6 volt am radio conversion

[FRANKL]

i have been getting some prices on having my broken 6 volt radio for my 1950 either repaired or converted to am/fm. i got about 10 quotes and most were $200- 300 for the repair and in the $500 range for the conversion and .with a power booster. i am leaning toward the conversion. does anyone have experience with this and can recommend someone?

thanks

frank

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Does the Conversion use the original in Dash parts? (knobs, dial, etc.)

I did a conversion to am/fm in my '37 Limo, it worked okay, but it was a lot of work. I would charge more than $500. if I were doing it for someone else. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

The '37 radio has cables (for volumn and tuning) that go from dash to radio box mounted on firewall and adapting those cables to the modern radio was a job. I used the original speaker box (that mounts on firewall) but put a modern 8" speaker in it.

I built a voltage doubler circuit for power, since the radio I had was a 12.volt unit. There was plenty of room in that large radio box so didn't have any problems hiding the doubler circuit and since the modern radio doesn't draw much current, I could use fairly small components.

[FRANKL]

rick

this is how one of the vendors described it (see below)

We can convert your existing AM (or AM/FM) factory radio to AM/FM Stereo with 22 watts per channel into 8 ohm speakers, 45 watts into 4 ohm speakers, up to 4 channels - 180 watts total. You would probably want to replace the original speaker(s) and/or add one to the rear deck. We remove all the old electronics and replace with a modern circuit board. This is by far the best solution to improving the sound on older collector cars as the original radio fits correctly and looks correct. The volume, tone, push buttons and tuning still work as normal. The Tone control also can be programed to function as a balance and fader control as well as a tone control. When you turn the radio on, it comes on in FM. You will need to learn where your local FM stations line up on the AM dial markings. Turn the radio off and back on quickly, it switches to AM. Off and wait 5 seconds and back on and your back to FM. We add a small 3 color Light Emitting Diode (LED) to the front near the "16" on the radio dial. The LED lights green for FM mono, yellow for FM stereo, and red for AM

[Guest Albert]

the radio conversions remove everything in the radio except the tuner asmb. and the volume/tone control. They then install a soild state board to replace all the tubes and such, they can even install it so the Wonderbars work as well. If you have axcess to a tube tester, and can get the schematic, all you normally need to replace is all the old paper capactors (about 12 or so) and maybe the vibarator. Price wise about $5 for the capactors and about $45 for a solid state Vibarator.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

That sounds like a good system. I have to reach under dash to switch from FM to AM, with my setup. But that's not so bad since I leave it on FM all the time, anyway.

The speakers would surely have to be changed, to handle that much power. Old radios only put out 5 to 10 watts average.

I know $500. sounds like a lot, but if you don't think you can do it yourself and you really want your music, then it is probably worth it. Hey, it's Only Money. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> AM/FM 6.Volt radios don't come cheap, any way you go.

I think it would be a lot better than a Humming AM radio, that is not very reliable. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> As long as the Dash still looks Original.

[Twitch]

A completely different approach could be this: Leave your original radio intact. 180 watt am/fm cd stereos with remotes are at the a-little-over-$100 mark now. Inverters for 12 v to 6 v are about the same price. Stick the music box out of sight and use the remote to play your tunes. My Packard radio was rebuilt by earlier owner but there is NOTHING on AM to listen to in most areas anyhow besides commercials and news! This would be the way I may go someday.

[FRANKL]

twitch

that sounds like a great idea. i didn't think about the power inverter idea. the only am radio we have here is not worth listening to so i didn't want to do that. i'll look for a local place that has tubes and testers to see if i can get the original working as albert suggested. then i'll get someone to rig an am/fm cd out of sight. options are good.

thanks

frank

[Twitch]

I thinking under the front seat would be good though I haven't measured. Pop the seat cushion and see what I mean. Once your seat is adjusted you don't move it anyhow. And there probably is enough space anyway if you do. Depends on what type of CD player you'd get too. Ones that hold at least 6 CDs would require lifting out the seat cushion occassionally to change them other wise it's there and invisible. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Twitch, Thats what I have in mind for my 47 also. One AM station in my area with lousy music and isn't worth the cost to repair the original radio to hear that . My plan is to conceal a FM/ CD somewhere also. A friend of mine with a 50 Mercury has a radio in the glove box and runs it from a 12 volt battery in the trunk but I like your idea better.

[Mr.Pushbutton]

Brian, you might just be on to something re: the mp3 player/low power transmitter. I have a "modulator" 10 disc sony CD changer in my daily driver, and it's the bomb. It would just be a matter of having a suitable AM modulator circuit. I'm going to google this, someone may already be doing it. John

[Twitch]

Yeah didn't they call the weak transmitters "flea power" or something like that?

Somebody pointed out a decent inverter a while back and I had accidently seen it on that site while looking for something else.

I've see the modern radios in the glove box on older cars but I hate to put it there. Not that have have lots of gloves to fill the glove box with but depending on the car, I like the under-seat place too. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Ok here's the link and I found another one too.

http://www.powerstream.com/dc6-12.htm

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stor...p;amp;langId=-1

[FRANKL]

i found another 2 converters (see below) which look like they will work. the next thing i'll look for is a good radio and speakers to work with these. i'm not well informed on electronics so most of what i read about electrical and stereo specs is like reading the dead sea scrools to me. i do understand these converters have limitations on output and required a healthy charging system. i guess there would be some systems which would operate best with these converters. another concern i've read is the potential for getting interferance or hum from the converter on the radio but this is probably not as much of a concern with current technology.

i like the idea of getting a system with a remote so it can be hidden. i also like the idea of putting it under the rear seat as there is already power there to the rear cigar lighter and it would be relatively easy to run the antenae and speaker wires there. i mostly listen to one oldies station in the car anyway so i don't really need a cd or dvd.

http://www.msdignition.com/tc_25.htm

http://www.pressenter.com/~cmeyer/MES612PG6A.html

frank

[Twitch]

Yeah, that's the ticket. Now we've found 4 converters! Are you going to find a stereo with the remote? They are not expensive.

Without broaching the charging system thread again, I must say most of the 150 cars I saw at a recent cruise had alternators- both 6 and 12 volt. Even real stock stuff had them. If anyone drives a bit they make sense. Seems the alternative is to simply have an ungodly powerful battery and top up the charge as needed with external charger as needed.

[Mr.Pushbutton]

OK gang, go to http://www.northcountryradio.com/Kitpages/am88.htm that is a 12V low power transmitter, He claims he has sold many for use in antique cars. Owners of 6V cars will need an inverter, as listed on other posts on this thread. The cost is $82.50, which isn't bad. Get 'U a MP3 player and load 'er up and away you go. That way you won't have to listen to sports talk,and talk,and talk--Rush Limbaugh or "the music of someone else's life" (and they had bad taste in music!)