone and the right one did something else...can't remember what it did on the pickup.

The difference is that I can't chrome plate anything so if your dash had chrome plated accent pieces or such (polished stainless or polished aluminum), the chrome ones might look better. I can make fiberglass knockoffs, but they would have to be painted.

Looking at the dash or the dash repair piece I can see the AD type would probably look fine...no matter whether it was painted silver or to match the dash. And the shape of the radio is going to mimic the original radio shape somewhat, so I'm thinking it ought to look okay. As I said before I can see this going 3 ways and I'm trying to see what most folks want.

I should add I remember seeing the blank-out knobs either plated or simply painted in trucks with no radios...just like the blank-out plate.

It would help me a great deal to see the radio installed in a TF truck.

Hey Jon, I still have that patch panel that I have not installed yet.

Want me to send it to you for testing/pics/mockup?

My 55.2 blank off knobs, which I believe are original; are same style as other dash knobs, which I think are available aftermarket. Hope this helps.[b][/b]

Rusted Nut, those blank knobs look like the ones in my '57 and I believe they are original, and they do match the other controls as you say.

Thanks and that's a very nice and friendly offer. However the Task Force trucks are more simple than some and I'm trying to keep the costs down. So I'm hopeful we can do it using our collective imaginations. Basically the Task Force truck radio blank-out plate was just a plain rectangle with angled ends. Probably everyone who owns one of these that didn't have a radio has seen it, but you can see it below along with some other images I hope will help. The blank-out plate actually became the mold for the radio shroud piece...I made a silicone mold, cast the piece in fiberglass, used a CNC machine to rout out the shape of the radio, made a new silicone mold and from that mold the shroud pieces will be made. Now...attaching it to the dashboard will be easy (for the user). Using two molly bolts or toggle screws the radio piece and the shroud will be attached as one...these two screws being easily accessible from the front. As you can see this is a very compact radio and also very light. It does not need large screws to hold it in place. There will be two power wires...one for 12v + and one for a good 12v - or ground connection. Then there will be right and left speaker connectors/wires (+ and -) and the antenna plug-in socket as you can see in the image below. The same radio is being used for all the pickups...the shape of it just happens to match the Task Force design very closely. Hopefully this helps. I'm in the process of making fiberglass plugs (blank-out plugs) for the volume and tuning spots. Hopefully I'll be able to show you those before too long. I have wait for the silicone to cure and if you're curious you can see a blue rectangle in one of the images below. That is it in a little mold frame I made. As I said before the shroud and the blank-out plugs could be painted to match the dash or they could be painted silver, black or whatever.

It might look about like the image below.

The silicone mold came out very nicely. Later I'll cast fiberglass pieces.

The fiberglass copies are done. They came out of the mold looking fine and have the added benefit of mounting with a nut and washer. After these cure I may paint them so you can see them better.

No primer, no prep. Just a quick and dirty shot of rattle can satin black and aluminum so they'll show up better. I think these will be fine so I'm on to other stuff.

They look great Jon!

That's really nice, John. Jim Carter et al would charge $10 or $20 each for those things.

Hey Jon, when you are happy with the setup from your end, put me down for 2 sets of knobs and a radio.

I am going with a two-tone job and want a set of knobs in each color.

Thanks! I'll let everyone know and it will be very soon. I'm at this point making the blank-out knobs and probably will make a second mold so I can work faster.

I will show the radios/knob blank-out pieces for sale in the proper Swap Meet section.

This is awesome. I may rig up a little drop down panel that could be flipped up under the dash to keep the stock radio delete look.

I’m new to this forum, so I apologize if I’m not doing this the right way.

I was recommended to go to this forum because there is a gentleman who made quality radios that might fit my 1954 Chevy 3100. I thought it may be you.

This has really been a frustrating search to find the best radio for my truck. I’m hoping you can help me.

Thank you in advance.

Welcome to the Stovebolt. I think someone may respond to your request here. If you have photos of your truck that you would like to share with us, we would really appreciate that.

Hi Ralph,
You are still in moderated status, but you could contact me via email at [email protected] if you wish. The AD radio work is done. Like the other versions it will play FM radio, MP3 files (music, audio books, whatever) and it has bluetooth abiity. I can't offer it for sale in this forum, however. I have not done speakers for the Task Force trucks. There are too many options and all. Hope this is helpful.