The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Want to buy a new radio

I'm ready to buy a new radio for my 56... I've been looking thru all of the usual catalogs... here's what I'm looking for:

- Prefer just AM/FM stereo.. cassette technology is going away and I'm not a big CD person... besides my sons tell me I can just use and ipod or something anyways.
- Must fit original holes
- I thought I saw one that looked like an old AM when off but was actually an AM/FM but can't find it now
- Have already wired the cab for rear speakers... I'm not sure about the kickpanel speakers I've seen out there

Any advice would be appreciated!

American classic truck parts... #RAD-514... $230

http://www.americanclassic.com/asp/dyncatv2.asp?which=amclsall&p1=initial&p2=Radios+-+AM/FM,+Cassette,+CD+Players&iyear=1956&ytype=to&exyear=

I have a Custom Autosound unit in my 49. It fit in the dash real well. They sell a CD changer for it too. I have inquired about plugging in an IPOD and they said it could not be done. They may come out with one soon though.

Thanks! RAD 514 may be what I'm wanting but I wish American Classic would provide photos tho! I have a hard time spending over $200 without seeing what I want to buy....

Check into TAYMANELECTRICAL.COM . The guy can convert an AM to AM/FM and add an input for Ipod. He also sells new units to fit classics. He comes highly recommended.

If you're a member of the oldgmctrucks board you can read this thread.

Larry Bear - everyone sells the same radios, i.e., Custom AutoSound. I wish someone would come up with a better unit as thse things are really about the same as K-Mart K-rap IMO. Also I find Custom's customer service to be almost non-existant. I've purchased two and neither one has been any good.

Terrific feedback (as always!) Seems that Tayman is getting the vote as the most knowledgeable/responsive, etc.... But I don't have an original radio to upgrade so I'm going to have to go new.

Tayman sells Custom AutoSound along with Kenwood.
However, 53Moneypit's claim that the Custom AutoSound is not very good quality causes me to raise an eyebrow...

Anyone else have Custom AutoSound radios? How happy are you (with the radio that is!)???

Put Custom AutoSound Secret Audio with remote CD changer in my daughter's car. It was the cheesiest looking radio I ever installed. The radio works OK. The CD changer sucks - the battery. She didn't drive it for 4 days. Turns out the standby current with the changer was 500mA and it sucked the battery flat in less than a week. She started pulling the fuse, but would lose all her radio presets. That much standby draw (it's in their manual) is [censored]-poor design.

I won't buy Custom AutoSound again if I can avoid it. You'd do better to buy a 1975 vintage Pioneer SuperTuner and hang it under the dash (with your Clarion equalizer!)

Put a Custom Autosound in the wife's '67 Impala SS. Have been reasonably satisfied. Did have to have the CD player worked on after two years (10K mi.) but feel it was because of the location in the trunk--not mounted solidly--a little hokey--just mounted with bolts through the trunk mat with padding underneath. It's a driven show car that we bought from the original owner. Didn't want to drill holes in the trunk.

Mounted speakers behind the seats of my '56 on the lip of my gas tank. Sound was way to muffled so also put in kick panel speakers. Much mo' betta.

Sort of in the same situation as you. Wondering if I should get an original and have it rebuilt or converted but not sure if I should just get a new unit. I have an Autosound now but it just looks somewhat un-natural and the quality is not up to my standards, (I design automotive electronics). Check out this link.
http://www.antiqueautomobileradio.com/newradiochev47F.htm

WOW! The radios from Antique Automobile Radio are very cool! Look absolutely original but are AM/FM. I need to figure out how to get my lovely wife to swallow $500 tho! And then there's speakers to buy...

OK, still looking into all of this... another question: I saw an old radio but it had a rectangular face on it. The blank plate on my dash is also a rectangle. But all of the newer radios I see have oval faces. Can I presume that if I took the blank plate off I'd find an oval hole? Were the original radios oval or rectangular??

Thanks group!

Chevy radios oval. GMC radios rectangular. I found this out after buying a chevy radio for my 57. It looks to be in good shape, supposedly works but untried as of yet. I cant bring myself to install a Chevy radio in a GMC, though I think it would fit.
Jeff

The bezel and faceplate are available from the usual parts suspects. The oval version is actually for a Chevy car, not a truck. Chevy truck radios are square, just like a GMC.

I believe the Task Force series radios are not the same for Chevy and Gmc. At least not the ones I see advertised as reproduction. Doesnt the chevy truck have a long oval hole in the dash? I have been wrong before.
Jeff

Yes, the Chevys have a long oval hole for the radio. The correct radio matches the hole.

The radio delete cover plate is certainly rectangular: http://www.sbgd.com/main/56chevy/truck_images/tach.jpg

If I'm screwed up on the hole under there, I apologize. Strange that they'd change the bezel and the voltage (very minor change) for '55, but keep the same basic radio.

GMC: That pic could've been taken inside my truck, right down to the 4 on the floor! You are correct that the delete cover is rectangular. I think I need to take the cover off and see if the hole is rectangular as well as Cletis says. Unless someone else out there can confirm it!

Thanks!

The delete cover is rectangular and the radio hole behind it is oval.

I have a 55 2nd. I have an original which is am. But since am doesn't work at night I bought a Custom AutoSound. It's not the best radio but it works for fm reception and noise.

These trucks are not sound proof, are very noisy, and noise is all your going to get.

Maybe I should get a boom speaker that all the kids with jappo cars have. BOOM BOOM BOOM

Thanks Dennis! One more q, does your original radio have an oval faceplate or rectangular?

I've soundproofed my Bolt fairly well... not as quiet as, say a caddie, but certainly as quiet as our Miata!

I do like the idea of adding some boom boom sound! Maybe I'll install them all over my bed and when I pull up to a kid with his stereo blasting I'll just turn mine on and blow his doors off! LOL

OOPS. Sorry Larry. Been away and did not see your reply with question.

The original radio face was oval, just like the custom autosound.

I need to get with custom autosound. I lost the wiring schematic and need to find the wire that saves stations. Everytime I turn on the radio, it goes to the preprogramed station.

Just another inconvenience.

ps - Thanks for the notes (in another thread) on your door. I need to take mine off and rework the hinges and door inner workings. My wing windows flop and the windows stick coming up and going down. And all the gaskets are nasty after 50 years. It is time for an overhaul.

I've been going back and forth on what to do about a radio... on the one hand I really like the look of an old radio that's been updated for FM and fits in the original oval hole. But from what I've seen/heard they can't be programmed so you have to turn the dial from station to station...a real pain when you're trying to keep the old bolt on the road!

But then again, I haven't heard too many folks that are satisfied with the new radios out there...

Thanks for all of your feedback.. it's a quite helpful thread.

When I got my current beast, she came with holes cut out in the doors by the PO. For over 12 years I said I would never put a radio in my truck. I even went to the point and bought a piece of interior door skin from MT in Az with plans to patch the holes up.

Well about 2 months ago, I suddenly had the urge to hear something besides the 235. Found some pioneers to fit the holes perfectly and bought a simple CustomAutosound cassett player for the dash. I also picked up an extra speaker setup for the dash as well.

Now I drive everywhere singing with my truck. Though I would never cut holes in my doors on purpose, they really improve the sound as compared to having just a dash speaker.

The aftermarket radios i've seen that fit in the original holes always seemed to be on par with the $19 Kraco or Spark-o-Matic radios you can buy at Walmart.

Some folks will retrofit an original radio with AM/FM/CD/iPod features, but i've not ever heard anything stellar about their quality or sound, and those retrofits can cost a bunch.

Spanky linked in the General Truck section a link to an outfit that makes what is supposed to be an original looking (sans Chevrolet script) radio but from the pictures it has a VERY repop (read CRAP) look to it, and has a $500 price tag.

I say put the "radio delete" panel in your radio hole, and put a balls out Pioneer stereo in the glove box and call it a day.

A $250 Pioneer head unit will have better sound and features than a $500 sorta retro radio.

But that's just my opinion.

Fumblin - Do you have x-ray eyes, ESP or what? Those new radios Spankly pointed out look truly excellent in the pictures. Looking at the faceplates they are identical except for the FM numbers and script. Did you see a real one before forming your strong opinion?

I'm sure you are right about actual sound quality, nothing will beat a new Pioneer.

Mike

How about using the hinge inpection plates for your speakers and forget about cutting? Has anyone tried this?

Oldbluetruck;
I believe that the wire you are speaking of is called a memory backup wire and it is brown with a white stripe. This should be hooked up to a constant 12vdc supply.