The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench Are we capable of modernizing a vintage radios?

Just curious...the outfits that upgrade vintage radios to modern AM/FM etc. standards charge a lot of $$ perform whatever it is they do. My understanding is they basically remove the old tube components and works and install a specific electronic board that performs all the new functions. Can we buy that board? Does anyone know where to buy it? Does anyone have working knowledge of how to modify these radios? Could we try one together as a joint project?

Steveg,
I think that there are a variety of upgrades that they do. The one that I have seen uses one of the tuning coils (the oscillator coil) from the old chassis to tune the stations. This must be a fairly specialized piece of electronics to do that. The dial would work fine for the AM side but I don't know how the FM is handled and I am thinking about markings here. Some of the conversions use a type of blue luminescent dial that only shows up when it is turned on.

It wouldn't be hard to do but sourcing the modules would. Part of the reason they are expensive is all the labor involved, cleaning and refurbishing the case and buying all the new front parts.

I've had my 1952 original radio modernized by a vendor in Wisconsin and he did a great job for about $400. plus I bought the parts and paid S&H. It looks absolutely original but it is now AM/FM with 100 watts of power...you switch from AM to FM by turning the radio off and on. You also keep the original AM dial...and estimate FM. A little red light goes on when your in FM.
It would be great to figure out how to perform this modification.

I think part of the fun of owning a classic truck is experiencing the original character of the truck. I want to hear the vibrator buzzing and the crackle of AM reception just like in the day these trucks were new. If I want to hear FM programming, I'd just add an FM convertor that can be hidden away and non invasivly connected to the antenna. To each their own I suppose.

my friend kept his old radio and then installed a cd player fm radio in the glove box. both are wired and work, there is a switch in the glovebox that allows him to switch between the two units. very cool.

Steve - a page I stumbled over from a google surf of radio info might give a hint of what's involved in converting, and cites the source for the circuit boards as the place that makes the excellent modern repro radios - why bother doing it yerself?

Bill

They're a bit too proud of those modern repro radios. I'll just figure out a way to install a nice Pioneer head unit without cutting anything.

I had the radio for my 50 converted to FM. The radio is untouched except an FM receiver that introduces the signal before the final amplifier. It is operated by turning the radio on and off within a 5 second interval. Estimate the FM dial. Very samll circut board that does not hack up the original radio and you get the sound from the tube amp and stock speaker. There lies my problem with the conversion. Even with sound insulated cab once you get moving down the highway with window open the radio has to be turned all the way up and still is boderline for volume. This in either the original AM mode or FM. I ended up putting a 6 cd changer under the seat and a remote controlled head unit in the glove box.

I like fiddlin' with the AM dial on my original 6 volt AD truck radio. The oldies station comes in loud & clear & that works great when I am toolin' around in the old original '51.

If I wanna listen to Janes Addiction.... I crank up the XM satellite radio in the modern Dodgebolt.

If you gotta have all the modern sounds & you like the looks of a cheapo reproduction of the original radio ..... check this out....


http://www.antiqueautomobileradio.com/newradiochev47F.htm

MT, someone already posted that link about four messages up - they're the ones I said were "too proud" of their radios. $550 is waaaaay too much for one of those.