Don't give up on old rusty AM radios - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Grumpy old man** · 02-09-2023, 04:35 PM

Another surprise from an old rusty looking radio , I did some trading and ended up with this old rusty AM radio and decided I'd give it a try to see if it would work , After rigging it up to a battery a speaker and antenna it fired up ! sounds great clear no static , I tuned it to a local AM station WKCE 1180 and had it playing in the garage all the buttons work , Mrs Grumpy came out into the garage and asked Whats that playing and was shocked to see the old radio playing away . WKCE plays the hits from the 50's and 60's , She asked how is it playing those old songs ? I told her , Honey , They've been trapped inside of it all these years ! she's still shaking her head working on that !

A few years back I bought a NOS chrome radio face plate off ebay for $25.00 A little elbow grease and I'll give it a new home in my dash !

https://www.wkceradio.com/ - Mid century radio is cool !

howzzzit · 02-09-2023, 05:42 PM

Grumpy this post rings a bell. I've had my 72 since 73 and the original radio is AM only. Stopped working and I almost tossed it. Heard about an older guy at a local electronics repair store. Went there and the lady told me to go upstairs. Looked like a big attic with a very low ceiling. This old guy was stooped over probably from the low ceiling. He hooked up my radio to 12 volts and a speaker, took a pocket screwdriver, adjusted a screw or two on top, and she was good as new. Charged me 10 bucks. Now I'm that old man. Ha.

**truckster** · 02-09-2023, 06:50 PM

Nice. I have an original AM/FM radio for my Blazer... somewhere. I haven't been able to find it for a while. When the weather gets warm I'll clean out all the crevices in my garage and hopefully find it then.

jimijam00 · 02-09-2023, 07:01 PM

The market and manufacturers gave up on them for good reason.

**truckster** · 02-09-2023, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimijam00

The market and manufacturers gave up on them for good reason.

They gave up on 72 Blazers for a good reason, too, but I'm still driving one.

**Grumpy old man** · 02-09-2023, 08:22 PM

Added a new face plate and a set of knobs and shes good to go . For the audiophiles not to worry I'm upgrading the sound system with an 8 track player .

and some 6x9's

jimijam00 · 02-09-2023, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckster

They gave up on 72 Blazers for a good reason, too, but I'm still driving one.

You should modify that thing if it's still 72 oem and oem replacement stuff.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 02-09-2023, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Another surprise from an old rusty looking radio , I did some trading and ended up with this old rusty AM radio and decided I'd give it a try to see if it would work , After rigging it up to a battery a speaker and antenna it fired up ! sounds great clear no static , I tuned it to a local AM station WKCE 1180 and had it playing in the garage all the buttons work , Mrs Grumpy came out into the garage and asked Whats that playing and was shocked to see the old radio playing away . WKCE plays the hits from the 50's and 60's , She asked how is it playing those old songs ? I told her , Honey , They've been trapped inside of it all these years ! she's still shaking her head working on that !

A few years back I bought a NOS chrome radio face plate off ebay for $25.00 A little elbow grease and I'll give it a new home in my dash !

https://www.wkceradio.com/ - Mid century radio is cool !

Couple weeks ago I installed the battery in my rebuild for the first time. I got the biggest thrill out of the radio, it came in crystal clear which says a lot since I'm in a valley where even satellites have issues. Don't know how, because the radio came from elsewhere, it was tuned to the area's strongest station, one I listened to as a young man.

I wouldn't put anything but an AM in said truck. It's good to hear the great songs of past when life was more simple.

**Accelo** · 02-09-2023, 09:31 PM

Years ago a co-worker lost his truck and boat trailer into the Columbia River at Kalama WA. It was low tide and it uncovered some real slime at the bottom of the ramp. Park didn't hold it. Slid right in.
It stayed under water till the next day when a diver attached a tow line to the truck in 50' of water. The driver remarked it was a couple feet from a large rock but no body damage to the truck. Winched the truck out and changed all the fluids and he got it running and driving within a week. He drove the truck to work every day after that. After about 2 months the radio began to work again! He sold the truck shortly after that! Never saw it again.

**Warrens69GMC** · 02-09-2023, 09:51 PM

Hmmm, ........

if anyone has a set of 67 knobs, let me know....

Killer Bee · 02-09-2023, 10:27 PM

I loves me some factory AM tunage - nice work Grumpy!

badpeanut · 02-09-2023, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

All of the AM radios I've ever seen are marked "GM".

I've never seen one marked "Chevrolet" before; what did this originally come on?

yuccales · 02-09-2023, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

For the audiophiles not to worry I'm upgrading the sound system with an 8 track player .

and some 6x9's

For the real effect, put those 6x9's in the door panels.

67RS/SSx2 · 02-09-2023, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Another surprise from an old rusty looking radio , I did some trading and ended up with this old rusty AM radio and decided I'd give it a try to see if it would work , After rigging it up to a battery a speaker and antenna it fired up ! sounds great clear no static , I tuned it to a local AM station WKCE 1180 and had it playing in the garage all the buttons work , Mrs Grumpy came out into the garage and asked Whats that playing and was shocked to see the old radio playing away . WKCE plays the hits from the 50's and 60's , She asked how is it playing those old songs ? I told her , Honey , They've been trapped inside of it all these years ! she's still shaking her head working on that !

A few years back I bought a NOS chrome radio face plate off ebay for $25.00 A little elbow grease and I'll give it a new home in my dash !

https://www.wkceradio.com/ - Mid century radio is cool !

Good for you for saving it! Wish we had 50s/60s music on radio stations (other than XM) around here.

**Warrens69GMC** · 02-09-2023, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badpeanut

All of the AM radios I've ever seen are marked "GM".

I've never seen one marked "Chevrolet" before; what did this originally come on?

I just bought a 1967 C10, and it was there

**special-K** · 02-09-2023, 10:58 PM

I never gave up on AM radios because I never listened to them. Might as well be a delete plate for me. From the time I started driving I always recorded my own cassettes, and bought some prerecorded as well. The fidelity of home recorded on real time was much better. Better quality tape material used in blank tapes as well.

**Warrens69GMC** · 02-09-2023, 11:12 PM

Radio

Leigh222 · 02-10-2023, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badpeanut

All of the AM radios I've ever seen are marked "GM".

I've never seen one marked "Chevrolet" before; what did this originally come on?

I think they came early 60's Corvairs.

**CarlsLQ9SS** · 02-10-2023, 06:36 AM

Looks like a different radio with the new faceplate.

MARKDTN · 02-10-2023, 08:19 AM

If you don't like AM but want the look you can have an Aurora conversion done and have AM/FM/Bluetooth and/or an auxiliary jack. Then you have the original look with modern sound and a small built-in amp.

**special-K** · 02-10-2023, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

If you don't like AM but want the look you can have an Aurora conversion done and have AM/FM/Bluetooth and/or an auxiliary jack. Then you have the original look with modern sound and a small built-in amp.

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

**Grumpy old man** · 02-10-2023, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

If you don't like AM but want the look you can have an Aurora conversion done and have AM/FM/Bluetooth and/or an auxiliary jack. Then you have the original look with modern sound and a small built-in amp.

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

MARKDTN · 02-10-2023, 10:28 AM

Quote:

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

Fair enough. FM is what I listen to. The Bluetooth is too much for me too but with an aux jack I can use my iPod from 20 years ago. All while retaining a factory look.

But to your original post, it is very cool to take something that has been sitting for years and see it work again.

Willie Makeit · 02-10-2023, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

If you don't like AM but want the look you can have an Aurora conversion done and have AM/FM/Bluetooth and/or an auxiliary jack. Then you have the original look with modern sound and a small built-in amp.

Exactly what I did to mine. Has the original look but with modern technology. Bluetooth, phone sync, AUX, AM/FM HD Radio. The conversion wasn't cheap but quality never is. It looks factory perfect and works even better.

72SB · 02-10-2023, 01:47 PM

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

02-09-2023, 04:35 PM	#1
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Another surprise from an old rusty looking radio , I did some trading and ended up with this old rusty AM radio and decided I'd give it a try to see if it would work , After rigging it up to a battery a speaker and antenna it fired up ! sounds great clear no static , I tuned it to a local AM station WKCE 1180 and had it playing in the garage all the buttons work , Mrs Grumpy came out into the garage and asked Whats that playing and was shocked to see the old radio playing away . WKCE plays the hits from the 50's and 60's , She asked how is it playing those old songs ? I told her , Honey , They've been trapped inside of it all these years ! she's still shaking her head working on that ! A few years back I bought a NOS chrome radio face plate off ebay for $25.00 A little elbow grease and I'll give it a new home in my dash ! https://www.wkceradio.com/ - Mid century radio is cool ! Attached Images __________________ 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop

02-09-2023, 05:42 PM	#2
howzzzit Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kalifornia Posts: 354	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Grumpy this post rings a bell. I've had my 72 since 73 and the original radio is AM only. Stopped working and I almost tossed it. Heard about an older guy at a local electronics repair store. Went there and the lady told me to go upstairs. Looked like a big attic with a very low ceiling. This old guy was stooped over probably from the low ceiling. He hooked up my radio to 12 volts and a speaker, took a pocket screwdriver, adjusted a screw or two on top, and she was good as new. Charged me 10 bucks. Now I'm that old man. Ha.

02-09-2023, 06:50 PM	#3
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,976	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Nice. I have an original AM/FM radio for my Blazer... somewhere. I haven't been able to find it for a while. When the weather gets warm I'll clean out all the crevices in my garage and hopefully find it then. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

02-09-2023, 07:01 PM	#4
jimijam00 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: PNW Posts: 553	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios The market and manufacturers gave up on them for good reason.

02-09-2023, 08:22 PM	#6
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Added a new face plate and a set of knobs and shes good to go . For the audiophiles not to worry I'm upgrading the sound system with an 8 track player . and some 6x9's Attached Images __________________ 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop

02-09-2023, 09:31 PM	#9
Accelo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: washington Posts: 2,295	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Years ago a co-worker lost his truck and boat trailer into the Columbia River at Kalama WA. It was low tide and it uncovered some real slime at the bottom of the ramp. Park didn't hold it. Slid right in. It stayed under water till the next day when a diver attached a tow line to the truck in 50' of water. The driver remarked it was a couple feet from a large rock but no body damage to the truck. Winched the truck out and changed all the fluids and he got it running and driving within a week. He drove the truck to work every day after that. After about 2 months the radio began to work again! He sold the truck shortly after that! Never saw it again.

02-09-2023, 09:51 PM	#10
Warrens69GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Safford,AZ Posts: 3,621	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Hmmm, ........ if anyone has a set of 67 knobs, let me know.... Attached Images __________________ 1969 307, t350 1950 Chevy Wagon 1978 Big 10 1967 C10, 250,3-OTT

02-09-2023, 10:27 PM	#11
Killer Bee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Barber City, CA Posts: 4,809	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios I loves me some factory AM tunage - nice work Grumpy! __________________ *I started out with nothing - and I still have most of it*

02-09-2023, 10:58 PM	#16
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios I never gave up on AM radios because I never listened to them. Might as well be a delete plate for me. From the time I started driving I always recorded my own cassettes, and bought some prerecorded as well. The fidelity of home recorded on real time was much better. Better quality tape material used in blank tapes as well. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

02-09-2023, 11:12 PM	#17
Warrens69GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Safford,AZ Posts: 3,621	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Radio Attached Images __________________ 1969 307, t350 1950 Chevy Wagon 1978 Big 10 1967 C10, 250,3-OTT

02-10-2023, 06:36 AM	#19
CarlsLQ9SS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: London, Ky Posts: 1,162	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios Looks like a different radio with the new faceplate. __________________ Carl 1971 GMC short bed, (Henry) Options I've added, tilt, ac, 8k tach, Electric speedometer conversion for LS swap, 6.0 with 823 heads and BTR stage 4 truck cam, 4L80e, posi with 3.73 rear end, Power steering and power brakes Lowered 5/7. Frame up build.

02-10-2023, 08:19 AM	#20
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,165	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios If you don't like AM but want the look you can have an Aurora conversion done and have AM/FM/Bluetooth and/or an auxiliary jack. Then you have the original look with modern sound and a small built-in amp. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

02-10-2023, 01:47 PM	#25
72SB Registered User Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 774	Re: Don't give up on old rusty AM radios 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 Attached Images



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.