The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Finally bought a radio...now what???!!!

It's not working at all. I see these schematics on Ebay from time to time, can I rebuild it myself with that and if so, where do you get the parts??? Alternatively, I see this guy (Bob's) in CA that does a complete rebuild for $225.

Help me learn from your wisdom!!! Don't wanna make the same mistakes as others have already learned from!

THANKS!

unless yer an electronics tech w/ all the necessary test equipt and specially a tube tester, and have access to the ol pre-transistor tubes . . . . send it out - but ask around and search the net, and ya might find someone closer . . .

Bill

Fred:
I have background in radio/electronics, so I did buy a radio for my 57 truck off eBay for good price. I rebuilt the radio for about $75 in parts. I really didn't think it operated as well as it should, so when an opportunity arose to buy a rebuilt one from a professional at a very good price, I did. It ended up not being any better than the one I rebuilt. However, that radio was better than mine on the inside. Finally I just got tired of AM talk radio, I purchased a "Custom Sound" radio that looks like the original and bolts in without cutting. I provide that background for expressing my opinion.

If you don't have an electronics background, it would be hard for you to repair a non-working radio. Often it is more than just replace & repair. Also, while most of the parts are fairly easy to find, sometimes only a person that works on these type of radios on a regular basis can get access to certain parts. This is especially true in the case of transformers, rf coils, etc. My experience was lucky, I was able to find the parts I needed. Finding tubes is usually easy enough, I just replaced all the tubes on general principles. There are websites that special in in old radio parts, so that is very helpful. I did find that the professional rebuilder of my second radio didn't use the same quality parts I did, e.g., I used an electronic multi-vibrator ($30), he used an electro-mechanical one ($10). Basically, assuming you don't need parts that could only be acquired from a "donor" radio, this is very do-able if you a reasonable background in electronics and are willing to look for parts (on the internet and your local electronic parts stores - generally not RadioShack though). Otherwise, my opinion is that you should search for the best price (there are a number of people that advertise on the internet relative to to auto radio repair) and use their services.

You might want to talk with this fellow.

Fred's Radio Service
913-599-2303
Lenexa, KS

He specializes in old radios and truck radios. Works the swap meets and advertises in Hemmings.

Can't remember his web site.

PRW

Fred,

I was gonna put an original radio in my '54, however, I'm running 12 volt so I needed a voltage reducer. I managed to find a working radio on ebay and I hooked it up to a battery with a voltage reducer and tested it. The voltage reducer got really hot and I was thinking that I didn't want something that hot under the dash. I mean if a wire fell across it it would melt the insulation! Anyway, the radio made my decision easy as it up and quit working after about a ½ hour of testing it. Anyway, I ended up re-selling it on ebay, I figured since it had been working someone with more knowledge then I might be able to salvage it. So, being that '54 and '55 1st have different radios then the other AD trucks, and nobody makes one of those custom classic radios for them, and the one's I've seen that were modern conversions, (in other words AM/FM guts inside one of the original radio shells), were like $500 - $600, I decided to buy an old non-working radio and I tore it apart and made a false face for the dash and then I mounted a more modern 12 volt AM radio that had a built in speaker up under the dash. I turn it on and off and tune it by just reaching up under the dash. I plan on eventually getting an AM/FM radio to mount up there and replace that one. Dash look like it has the original radio but I don't have to worry about that hot voltage reducer. Anyway, that might be a way to go if you don't want to struggle with an original radio. With that said, if someone did make one of those custom classic radios for a '54 I might go that route as those are about $250 or so if I remember correctly.

54GMC, just like the 12 volt native gauges for the '55.2-'59 GMCs are the same size and style as the '54-'55.1 gauges, I'm almost positive that the '55.2-'59 radios are the same size and shape as the '54-'55.1 units. They'll have the Blue Chip era GMC logo, but you can get a replacement face from any parts dealer. The Kook would know for certain on this.

Sam, that's correct. You can just run a stock 12V GMC radio in your '54 conversion. In fact, that's what I have in my '54 GMC which was converted to 12V before I bought it.

FredB - I am finding that the complete restoration of these radios runs in the range of $300 by the time you replace plastics ($125) and have the work done.

Rob, I don't know what I'm going to do for a radio (even the GMC block-off plates are ridiculous on eBay), but I have two sets of the 12V gauges. I'm sending you an email with some questions about them.

Rebuilding vintage radios is a snap. First , check all vacuum tubes in a tester. Replace ALL wax capicators with modern solid state units. If ya wanta get fancy you can replace the vibrator tube with a modern solid state unit. I have been amazed at how many vintage radios I have gotten to work simply by replacing the vibrator tube & the OZ-4 tube along with the 6 SK-7 tube !!

GMC panel:i wouldn't cut down GOD with your remarks,,,He knows exactly what he's doing,,GOD"S ways are not our ways,,He's been so GOOD to us in So many ways,we can't count them,,,this is my opinion..Dave

GMC panel:the book my jubal harshaw seems blashphemous(no good) i wouldn't cut down GOD with those remarks,,,He knows exactly what he's doing,,GOD"S ways are not our ways,,He's been so GOOD to us in So many ways,we can't count them,,,this is my opinion..Dave