AM/FM radios ??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

hgs_notes · 05-19-2005, 11:11 AM

Will the radio from a 73 and newer truck fit our dash? They are just more common and cheaper to get.

Thanks,
HG

67-Cowboy · 05-19-2005, 12:06 PM

Sure will as a matter of fact most all the Delco/GM radios are the same before '80; I put the fancy am/fm casset Player out of a '78 OLDS Cutlass Supreme in my '72 before I got the Alpine system installed and some of the early '80's Caddies had digital display with fancy chrome knobs !!! It all says either Delco or GM so it looks like a special edition item instead of after market, and truth be know you could have had them Dealer installed !!!

Putter · 05-19-2005, 12:14 PM

Some will not. I have a radio out of a let 70's truck. Non-cassette. It is too big front to back and hits the cowl/firewall. I got it in there, but had to cut the back of the radio case to make it happen. Had to remove the ashtray, too.

badpeanut · 05-19-2005, 11:33 PM

Putter,

Could you post more details on what you had to trim on the radio?

Thanks in advance,

Wes

Putter · 05-20-2005, 09:10 AM

It's kinda' hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot.
**LET ME POINT OUT THAT I ONLY DID THIS BECAUSE GRANDPA HAD ALREADY ENLARGED THE OPENING VERTICALLY TO FIT A SHAFT CASSETTE PLAYER***
If you set the radio on a table, facing you just like it would in the truck, I took the removable cover off the top. Then basically cut the top-rear corners off of the radio as far as I could wothout getting into the guts. Then I replaced the cover and bent the corners of it down to match (and part-ways cover the newly created holes). I had to remove the ashtray to get it even close to fitting. I can not re-install my ashtray because the radio hangs down too far. The 73-8? radio is not as wide at the face as the stock one and the shafts are not spaced wide enough. I had to use washers to keep it in there.
It actually fits like crap and has a gap around the face. I assume if you made yourself a trim piece out of metal or ABS plastic to cover the gaps, it would be okay. Or you could carefully cut a radio delete plate to use as a trim cover. That would look pretty nice actually, I think.
I actually thought about cutting the front off of my ashtray and attaching it back in the right location to cover the hole (weld, glue, double-sided tape, etc...)
I decided against this...
I will be picking up a new "UNCUT" A/C dash from a board member in Texas in the morning and putting the factory radio back in place (with an FM converter hidden somewhere).
Don't get me wrong, I love having an FM radio in there, but I want the look of original.
I will pull my already modified radio out next week, so if anyone wants it, just hit me with some shipping and I will give it to you. (I'll send pictures first, of course!!)

badpeanut · 05-20-2005, 08:06 PM

Thanks for the information Putter.

I want an FM radio that will accept the factory knobs in my truck, but I don't want to cut the dash.

Maybe there is another GM application (like 67-Cowboy mentioned) out there that will work?

68w/sbc406 · 05-20-2005, 08:08 PM

you can get them out of vans too

badpeanut · 05-21-2005, 01:17 AM

What years of van? Are there any car radios which might have better availability?

68w/sbc406 · 05-21-2005, 12:51 PM

any old van 70s-80s

05-19-2005, 11:11 AM	#1
hgs_notes GEARHEAD Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MN Posts: 6,126	AM/FM radios ??? Will the radio from a 73 and newer truck fit our dash? They are just more common and cheaper to get. Thanks, HG __________________ If no one knows what you're doing, they can't tell you you're doing it wrong HG's Dream Car Build - Shelby Cobra Kit Build your own adjustable track bar 71 Long Fleet C/10 72 Jimmy 4x4 (Junkyard Jimmy) HG's Plow Truck '78 K35 Dually Bigass Farm Truck HG's thread of miscellaneous stuff

05-19-2005, 12:14 PM	#3
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	Some will not. I have a radio out of a let 70's truck. Non-cassette. It is too big front to back and hits the cowl/firewall. I got it in there, but had to cut the back of the radio case to make it happen. Had to remove the ashtray, too. __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

05-20-2005, 09:10 AM	#5
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	It's kinda' hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot. LET ME POINT OUT THAT I ONLY DID THIS BECAUSE GRANDPA HAD ALREADY ENLARGED THE OPENING VERTICALLY TO FIT A SHAFT CASSETTE PLAYER* If you set the radio on a table, facing you just like it would in the truck, I took the removable cover off the top. Then basically cut the top-rear corners off of the radio as far as I could wothout getting into the guts. Then I replaced the cover and bent the corners of it down to match (and part-ways cover the newly created holes). I had to remove the ashtray to get it even close to fitting. I can not re-install my ashtray because the radio hangs down too far. The 73-8? radio is not as wide at the face as the stock one and the shafts are not spaced wide enough. I had to use washers to keep it in there. It actually fits like crap and has a gap around the face. I assume if you made yourself a trim piece out of metal or ABS plastic to cover the gaps, it would be okay. Or you could carefully cut a radio delete plate to use as a trim cover. That would look pretty nice actually, I think. I actually thought about cutting the front off of my ashtray and attaching it back in the right location to cover the hole (weld, glue, double-sided tape, etc...) I decided against this... I will be picking up a new "UNCUT" A/C dash from a board member in Texas in the morning and putting the factory radio back in place (with an FM converter hidden somewhere). Don't get me wrong, I love having an FM radio in there, but I want the look of original. I will pull my already modified radio out next week, so if anyone wants it, just hit me with some shipping and I will give it to you. (I'll send pictures first, of course!!) __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket** Last edited by Putter; 05-20-2005 at 09:12 AM.

05-20-2005, 08:08 PM	#7
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	you can get them out of vans too __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler

05-21-2005, 12:51 PM	#9
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	any old van 70s-80s __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler

05-19-2005, 12:06 PM	#2
67-Cowboy Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Salem, Oregon U. S. of A. Posts: 69	Sure will as a matter of fact most all the Delco/GM radios are the same before '80; I put the fancy am/fm casset Player out of a '78 OLDS Cutlass Supreme in my '72 before I got the Alpine system installed and some of the early '80's Caddies had digital display with fancy chrome knobs !!! It all says either Delco or GM so it looks like a special edition item instead of after market, and truth be know you could have had them Dealer installed !!!

05-19-2005, 11:33 PM	#4
badpeanut Not a bad nut after all.. Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: ND Posts: 1,759	Putter, Could you post more details on what you had to trim on the radio? Thanks in advance, Wes

05-20-2005, 08:06 PM	#6
badpeanut Not a bad nut after all.. Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: ND Posts: 1,759	Thanks for the information Putter. I want an FM radio that will accept the factory knobs in my truck, but I don't want to cut the dash. Maybe there is another GM application (like 67-Cowboy mentioned) out there that will work?

05-21-2005, 01:17 AM	#8
badpeanut Not a bad nut after all.. Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: ND Posts: 1,759	What years of van? Are there any car radios which might have better availability?

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