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Hot Rods Anyone here update vintage car radios?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by pistinbroke, Mar 17, 2019.

  1. pistinbroke
    Joined: Jan 22, 2005
    Posts: 537

    pistinbroke
    Member

    I know there are companies out there that convert your original car radio from am only to am/fm and can add Bluetooth and an Aux input for IPods ect. What I am looking for is how this is done. I have had a hand in every aspect of the rebuild and would like to still be able to say that at the end of it as well. I have researched the subject quite a bit and still have no concrete info to start with. I don’t wish to have just an IPod running to an amp, or an FM modulator or a hidden radio with a remote.
    If anyone has some good info, please share?
     
  2. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,817

    BJR
    Member

    I think most places use the same pre made circuit board that does the AM FM Bluetooth thing. Where they buy the board is what you need to find out. The rest of the job is restoring the faceplate. They may also use the original tuner to find the stations the new circuit board processes.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  3. miker98038
    Joined: Jan 24, 2011
    Posts: 1,143

    miker98038
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    There’s am/fm radio kits on amazon and ebay, but they are mostly cheap kids science projects. But you might turn up a better one. The ham radio sites or the local ham club might be a start, a lot of those guys (at least my old friend) are still into building their own equipment.
     

  4. 4dFord/SC
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 837

    4dFord/SC
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  5. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,817

    BJR
    Member

    Does anyone know where to buy just the board at a reasonable price? Should be able to get them from the manufacture at a tenth of the cost of the conversion from somebody.
     
  6. the-rodster
    Joined: Jul 2, 2003
    Posts: 6,945

    the-rodster
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  7. 4dFord/SC
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 837

    4dFord/SC
    Member

    Try Mouser Electronics: www.mouser.com/
     
  8. hans mercman
    Joined: Oct 14, 2014
    Posts: 135

    hans mercman
    Member
    from Texas

    I will be redoing all my speakers/stereo. I'm just going to leave my old stereo in dash, but it will just be there for looks, and install one of these bluetooth amps under the seat. Your streaming device communicates directly with the amp.
    https://99carstereo.com/bluetooth-car-amplifiers/
    Who needs a headunit anymore, your phone has all the interface you use these days anyways
     
  9. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,802

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Jeffrey Huntoon in Costa Mesa Ca. Hot Rod Electrical did mine. 56 Ford radio still looks stock but has everything I wanted added. He gets work from all over the world. I've even heard he added a warm up buzz to a 30's radio to show as a stocker for a customer with a high $$ Concours car.
     
  10. 54vicky
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,599

    54vicky
    Member

    I am pretty sure he wants to do it himself just needs info on the parts to do so.
     
  11. You may have to try Egay, and use separate boards, eg, FM tuner, Audio amp, etc. , and link it all together. The tricky part is converting the original knobs, etc, to switches that can control the inputs to whatever you are trying to control . Then you have the problem of quality of components, some of those pre-made boards aren't real flash, e.g. distortion, etc.
     
  12. pistinbroke
    Joined: Jan 22, 2005
    Posts: 537

    pistinbroke
    Member

    Some good info in here so far. Thanks you all for the help and direction.
    Yes, I would like to try and tackle this myself. So I am looking for suppliers of the board ect.
     
  13. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,817

    BJR
    Member

    I too would like to convert my Buick radio myself. It sounds like you cannot buy the Aurora board unless you are a dealer who does the conversion. My next thought is to put the electronics from a modern aftermarket radio into the old case and make the old knobs and push buttons work some how.
     
  14. pistinbroke
    Joined: Jan 22, 2005
    Posts: 537

    pistinbroke
    Member

    Nice find 1oldtimer!! much appreciated indeed!!
     
  15. orange52
    Joined: Feb 21, 2003
    Posts: 462

    orange52
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  16. poncho catalina
    Joined: Sep 22, 2008
    Posts: 87

    poncho catalina
    Member
    from summit il

    I have used the redirad for a few years and it works great. I know it is not what you really wanted but does work
    I would also add the Customer service is great
     
  17. Mimilan
    Joined: Jun 13, 2019
    Posts: 1,230

    Mimilan
    Member

    My husband is doing this for me right now on my 1957 Chevy [It is very cheap at less than $50 and simple]
    The original Chevy radio is untouched in my car ,and I don't want to modify it.

    Because the Chevy doesn't have an accessory position on the key, we're trying to come up with a simple failsafe solution [ we love sitting in the car at the beach listening to music ]

    I have photographs of the whole project ,and will post my 1st thread here once it is finished [a tech thread]

    Mimi
     
  18. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    It's pretty trivial for a tech to add an input jack to an original radio, that way can keep it stock and still listen to podcasts, streaming audio, iTunes, whatever you like. And with that wooly vacuum tube sound.
     
  19. Truck64, I suspect there are more Hambers than me who would like a trivial explanation of how to add an input jack to an old radio. You can post it here if you don't care to start a new thread. Thanks.

    Phil
     
  20. Mimilan, I look forward to your radio update info.

    Phil
     
  21. Rah Rah Records
    Joined: Aug 16, 2011
    Posts: 93

    Rah Rah Records
    Member

    Simply put,you just have to tap into the signal path between the tuner and amp with a switch. Wire one side of switch to the tuner, the other to your input jack. Where and how you mount the switch and Jack is up to you. You may have to add a resistor to balance the line level.
     

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