Don't give up on old rusty AM radios

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

I like the factory AM radio , I am adding in an 8 track ! I wouldn't even know how to work a bluetooth / auxilary jack add on , I don't have a play list and I'm trying to stay period correct hot rod truck ,I'll be listening to the engine and shifting gears

amen!

and not to sound old and grumpy but... if people spent less time fiddling around with their cell phones while driving we'd all be better off

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by 72SB

OP, cool that old radio fired right up. I know in todays world of streaming everything on Bluetooth devices has taken over and even new car radios now come with Sirus or XF enabled radios where programming is endless.

My 72 is a radio delete truck and I thought about getting one of the "Retro Sound" radios as I did not want to cut up the dash for a single DIN type modern radio nor did I want to cut up door panels or kick panels for speakers let alone drill the fender for antenna so I went another route.

Used the two screw positions for the heater panel under dash to install 2 D rings and just clipped on this JBL Bluetooth unit. It has 100 watts and is loud. I use my cell phone Sirus app and listen to classic rock with no commercials.

$300 and installs in seconds

Awesome! You so need to paint that the dash color, put a bowtie on it, to give the illusion of some rare factory option.

[Accelo]

I have an AM only radio. Never hardly use it.
My sound comes from the exhaust.
Wife thinks it's too loud and she will not ride in my truck.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

I like the factory AM radio , I am adding in an 8 track ! I wouldn't even know how to work a bluetooth / auxilary jack add on , I don't have a play list and I'm trying to stay period correct hot rod truck ,I'll be listening to the engine and shifting gears

Exactly. I didn't rebuild my 71 to hear the radio, but the AM is suiting. I like old country and wholesome. Don't tell anyone my speaker isn't a Delco. These are nice.

http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

[special-K]

I've never used blue tooth or an MP3 player. Heck, I've never used an 8-track player. I have always had cassette players. I haven't listened to AM since I was in HS (in someone else's car). My '67 is a period correct vibe and the music of the times is part of why I love these trucks. But my taste in music is wide and varied, and not only the most popular. so, the conversion will look period correct w/o limiting my variety in music. I never did the CB thing or listen to talk radio. Give me music or motor!

A stereo was always a big thing in my rides. But a funny thing is I have owned my '72 K2500 since '01 yet have never had music in it. I only think about that every year or so. I even have radios/stereos I could install.

[va72longhorn]

I’m not in my C30 long enough to worry with quality fidelity. Anything added to the sound of the 3200 rpms at cruising speed is going to be a bit loud. I love having the AM just for the nostalgia.
My first 72 was a factory 2wd blazer back in 1980. I had this exact fM converter under the dash. I’d belonged to that RCA music club back then and I’d take the new vinyls and record them on a good blank cassette tape. The vinyls stayed in the house and I had a good tunes library in the console of the blazer.
Sigh…. I miss that blazer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175593506403

[JQ-72]

I bought a 110 to 12v converter from Radio Shack several years ago to test radios, horns, headlights, etc. I've tested AM radios before and just let them play. Nothing like the mono-AM sound from years gone by!

[HO455]

Originally Posted by special-K

My plan is to go with Hagan for that. He's the original. Last I checked the units put out 180 amps. Not so small.

I have a GM AM/FM that's not a truck radio but looks about the same. I have never put it side by side with the real deal. I believe it fits the holes in the dash. I need to check into that.

My '72 has an AM out of a car. I think it says Sonic on it. It appears to fit original holes. It lights up but never made sound. It may be it's not hooked up to the speaker. Never bothered to check

Does Hagan do conversions or are they a competitor of Aurora Design?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by HO455

Does Hagan do conversions or are they a competitor of Aurora Design?

He was the first to do conversions as far as I know. He's been an antique auto radio restorer for years. He was in Hemmings Motor news. Still is I guess. He went into modernizing old radios once these new forms of media came along. Looks like he also sells Aurora stereos

www.mikehaganantiqueautoradio.com

[OregonNed]

I have a nice one that was given to me a few years ago at a Ham Radio swap meet - need to test it one of these days to see if it works too..

[palallin]

My AM is still safely tucked into its hole in the dash, and it will remain there unmolested as long as I have the truck. I refuse to put anything computer in my truck. No need for FM or tapes: not only does the truck make all the music I need, the AM is much more useful for getting necessary info.

[OregonNed]

I'd sure like to use mine, but I have the good old cut dash..

[special-K]

No computers for me, either. But I have been listening to music of my own choice by way of cassette deck, and later FM, ever since these trucks were new. I'd never owned an MP3 player, but I'd like having that option, too. That isn't even a part of the truck. The electronics in a stereo don't bother me as long as all that means to my truck is a simple 12v power source and ground. The AM will always be there, too, for what uses they are good for. My Hagan unit fits the same holes, original face, and puts out 180w. All in a smaller box than an original AM. It's no different to me than having an engine that wasn't original to the truck.

[Eric Johnson]

My original 67 radio works. At least for about about a half hour, then it fades out. "Old GM radios never die, they just fade away"