The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench why not update your sound...?

Disclaimer: no offense is intended to those interested in maintaining their original radio, this is simply a different opinion for those who like good sound.

Ok, its one thing to have an antique vehicle, but antique sound just doesnt make sense to me.
For those of you looking for quality in your sound here's the way to go.
Install a modern am/fm cd,mp3 player where the am radio was.
Put two 4 inch speakers in the regular spot you would normally have that joke of a mono-speaker in the dash.
Then put two 3.5 inch speakers in the top front corners of the cab, you will have to adjust the balance down just a little on the cd player for the 3.5 inch speakers to properly balance your sound.
Then get a Kenwood subwoofer, they make a type which happens to fit perfectly under the bench seat and you have a kick-[censored] system for $500 canadian.

This is not a system that will cause earthquakes or broken windows it is just a real good all round sound with ALL the sounds available. You will notice I also have not installed an amplifier, so far I am getting enough out of the sound without one, but for improved sound I would suggest an amp under the bench seat which also will fit nicely and unseen.

quality music deserves a setting you can relax and appreciate it, drivin down the road needs all yer attention in todays traffic, besides, I like the tinney sound of the ol AM radios, and love the sound of the old truck cruisin along, and it doesn't cost 500$

Bill

Yes but $500 Canadian is like practically nothing in USD.

To each their own, I find I can relax and appreciate the music none the less, and its better sound than any factory system I have in my new cars.
Oh yeah, the Kenwood subwoofer is
model KSC-SW1.

I ditched the am radios (unless you like sports or talk radio stations only) for a custom autosound stereo that not only fits in the original holes but has kick panels that have speakers in them and speakers that go under the seat. They even have a remote cd player so you can listen to the oldies of your choice. But like Crow said to each their own. I like the old look outside with the modern power and handling underneath. I do believe you can have the best of both worlds.

It can be an art in itself to put a modern system into one of these trucks but maintain the original look as much as possible. Under or behind the seat is a good place for alot of items.

I found an old time radio station that comes in good on my 53 cheyy pickup with it's origional radio here in Ft. Worth, sounds great.If your going to drive a classic you have to be "in the time".If your going to drive it"live it".(12 years to complete back to origional) Neal

Beaver53,
I feel the same way and when I am bringing up one of those old radios for the first time, I always tune in on an old tunes station.

My project is four years along and still has lots to go. Twelve years makes me relax some!

Currently US$437

Nifty Currency Converter

(Ontario folks are richer than us poor folks on the westcoast) :p

Jay

Some people just don't know how much fun it is to beat on an old fender for 2 to 3 hours file it, beat it, sand it, beat it, paint it, sand it, resand, repaint it, sand it, finish coat, resand, reprime, recoat, recoat, sand, recoat, install it repaint, wet sand, polish polishhhh, and theeennn drive it up the street. Man LOVE my truck LOVE my radio,LOVE riding with my wife...... Beaver 53

Hey autoazore, how do you like the speakers in the kickpanels? Did you get the upgraded ones? Where'd you buy them? And what are you using for under the seat speakers?? Bunch of questions I know but I'm trying to figure out my next move.

I'm middle of the road on this thread... I want the classic look but also want an updated system. So the speakers in the upper corner of the box are out. And my 56 has no dash speaker. Not looking for a state-of-the-art sound... just some tunes to cruise with. Heck, I don't even want/need a cd, mp3, or cassette... just an AM/FM.

I upgraded my truck from the radio delete plate (currently made popular again by the folks of Barrett-Jackson) to a 1978 vintage, Fisher-Price, battery operated, portable cassette deck, which belonged to my kids.

I only play "old" country western music in the cassette deck.

My wife and I sing along to the old tunes while travelling down the road a 30 MPH.

This little device is just wonderful to have when we go on seaside picnics, playing old tunes and especially, dancing on the beach with your gal.

$500 buys me lots of AA batteries and many country western tapes from the old recording artists.

Life is good... old couple, old truck and old tunes

I'll have to wait til my Grandson gets older so I rip off his Fisher-Price... : )

And if Barrett-Jacksn has made delete plates popular then I'll be looking to sell mine... along with the two dummy knobs!

i just got a sony xplod head unit put in mine, i got the one with 2 preamp outputs so ill hook up a power amp and sub at some point. it was only like 140 and i cna hook my ipod up to it. should be sweet when im all done.

Hey Guys,
Do those 6 to 12 volt converters work?
I'd like an AM-FM rad but want to keep my truck 6 volt.

Glenn,

I put in a Custom Audio Sound AM/FM radio and a set of dual speaker in the dash and they do a wounderful job. I'm happy with my system and really don't plan on doing much else with the audio equipment. Besides, the roar of a 250 and 3-spd beats the radio most days.

Drew

Like GEC52, I am keeping my 6 volt system but would like an AM/FM/cassette. Is there such an animal in existence? I have the coveted radio delete plate and wouldn't mind having the radio in a box under the dash so size, shape, etc. isn't important (the radio that is).

Hey Chevman32- Why not go to 12 volt, you will be the only one that knows. I finally went 12v on the three vehicles I have left, and now have spare batteries in every hole.
Regards
Jim
Turlock

I installed a 6 to 12 volt power inverter years ago.It worked great in my 51 chevy.I converted to 12 volts years ago and no longer use one. I will look and see if i still have it.I'm sure one of you guys could use it.

Anyone Know of a name of a radio that would fit in 1954 original holes !!!!!!!!!!!!

try www.customautosound.com

Thanks for that info nc c10 fan

Petmil,

I think you will find that Custom Auto Sound (and just about every other after-market radio supplier) does not have a 1954/55 Chevrolet/GMC truck radio that fits into the original holes.

Antique Automobile Radio carries the only reproduction that works. Other vendors might sell that same radio. It is 12v but a 6v inverter might work with it. If you can handle the price, see what the vendor says about a 6v application.

I will be checking out that reproduction 1954 radio for use with an inverter in a 6v truck, as soon as I sell a non-working, original 1954 truck radio.

If you get that radio, would you please post your review here?

Tim

Tim I have been told that customs does have a radio that fits it’s the 1955 non preset button model chtkm-2 no pre sets. Before I purchase it I' going to measure the centers of my old radio and give them the measurements to make sure. I am going to need an inverter which they sell as well. I will let you know how things work out it may be awhile I'm still pondering rewiring my truck Here is my truck pictures. Peter
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=11678687&uid=5951166&members=1

Peter,

It would be real nice if the 1955 second series truck radio fit into the 1954/55-1st holes. You might want to ask them again why their charts show 1955-59 (for CHTKM-2 NO STATION PRE-SETS), if the radio also fits the '54/'55-1st holes.

Please let us know if it fits and how well the inverter works.

Tim

Tim I can't say if i'm right here but am going to look into it . I will report back. Peter

Being a "newbie", I have mainly come here to pick the brains of Old Truck enthusiasts. And knowing "0" about the hands on restoration, I just knew I wanted a vintage truck as a "driver" in the '48-'55 category and not only found one locally on a drive bye but a great mechanic as well who was not out to make my vehicle into any more than what I requested. Wanted the vintage look but it was important in the street handling like a newer vehicle..paint might wait as in pretty good condition (no rust couple layers of paint) as again not for show but the vintage character on the outside..under the hood becomes another matter.

In the radio department, I wanted the real vintage look , no tape player as who uses those anymore, but the availability of cd player, mp3 or ipod connection. Not, that I need all this stuff, as like the sounds of silence, but just in case found this guy in Florida..

http://www.taymanelectrical.com/

I am learning by watching..and hate to admit being a woman who knows nothing about the mechanics to the point of swingin a wrench around with confidence I am having more fun learning from the ground up and although looking for the finished product..the process is the most fun..go figure I would be doing all this in the first place!

So, all I have to offer at this point is the radio discovery/guy who also has a nice bio on his capabilities and could answer questions as well. But what I read here seems most know what they are doing..but in case there are some like me..I offered his link.

"salty"

Tayman electrical will set you up real nice if you have the money to spend on updating an original radio. I sent him my radio and he updated it with a modern digital am/fm tuner. The radio now has output jacks so I can run a seperate cd player or I can wire in a mp3 player.

For now I am happy with running my XM hidden in my glovebox through the radio. Everything looks stock but wow it sure plays like a newer radio. I also added two 6x9 speakers behind the seat for some extra sound at highway speeds.

Check my webhosts link for the radio photo album for photos.