The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 47-53 radio restoration

Aloha, man I just got a radio off ebay and it's in a poorer condition than it looked, still a great price but my question's are; what color is the metal part behind the dial? which parts place has the better replacement bezel's and knobs and antenna? (I noticed a big price difference between golden state and J Carters on the bezel) and,,,any ideas on making a cassette player or cd player and keeping it's original look? many mahalo's in advance.

Aloha, me again, does anyone have a really good close-up photo of a mint condition, restored or gennie, radio? preferably '51-'53? Thanks again

[img]http://community.webshots.com/s/image7/3/45/30/99434530PxueTW_ph.jpg[/img]

There are differences between Chevy and
GMC. Which do you have?

Yeah your right, I failed to mention mine is for a 1951 Chevy! Thanks for asking. Aloha

Kimo - there are guys that restore these old radios who charge between $275 - $400 depending on what you start with. At those prices for restoration - if you got more time than $ it pays to make sure you aren't buying junk.

Dials, knobs, speakers, grill surrounds, etc. are all repopped. Chevs of the 40's sells them as do several other vendors.

Post a note on the VCCA site if you need direct knowledgeable old chevy radio help. I have done 3 truck radios now and the help I got from a local VCCA member was invaluable.

Good luck!

Aloha! 51Jimmy, waves are pumpin huh brah? Mavs gonna go big! Waimea too! (and cortez, todos santos...) Ken, yeah I'll do it myself, I'm pretty savvy with dem electrons and I quess I'll just go with the cheapest vendor for da knobs and stuff, I do have "the truck/car shop" near me in Santa Ana/Orange (?) but like the saying goes "if you can't say anything good about them don't say anything at all", needless to say I'll stay quiet and shop elsewhere. Still sure would dig a good photo. The color that is there behind the dial and under the faceplate is a very mustard like color, or if you know what dupont veri-prime self etching primer looks like it's that color. right now kinda burnin so i'll check VCCA later, thanks for that. A HUI HOU !

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`A`ohe lokomaika`i i nele i ke pâna`i.

No kind deed has ever lacked its reward.

The Truck Shop isn't bad if you avoid the kids working there and _never_ trust 'phone ordering .

Sadly the manager is wet behind the ears and not only hires uncaring kids but _he_ doesn't give a sh*t either , this is costing them lots and lots of customers....

Just making the kids act in a _professional_ manner would turn that place around in two weeks .

I plan to go there to-morrow and pick up a few bits for my buddy's '54 Passenger car .

I have no experience with this man/company. FYI only.

www.fredsclassicradios.com

Paul Wisner

VWNate1, dude you nailed it on the head!!!!!!!! MORON"S!!!!!! Hey y'all I spent some time and 409 cleaner and contact cleaner and plastic polish today and the radio ain't so bad, needs bezel & knobs and speaker though, so I won't be needin a photo, but thanks soo much. this forum rocks!! Did I type "y'all"? Kimo, the Hawaiian Hillbilly!! ALOOO---HA

You should be able to find another speaker to fit with out a problem, just have to watch the size of the speaker. I pick up the schematics from the local library, and they list all the capactors and there voltage ratings, they even show the locations of the parts, then it just a matter of replacing them one at a time using a solding gun.

Albert, good point about speakers, should I have mine rebuilt or get one from these "vendors' that I'm sure are made in china/india/cambodia/sri lanka and I'd rather avoid????? ALOO-Ha

most radios i have worked on have have 6x9's in them but have a small speaker mag. on them less than 2" check around at an auto scrap yard and they have lots that will do the job, beside this is not a cd quality sound system... if you look around the the back of the speaker you will see what i mean about the clearance, take the old on up as a sample, the newer speaker will have 2 wires, your old one may only have one, the other lead is connected to the frame of the speaker which is not a problem to fix. besides who lookes inside the radio??

Kimo,
I'll have a pic of a NOS radio in 3+ weeks if you can wait.

The repro knobs etc. come in a tan colored plastic and they need to be painted a bone color. I am wondering what kind of paint is best for this application ?