The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench 1950 3100 modern radio

Hey guys! I have a 1950 Chevy 3100. Does anyone know if there's a headunit (cd player/radio) that will fit into the original radio's opening?

There is not a unit with a CD player that will fit into the stock location. There are basically three options that I know of for putting a modern radio in the stock location. First is to find an original 6V AM and have it gutted and upgraded to AM/FM 12V. However, if you can find one of these, (they are rare and expensive) please do not do this, folks who want original need them.

Second, there are a couple of units that mount in the stock location. There is a unit from Custom Audio (I think that is their name) that fits and has a cassette player. I believe they are about $200.00, do not look original and in my opinion are not the best sound quality. There is a unit that fits in stock location that looks original and is AM/FM 12V. Several vendors are selling them and they are on ebay as well. They are about $550.00. I have not heard them but I have heard from others they sound nice. Both of these units have inputs for external CD/MP3 players.

Of course many folks mount modern stereo gear in the glove box to hide it. Or just under the dash. You should feel lucky not to have a cut up dash. This was common in yester years to put modern stereos in these rigs. I could identify probably three generations of stereo holes hacked into my dash before I repaired it.

You can also get modern stereo speakers that mount in the stock location. I can't find the sites right now, but they have been mentioned in this forum before. Good Luck,
Steve O

Thanks Steve O!! I definitely have more options to consider now. Do you know if there's a radio block off plate to hide the empty hole if I choose to put one somewhere else?

I installed on of these in my 51... http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2125317190100410726ZdUXhB Sounds awesome !! It's 200 watts and has inputs for external CD/MP3 players, The trick to this type on Radio is to install QUALITY speakers, but it does sound sweet. and the best thing is cost $150.00 ! but if your still looking for a radio delete there's a few on ebay
Todd

I just sprung for one those modern AM-FM reproduction radios. I figure I've pssed away so much money on this truck so far, what's a couple hundred more? :crazy:

Chevy Jenny,
the block off plate is called the "radio delete plate". They turn up on Ebay all the time and I would suggest that they probably turn up in the swapmeet here.