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BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 153 Member | | Member Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 153 | the previous PO welded metal over the radio cutout (why someone would do that escapes me) so i can't put a decent radio in my 53 gmc 1/2 ton. so, i put a new am/fm/cd in the glove box with a 6-12v converter. i did use an original type mast antenna though. one of them spring loaded type antennas that were popular decades ago. anyway, the AM band works fine, lot of stations, but only static on FM. tried raising it and lowering it, but not even a hint of sound. could it be an antenna that isn't the right wavelength for FM. long shot, but just wondering if anyone had any ideas before I chuck this on and get another.
tony
Overland Blue, 1953 GMC 1/2T, 100-22, 228/1bbl, 4sp/4.10 6v, shortbed/fender side/5-window.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | yes, likely the antenna is NG for FM - might think about the 'hidden' style antennas some of the suppliers have - they're made for both AM and FM, can be mounted under the running board - the one at Amer Clas sez 12V - also keeps folks from noticing that you have any audio equipt in the vehicle Bill | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 45 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: May 2004 Posts: 45 | You can adjust the antenna to 31" which should be optimum for FM. There might still be something wrong with the antenna but perhaps the radio is bad? Can you bench test it and get it to work? Just a short piece of stiff wire stuffed in the antenna jack should get some FM stations if there are any around you.
-Ed
Ed Fallon
In seemlingily endless process of restoring a stock 1953 chev 3100 pickup.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 153 Member | | Member Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 153 | that's kinda what i thought ed. i couldn't imagine an antenna that wouldn't get fm too. i'll try the 31 inches. i did'nt figure out the lambda value of the mid range of the fm frequency band to see what length it should be.
thanks bill, i'll check into that hidden antenna. sounds interesting but i got 6v so that'd be another thing to run off the converter.
tony
Overland Blue, 1953 GMC 1/2T, 100-22, 228/1bbl, 4sp/4.10 6v, shortbed/fender side/5-window.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 | That's odd. My old '65 Mustang had an AM antenna with the extendable segments, and it worked just find for FM. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 586 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 586 | It's highly unlikely that the antenna is the problem. If the FM portion of the radio was working, you would get at least some FM stations. The FM & AM sections of the radio share some common circuitry, however, they use different methods for demodulating the signal. Therefore there are usually specfic circuits dedicated to each function. It appears as if the FM demodulator or some FM specfic circuit is not working. | | |
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