The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench Rebuilding a pair of AD radios, Problems???

I’ve got two original AD, AM radios on the service bench and have never worked on auto/truck radios till now. Before I tear into them for a complete restoration I was just wondering if I was in for any surprises specific to the auto radios? I’ve already anticipated at least one bad vibrator if not both and picked up one SS neg. gnd. vibrator.
I’m gonna have to use a spare 6v battery for a PS. Any one know where I can download a schematic for them and just how many different models and manufacturers there were???

I’m going to gut them and replace all the caps, resistors and wiring and have the chassis re-plated. I’ve done this on many AA5 AC/DC radios over the past years so I can’t foresee any problems that I wouldn’t run into on a vintage set from the ’50 powered from the mains.
Now I certainly expect to here from you Fred!
Thanks,
Denny Graham

I just today got the diagrams and schematics for a 54 Chev truck radio. Which radios are you working on?

Neither one of these radios has a model label on them.
Here is a picture of the typical tube complement for the two.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2105756750098611668ozoIee
I’m not sure what year these are out of. They are both straight backed. I was under the impression that all of the AD radio schematics were the same up till '55.
Denny Graham

Give a few days to scan what I have and try to post it or at least e-mail it to you.

Thanks Greg, that would be great.
Denny G

I e-mailed it to you. Hope it helps.

Hey Greg would it be possible to email whatever info you have to me also? Id really appreciate it. Sounds like a perfect winter project!

Thanks, Jeff

Thought some of you guys that have one of these AD radios but haven’t been into it yet might like to see what your in for. I’m restoring these two 986443 Delco (United Motors) radios. Although one is from a GMC and the other is Chevy, they are the same radios except for the dial faces.
Since these cases are pretty badly rusted they go into the De-Rust-It dip tank and then out they will go out for electroplating. The chassis look pretty good on these two.
Pics: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2080463420098611668HiImYP

Looking for colored fabric covered single strand wire, any good sources??? I have stranded but need single strand….

Also Looking for pictures or scans of the labels or tube compliment stickers. I can rebuild in Photoshop if there is damage or missing paper on the model sticker.

Fred, what do you know about the early and late dial faces? I've been told that there is a differnce in them and that the reproduction ones are only decals of the later dials.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Im looking forward to seeing how you fair Denny. Id like to get into the radio in my 53 before to long. When I first got the truck I had turned it on and got a nice hum but didnt leave it on for long as most of the wiring was still original and pretty decrepit, would have hated burning something up due to a frayed wire...

Do you have a good source for parts once I get mine apart? Im keeping her pretty darn close to original. Wasnt sure if there was a lot of 6 volt replacement parts for these around?

Thanks, Jeff

There are certain things that the only way of fixing them is to find another parts radio, like the mechanical tuning parts, or a bad Transformer. Some of the volume/tone controls are available. All of the resistors, capacitors, tubes, chassis wires, bulbs, sockets, vibrators, speakers are available or can/should be replaced with NOS or modern parts. Of course you have seen the plastic reproduction parts that all the vendors offer for the AD radios. Good place to start looking for parts is www.radiodaze.com
Take loooots of pictures.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
ps. If ya have a label on the side of your case, I sure would appreciate it if you could snap a high res close up picture of it for me with your digi camera. That goes for any one else who is skinny enough to crawl under the dash.

Hi Denny, I've got some old solid cotton sheathed wire on a spool, I can send you a couple of feet if you need. I also have lots O' parts radios with volume controls, IF transformers etc so let me know if I can help you out.

As far as dials go, I've run into instances where all the lettering has completely disappeared off of an original non-reproduced dial plate. If you look real close, you can still make out where the enamel used to be. Put the dial glass into a flatbed scanner with a black piece of paper behind it and scan to a file, this will bring out the original lettering enough to be reproduced with a computer. I work with a local sign shop here who can take that file and print me out an inverted decal which can be stuck to the back of the original dial plate... I usually pay $20 a decal... it's pretty labor intensive on their part since they have to sit with an x-acto knife and cut out the letters by hand!!

If you feel like calling me up I'll chat with you any time about your radios... won't disclose contact information here because I don't want to do anything that looks 'spammy'.

I've worked on the tuner today, just a few pics of todays exercise:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2239948840098611668bBsFXT

It works just like a new unit now that it has been completely disassembled, cleaned, lubed and adjusted.
One more to go, but I know how it comes apart now.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

You sir, are having entirely too much fun.

Weeell, somebody is watching! I was about to stop wasting my time posting my finds and just bury myself in the pile that's building up on the service bench.
I suppose there probably isn’t much interest in rebuilding these sets. After all, it's much easier and more practical to simply replace it with a transistor copy. Especially if the truck has been upgraded to a 12v system.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

But heck Denny someone has to do for those who want the "Original" look & it sure looks like you must know what you're doing...Joe

Denny, you are one of a handful of folks here who do cool stuff, have photos to show and even possess fundamental communication skills so I'm always interested to see what you are up to.

A lot of times I don't have anything to contribute to the discussion so I just watch, but don't think we're not out here.

Maybe, but wheres the fun in that! Easy and practical, PHAW! Im really looking forward to getting into this radio. I love the sound of the 6 volt starter turning, the 216 ticking away like a fine tuned sewing machine, having to yell if someones in the truck! Every time I drive the truck I cant help but grin. Its just a really cool feeling that after 54 years in service the original engine fires right up and purrs like a kitten.

Cant wait to hear the tunes from the radio! Thanks for taking such detailed pictures of the process, I actually feel inclined to pull it and start cluttering up the kitchen table with parts.

Good luck and keep it up! Jeff

Good luck getting tunes on an AM radio... unless you like Salsa music

Back in the day I especially enjoyed listening to the lightning static... Now there you go, starter turning, engine ticking, lightning static all rising up in one great crescendo!

Life just doesn't get any better than that

Back a few years ago they came out with a little toy for the kids called Radio DJ! I picked up a couple for $10 each. I don't think they sell them any. Battery operated, it plays a cassette and broadcasts on an AM frequency. Sometimes I'll throw a Jack Benny show on, tune in the green eye on the Philco and settle back and enjoy an evening of real entertainment.
I'm thinking that I can broadcast some big band music with it when I get the radio installed in the truck.
Makin' my own music!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I just bought a radio for my 52 suburban thats been changed over to 12v. The guy told me "maybe it works". I think he'd been trying to use 6v on it. I noticed all the tube #'s started with 12 then i pulled the vibrator,HA, 12volt. Hooked it up and it sounds sweet!!
And I started out just wanting a junker to fill the hole.

Looks like ya got lucky Marty.
Denny G

Denny,
I just discovered that my moderator notification doesn't work. My apologies for not responding!

There are two models of AD radios, one early and one later one. The change was around 1950. The earlier ones had the "slant back" and the later ones the straight back. The later radios had a chassis layout and back cover dimensions that were common with the other GM radios of the time.

The schematics for both radios are similar but not identical. I have the information if anyone needs it. I believe one or both are also on line at the "old Chevy Manual" site.

If you collect some GM parts radios from the same era you will have spare IF cans (Intermediate Frequency Transformers) and tuning coils. The IF cans are different between the two models and I think the tuning coils were too.

The newer model speaker cannot be replaced by the new speakers that are available today. This is because the newer speakers have frames that interfere with the chassis. The older model will take a brand new speaker like the ones sold in Wal Mart for $15.

The reproduction dials have an incorrect calibration on the front but they look good. All the plastic is available and it usually needs to be painted. Sometimes the spring retainers in the new knobs will come out when the knob is removed. this problem can be corrected with a little touch of the soldering iron on the inside of the bore.

I welcome any questions on these radios. I have done three of my five so far and I really enjoy working on them.

Fred,

I'll send this on to Paul and he can see why that is.

Peggy

truckernix Id appreciate any info you could send my way by email. Im trying to clean things up around here before I get going on the radio but any info on hand prior to doing it is great. Mines in my 53 and has the straight back case.

Thanks! Jeff

Jeff,
check your Email. The data sheets should be there. I will be glad to offer any help that I can.

Fred

Boy Fred, I’m not to happy to hear that news. Both these radios that I’m working on are 986443 straight backed, which I believe are the later models? If what you say is true then the other guy just blew fifty bucks plus the shipping for a pair of speakers from Chevy Duty. Wonder why they are not aware of that? The old speaker VC’s are good and the cones are not torn but there is some warpage probably from 60 years of being parked along side the barn.

Lot of water has passed under the bridge since I started on them three weeks ago. Been through the agony of getting the cases de-rusted and refinished. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2835175430098611668dThfVp
And over come a few other hurdles. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2832221110098611668ZyUQvK
But the final results are very satisfying. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2425713850098611668KwqcuB
Those caps on the Volume control are re-stuffed not the old ones.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2171783140098611668rAoPbo
It’s amazing how smooth the tuners are after they have been completely torn down, cleaned and adjusted.

Workin’ on the chassis now, all new caps, re-stuffing the filter can, many resistors replaced that were out of tolerance and some new wiring. I've got Riders vol.22-xx United Motors pages and a copy of Sams set 189 folder 4, from my referance library. The Sams schematic is a lot easier to work off of. The Radio Service manuals that the vendors sell are of no use for the 986443 chassis.

We’re gettin’ thar!

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,
you sure are a guy for details! For those of you who are wondering, "stuffing" old capacitors refers removing the inards and replacing them with the new capacitor, hidden inside. This tecnique is used on very old classic radios, usually. Denny has producing a stunning looking assembly.

Also on the subject of speakers, most of the vendors are unaware that the new ones don't fit. If you are looking at buying one of the straight back AD radios, you should keep that in mind. For personal use, either and an external speaker or smaller speaker would do the job.

On another front, the good news is that the radio back is common to most of the GM radios of the day.

All this radio talk is getting me excited! Whoops I almost wet myself...

Im getting really jazzed up about getting mine up and running.

Keep up the pictures and updates please! Thanks, Jeff

Well you asked for it. Here’s a couple of examples of Stuffed paper caps. The one on the left is a new cap inside of the old shell with the original numbers and values. The one on the right is what it looks like in side. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2939925190098611668nUxhJz

These new discrete components replace the original guts of this three section can, two at 20uF @ 450v and one 20uF @50v. They will be potted in epoxy to fix them in the can. From the outside these make the chassis look like it is very original. http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2440553950098611668xbeHSr

Getting’ close now.

Now if only someone could remember those NAPA numbers for the noise filters. R…. something I think.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Well I’m sittin’ here at the service bench, eight feet under ground in the basement, with a truck antenna propped up against the floor joist, listening to Christmas music on AM 740 Toronto, Canada on one of the AD radios that I just finished restoring. I’m located about 60miles west of Chicago, IL US of A. That’s pretty dang good reception foar any radio.
I used a speaker from Chevy Duty as a replacement for the original which had a badly warped cone. This is the single speaker, not the dual setup that they sell. It clears every thing on the chassis. The terminal strip where the connections are made is pretty close but can easily be bent down a tad just for safety sake. After touching the alignment a little she sounds as sweet as can be. I only wish I could pull in some big band or early rock from out thar in the ionosphere.
That’s one down and one more to go. Gonna start gutting my chassis in the morning. I’d post some more pictures but there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of interest in the AM radios. Seems like everyone wants a Bose surround sound with a CD and a subscription to XM. But of course they want it to look just like the original radio.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,
could you post a photo of that speaker that you bought, from the rear. What would be even better is a rear photo of it with the chassis in place. My experience was with a speaker from Jim carter and several other new makes. The problem I encountered was that with the large magnet, the angle of the frame interfered with the chassis.

By the way, this is quite a nice thread. I am hoping that it gives encouragement to others!

Fred

Here ya go Fred, you can see it’s a little tight on the left and bottom but it does clear.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2233998230098611668bpMYlb
Denny Graham\
Sandwich, IL

Denny,
thank you for that shot. That is a beautiful looking chassis that you have put together. Also, this is very important information. That is the first modern speaker that I have seen fit into that chassis.

By the way I use AM 740 as one of my reference points too. I also like to listen to it! It is also nice to hear 50's music coming form a 50's radio!

Glad I could help cousin, I wanted to get the chassis and cabinets replated but like I said, it's just to cost prohibitive to do one or two.
I was pleasantly suprised to find the station especially in my location on the radio/antenna that I was DX'ing on.
I'll be ordering one for mine also, unless I can find someone to recone mine for less than twenty five bucks. I took mine to a local audio place to see if they could recone it and the idiot proceded to stick his thumb through an other wise solid cone. All that was wrong with the cone before that was, that it had a little warpage on one side.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Have you had any speakers reconed Fred?

Denny.
I know of one guy locally that does them. He is usually booked up by about six months and I think that it costs about $60. Also the supplies that he uses, like cones and voice coils are no longer available. He is a "retired" radio technician and he has his own very busy business going. He does great work, on mostly tube equipment.

Fred

Can't justify that kind of money when you can buy a replacement from Chevy Duty for $24.
It’s really a shame that the cones aren’t available any where to the public. There isn’t that much to replacing a cone and the paper is only worth a couple of bucks. They used to sell them in all the electronics mags years ago.
Thanks Fred,
Denny G

Denny, thanks for the play by play and photos. I have a '53 radio that I plan to restore and this information really helps.

Greg, if you see this could I get a copy of those schematics you emailed? Thanks.

I should add a couple of comments here:
I think someone asked where they can get replacement parts. The capacitors are the first thing that need to be replaced in an old radio. Here is a source that I use for capacitors and sometimes schematics:
http://www.justradios.com/

For resistors, usually stores that sell electronic components have them. There are some mail order houses that carry them too. The volume controls and switches are more difficult to find, especially on these old AD radios. Other parts like tuning coils, mechanical parts and the IF transformers can be extracted from other GM "parts"radios.

Denny has shown some fine photos of his work. With regards to the volume control, I would not encourage the first timer to take it apart. That usually isn't strictly necessary unless there is a broken part inside. They are very tricky to take apart and put together and they are held together with little tabs. After several applications of opening and closing, the little tabs will break off. Most of the time a "noisy" volume control can be corrected with the application of contact cleaner, sprayed into the case. When this isn't 100% successful, the problem lies in the surface of the wiper contact as it has lost the special coating that it once had.

I will always be happy to assist anyone with problems that they may encounter while rebuilding one of these radios.

Radio Daze, http://www.radiodaze.com/ , great guys to work with and they handle almost all of the electrical parts that you will need for the restoration.
Also try http://www.classicparts.com/ and http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cgi/htmlos.exe/start.htm for the cosmetics and some of the mounting and attachment parts.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL