The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay '54 radios

I've noticed that many radios that say they fit '47-'53 trucks note that they will not fit '54's. I would like to put in some type of radio but I don't want to have to butcher the dash to do it. Anyone know of a radio that would fit a '54? Doesn't have to be stock, just want some news, weather & sports and maybe some tunes while I drive. Thanks!

It certainly _appears_ to be the same as 1954 passenger car radio - I see them @ Pomona all the time , with knobs for $20.00~$50.00 untested or working condition
(remember 6 volts!) for $50.00~$175.00 this is AM only . if you get one , try changing the vibrator before send it out for big buck$ rebuilding .

Next Pomona swap meet is December 2nd , be there out of your car by 05:30 ! .

As I recall that the '54 passenger car radio had push buttons. The "problem" with the '54 truck radio is that there were no push buttons. There were two knobs and the dial - not enough space for an aftermarket radio with dial and push buttons. I know of no aftermarket radio for a '54-'55 (first series) truck. If someone knows of one (and has seen it installed in the original cutout) please let us know.

Has anyone mounted a radio to the underside of the dash?

Thanks, Tim

The 1955 - 59 truck radio works if you have 12 volts or use the 1953-54 passenger car manual radio if you have 6 volts. I believe that the passenger car radios have the speaker attached to the radio where the 55-59 truck radios used a remote speaker. They all fit the original hole in your dash. I collect radios and have a couple of the truck radios. If you look on ebay you can get them from $10-$150. Be patient and you will find one under thirty dollars. .........g

A fellow named Bill who used to visit the old Classicar web site is a radio expert and repairman. His advice to me was beware when using old 6v radios without rebuilding them. Make sure you use a minimum amperage fuse to minimize the chance of a fire.

54GMC:

I don't know about the '54 GMC dash, that's the year that GMC went to the dash that's different from the Chevy, isn't it?

A '53 Chevy car radio might fit too; I have one in my '54 Chevy truck, however, someone cut out the bottom of the dash under the radio opening to accomodate a '52 or earlier GM radio; fortunately, the carnage is not obvious with the "radio-delete" plate in place.

I've rebuilt many of those radios of that vintage ,it's best to replace all the old wax and paper capactors with the modern mylar type, 50% of the time that will get the radio working ,the other 50% it's the vibrator.

Does 54gmc have to be careful installing a 6-volt Chevy radio if he has a stock 6v positive ground system?

A while ago Jim Carter had a 1954 GMC radio for sale (this is not a cheap item - they are rare).

54 GMC radio is a 1 year Truck only option. It is NOT like the Chevy car or truck radio .
If you are going to the Pomona swap meet Volkswagen Nate is partially correct in his 5:30 am quote, however most of the major vendor wholesaling dealing takes place between 9:00 PM Saturday night & 5:00 AM sunday morning.

I AGREE WITH MOTHER TRUCKER, I DID NOT NOTICE THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR GMC.

MOTHERTRUCKER, AM I CORRECT TO SAY THAT THE THE 1955-59 GMC RADIOS WILL FIT THE OPENING OF THE 54-55 FIRST SERIES? THE DIFFERENCE BEING THE LATER RADIOS WERE 12 VOLT? I BELIEVE THAT KOOK HAS ONE FOR SALE ON HIS WEB PAGE.

Most tube radios of the 50's do not matter what polarity they are hooked up to, ONLY if the vibrator is NOT of the solid state type. If you use a solid state vibrator they must be ordered for + or Neg ground and are not interchangeable.

GM, you can make the 55-59 radio fit if you hack the dash. The 54 GMC radio shared the same housing as the 55-59 & it also LOOKED alot like the 53/54 Chevy car radio & housing, but the 54 GMC dial housing & dash opening was specific to 54 GMC only.

Thanks Mothertrucker, I have a GMC radio that has a rectangular dial housing with the CD markings on it. I know that the GM radios started using the CD (CONRAD?) markings in 1956, so this radio is at least 1956. I remembered looking at a 54/55 first series chevy truck and it had a rectangular hole in the dash. Will the radio I have fit in the 54/55 Chevy truck dash or was this a one of a kind radio too? At one time I thought that a rectangular bezel was made to convert the 53/54 car radio so that it would fit the 54/55 trucks. Am I having a senior moment or do you know of a retro kit? .............g :confused:

OldCarKook provided useful information for this thread in the "Lounge":
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=003294
http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0070.html

Good pictures and information.