AD Radio - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Donaldo · 03-31-2014, 11:26 PM

I have found a bunch of aftermarket radios that are supposed to fit in the original dash holes of the '47-53 trucks - has any tried any of these and are they decent at all ? I don't want to hide it or cut to fit, once or twice, but I would like some good sounds....
Speaker placement isn't a problem, big hollow sound deadened doors and tank space behind the seat is open.
thanks, Don

**mr48chev** · 03-31-2014, 11:45 PM

I've never seen any real feedback on them. I do know that a lot of guys are leaving the delete plate in place and hiding a regular radio/cd player in the glove box.

My setup is no help as I have a custom dash that started out in my 51 Mercury going in it minus the deco instrument panel that bit the dust when I was 19 and thought I was going to build a custom wood instrument panel with round gauges in the 51. It finally got another dash complete with stock instruments when i was in my 30's.

whitedog76 · 03-31-2014, 11:54 PM

I kind of like the hidden radio idea. Mount it under the seat, use a remote to control it. The actuall "hidden radio" is a rip off.
There's tons of marine and RV style radios that will allow you to use just a remote.

TNACUSTOM · 04-01-2014, 03:54 AM

They have a radio that looks just like stock one but you can hook your Iphone to it I don't remember who makes it but you can fine it on the internet.

MARTINSR · 04-01-2014, 09:54 AM

This is what I use to have in my truck. I used a metal ice tray from a freezer

with tabs welded to it to hold it to the back side of the dash. It had the hole cut in it for the face of the radio. This gave a nice rounded corner custom made look. I then hinged the stock speaker grille cutting off the ash tray back and welding the front of it to the speaker grille. It had magnets at the top to hold it shut. You simply pulled it open with the ash tray handle.

It worked well for me for years. Just an idea, I don't like the thought of having it out of reach while driving. With the new remote setups we have now it's a whole different story, you can have it about anywhere.

In my Rambler I modified the glove box "drawer" (Yes it's a drawer) to hold this cheapie little deck, it's working well for me. It's not to far over being the car is so small. But turning it on or off or volume is about I can do while driving, I can't be changing stations or anything but I was VERY limited in where it could go in this car, CRAZY limited. Never worked on a car as odd as this one before, I fought for weeks before I came up with the modifying the glove box drawer, which was cool because I had kept the one out of a parts car I had.

Made from this..

In my 65 Skylark I drove for years I had this set up. I like this the most. In this photo I am just holding it under the dash of my Gran Sport being the Skylark is long gone. But you get the idea.

The box was a street rod radio box and I made the lid. Got a few gauges from a car at the wreckers and cut the faces off of them, there you go, hidden stereo.

Brian

**mr48chev** · 04-01-2014, 11:03 AM

That is slick Brian, the best part is that 99.9% of the people who look in the truck only think you have an extra gauge panel under the dash.

My idea on the "hidden" radio was just using a production aftermarket radio or even an oem like Brian's and hiding it out of sight, not using a hidden radio designed to be hidden.

A lot of guys now seem to be just buying a unit that they plug their smart phone or other portable device into and all you have or see is what ever connects to that.

Old Crow · 04-01-2014, 12:11 PM

Custom Autosound makes one(actually 3 models depending on features you want)that fits in the stock hole on the earlier trucks.
Nobody makes one for the '54-'55.1 that I know of. On my wife's panel I just have a cheapo setup hung under the dash for right now. My plan is for the Secretaudio setup later on.

MARTINSR · 04-01-2014, 01:17 PM

Oh, and I forgot to show you the "hidden" part of the Rambler radio.
Yep, it's kinda funky, but it's a RAMBLER! LOL

What ever it takes so the sleezeballs can't see it.

Brian

crossfire84 · 04-01-2014, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Crow

Custom Autosound makes one(actually 3 models depending on features you want)that fits in the stock hole on the earlier trucks.
Nobody makes one for the '54-'55.1 that I know of. On my wife's panel I just have a cheapo setup hung under the dash for right now. My plan is for the Secretaudio setup later on.

i've only heard bad reports of custom auto sound.
(Nobody makes one for the '54-'55.1 that I know of.) go to www.retrosoundusa.com they have what you need.

whitedog76 · 04-01-2014, 08:21 PM

Break out your pocket book, here's one for the 54/55 trucks. Looks old, but is new.

https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail...Chevrolet.html

Donaldo · 04-01-2014, 09:08 PM

"" i've only heard bad reports of custom auto sound.""

Hearsay, or you've actually heard a bad radio ?

Specifics would be cool -

Old Crow · 04-02-2014, 05:18 AM

I'm a CA dealer and we've been installing them for 8 or 9 years. Haven't had one fail yet.
May not be the most powerful head unit out there, but if you want your music that loud, you'll be adding amps and sub-woofers and all that anyway.

crossfire84 · 04-02-2014, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donaldo

"" i've only heard bad reports of custom auto sound.""

Hearsay, or you've actually heard a bad radio ?

Specifics would be cool -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Crow

I'm a CA dealer and we've been installing them for 8 or 9 years. Haven't had one fail yet.
May not be the most powerful head unit out there, but if you want your music that loud, you'll be adding amps and sub-woofers and all that anyway.

Well, i've done a search on this site and most people say to stay away from them, bad service, units sound bad, and so on. I;m going to get mine from retrosound.

Donaldo · 04-02-2014, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossfire84

Well, i've done a search on this site and most people say to stay away from them, bad service, units sound bad, and so on. I;m going to get mine from retrosound.

I too found mostly negatives about them, took some searching, seems "custom" is a bit of a popular search topic!!

It's a bummer that the 'stock appearance' options are so limiting and/or expensive.....

Starting to like the idea of putting a good stereo unit behind the hinged speaker grate.

thanks, Don

MARTINSR · 04-03-2014, 04:42 PM

I was talking to a guy here at the shop who came in to install and audio system in a customers car and he has done a bunch of hidden street rod installations. He gave me this stereo as a good choice with a remote.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-TdfUxsm...=DST&XVVER=BBB

With this remote.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500RUEM...lpine&skipvs=T

He said there were many others but this is the best bang for your buck.

Brian

Donaldo · 04-03-2014, 10:07 PM

Thinking about mounting a stock late model GM truck stereo behind the speaker grill like MartinSR shared.

I have a couple, '96&'97, work trucks and those stereos seem to have decent radio receptions, some have a built in cd slot, lots of power and no bugs so far - 350,000 miles between the 2 trucks - just have to find a wiring harness and adapt....

thanks for all the good ideas :) Don

03-31-2014, 11:26 PM	#1
Donaldo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Morro Bay, California Posts: 447	AD Radio I have found a bunch of aftermarket radios that are supposed to fit in the original dash holes of the '47-53 trucks - has any tried any of these and are they decent at all ? I don't want to hide it or cut to fit, once or twice, but I would like some good sounds.... Speaker placement isn't a problem, big hollow sound deadened doors and tank space behind the seat is open. thanks, Don

03-31-2014, 11:45 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: AD Radio I've never seen any real feedback on them. I do know that a lot of guys are leaving the delete plate in place and hiding a regular radio/cd player in the glove box. My setup is no help as I have a custom dash that started out in my 51 Mercury going in it minus the deco instrument panel that bit the dust when I was 19 and thought I was going to build a custom wood instrument panel with round gauges in the 51. It finally got another dash complete with stock instruments when i was in my 30's. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

03-31-2014, 11:54 PM	#3
whitedog76 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 1,450	Re: AD Radio I kind of like the hidden radio idea. Mount it under the seat, use a remote to control it. The actuall "hidden radio" is a rip off. There's tons of marine and RV style radios that will allow you to use just a remote.

04-01-2014, 03:54 AM	#4
TNACUSTOM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Yakima Wa Posts: 49	Re: AD Radio They have a radio that looks just like stock one but you can hook your Iphone to it I don't remember who makes it but you can fine it on the internet.

04-01-2014, 09:54 AM	#5
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: AD Radio This is what I use to have in my truck. I used a metal ice tray from a freezer with tabs welded to it to hold it to the back side of the dash. It had the hole cut in it for the face of the radio. This gave a nice rounded corner custom made look. I then hinged the stock speaker grille cutting off the ash tray back and welding the front of it to the speaker grille. It had magnets at the top to hold it shut. You simply pulled it open with the ash tray handle. It worked well for me for years. Just an idea, I don't like the thought of having it out of reach while driving. With the new remote setups we have now it's a whole different story, you can have it about anywhere. In my Rambler I modified the glove box "drawer" (Yes it's a drawer) to hold this cheapie little deck, it's working well for me. It's not to far over being the car is so small. But turning it on or off or volume is about I can do while driving, I can't be changing stations or anything but I was VERY limited in where it could go in this car, CRAZY limited. Never worked on a car as odd as this one before, I fought for weeks before I came up with the modifying the glove box drawer, which was cool because I had kept the one out of a parts car I had. Made from this.. In my 65 Skylark I drove for years I had this set up. I like this the most. In this photo I am just holding it under the dash of my Gran Sport being the Skylark is long gone. But you get the idea. The box was a street rod radio box and I made the lid. Got a few gauges from a car at the wreckers and cut the faces off of them, there you go, hidden stereo. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

04-01-2014, 11:03 AM	#6
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: AD Radio That is slick Brian, the best part is that 99.9% of the people who look in the truck only think you have an extra gauge panel under the dash. My idea on the "hidden" radio was just using a production aftermarket radio or even an oem like Brian's and hiding it out of sight, not using a hidden radio designed to be hidden. A lot of guys now seem to be just buying a unit that they plug their smart phone or other portable device into and all you have or see is what ever connects to that. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

04-01-2014, 12:11 PM	#7
Old Crow Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Fox, AR Posts: 394	Re: AD Radio Custom Autosound makes one(actually 3 models depending on features you want)that fits in the stock hole on the earlier trucks. Nobody makes one for the '54-'55.1 that I know of. On my wife's panel I just have a cheapo setup hung under the dash for right now. My plan is for the Secretaudio setup later on. __________________ Old Crow '54 Chevy Panel, '00 Bounder 36S, '95 Jeep YJ

04-01-2014, 01:17 PM	#8
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: AD Radio Oh, and I forgot to show you the "hidden" part of the Rambler radio. Yep, it's kinda funky, but it's a RAMBLER! LOL What ever it takes so the sleezeballs can't see it. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

04-01-2014, 08:21 PM	#10
whitedog76 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 1,450	Re: AD Radio Break out your pocket book, here's one for the 54/55 trucks. Looks old, but is new. https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail...Chevrolet.html

04-01-2014, 09:08 PM	#11
Donaldo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Morro Bay, California Posts: 447	Re: AD Radio "" i've only heard bad reports of custom auto sound."" Hearsay, or you've actually heard a bad radio ? Specifics would be cool -

04-02-2014, 05:18 AM	#12
Old Crow Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Fox, AR Posts: 394	Re: AD Radio I'm a CA dealer and we've been installing them for 8 or 9 years. Haven't had one fail yet. May not be the most powerful head unit out there, but if you want your music that loud, you'll be adding amps and sub-woofers and all that anyway. __________________ Old Crow '54 Chevy Panel, '00 Bounder 36S, '95 Jeep YJ

04-03-2014, 04:42 PM	#15
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: AD Radio I was talking to a guy here at the shop who came in to install and audio system in a customers car and he has done a bunch of hidden street rod installations. He gave me this stereo as a good choice with a remote. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-TdfUxsm...=DST&XVVER=BBB With this remote. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500RUEM...lpine&skipvs=T He said there were many others but this is the best bang for your buck. Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

04-03-2014, 10:07 PM	#16
Donaldo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Morro Bay, California Posts: 447	Re: AD Radio Thinking about mounting a stock late model GM truck stereo behind the speaker grill like MartinSR shared. I have a couple, '96&'97, work trucks and those stereos seem to have decent radio receptions, some have a built in cd slot, lots of power and no bugs so far - 350,000 miles between the 2 trucks - just have to find a wiring harness and adapt.... thanks for all the good ideas :) Don



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