Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

That is really cool. I'd seen something like this before in a '56 Bel Air, but it was just for on/off and volume control.

That's probably the most creative solution I've seen.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Can the addition of RCA jacks be done and the AM still function?

I have an XM system that can be hard wired with RCA jacks, but I would really like to keep the AM ability or AM/FM as the case may be (haven't bought the radio yet).

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Thanks guys. It's still working perfectly :)

As for keeping the radio functionality, that would be a little more complicated. Anything can be done, but I'd have to have one to play with to come up with the solution. My radio didn't work but looked great, so this was perfect for me.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Holy crap.....................very impressive

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Would you have to change the factory pots in every case, or does this depend on your amp choice?

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

If you want stereo volume control they have to be replaced.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

After reading your awesome "how to" on this old AM radio, you have inspired me to make an attempt to do it with the radio off my truck. I figure for what it cost me in parts and having some free time late at night that I would give it a try thanks to your AWESOME details.
I will keep you posted on my success or failure....:lol: I dont know anything about electronics but I know how to take stuff apart, follow directions and rebuild.... Wish me luck.

thank you Frizzle Fry

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Cool man!

To answer your question:
The wiring for the switch is like you said: 12v in (I used a key-switched source), and 12v out back to the jack (not to the light). So the three pronged jack on the back gets a 12v source (ign switched) and has a 12v out that comes from the left knob power switch. I then used that output to send the power-up signal to other components in the system like the MP3 player and amps. A separate power source from the dash lighting circuit was used to power the internal light. That way it's lit when the dash is lit.

Here's a little schematic I threw together for you. Hope it helps:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1228866617

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Thanks Mike!!!!!:metal:


I will try to work on it tomorrow while I am at the shop....

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Bringing this back from the dead. I just got finished doing this modification this morning. I don't even know if mine works yet, but I will hopefully have it wired up into the truck soon.
One thing that I did that I wasn't quite sure about was the wiring of the inner light. I soldered its wire to the "12v in" connection along with the wire the runs to the potentiometer, because on my Chevy radio the third connection is for ground and had a connection soldered to the frame of the radio.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Cool, let us know how it works!

After doing the mod the only thing requiring a ground is the light. So I simply relied on the mounting contact points for that instead of a dedicated wire.

Yours will work that way but the light will always be on and not varied with the dash dimmer.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

i didnt read the whole story but from the looks of it you just used the knob of the original radio to turn the sound louder or softer , if theres a guy here thats an electronic wizard or at least knowlegable about the cirquits on the original (working) radio he might be able to point out where to cut the original tracks place resistors or other stuff to modify the signal so it dont overload the system and solder the wires for the rca's on directly so the signal flows directly intoo the original preamp of the old radio , you could then tap the signal of the cirquitboard right after the preamp not using the mainamp from the radio so the radio/tapeplayer can allso be used through the big amps and speakers
a smal switch behind on of the presetsknobs can switch between the outside and inside signal or insert an old tape to select it / silence the radiosignal, it would save you some hacking and the potmeters

theres a whole website about these sort of hacks along with picking locks and the sort , its http://hackaday.com/ if you guys are interested .... its pretty thechnical at times though

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

old thread but couldnt you use a push pull pot? instead of using the old one?

this is a guitar pot but you get the idea http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...pull_Pots.html

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

wow i need to get 2 am radios the first one to leanr on and the second to actually do it!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

I am using a Garmin Nuvi 765T with a ram cradle bracket attached to a old 66 gmc ash tray face. This gpa has a MP3 player built in and volume control. I am doing to add a 4 channel base amp and a mono rear sub woofer. This keeps the cost down and If I want the dash to look original I just take out the gps and put the painted original ash tray back in its place.

ps the cord will not show like it does in the picture.

As you will see in the picture it is just temporarily mounted but will be functional in a few weeks. :gmc2: Kieth

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...2_FCsG9GR-A-LB

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Nice man. I'm all about Pandora Radio these days. Unlimited songs and more variety than any mp3 collection. Still connects through my am radio setup. Just need to get the tahoe back on the road...
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

kieth : the center hole for the original radio look big enough to use as a frame for a small bare touchscreen you now have mounted above it you could stick the screen at the back of the opening mount rotary knobs straight to the metal that give pulses and mount a nice faceplate in front of it or leave it like it is , you can operate a remote digital radio mp3 cd dvd player with the knobs and virtual knobs on the smal sceen and dont have to hack up the stock dash

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

I love it I wish my dash wasnt hacked.. :(

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Or you could use this http://redirad.com/

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

whoa! that RediRad sounds like the cats meow. and incredibly simple to hook up. thanks for posting that link!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

looks to me like just another fm modulator , you need a stock working radio for that

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

How much to do mine?? Serioulsy I would be interested in paying you to do it.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

if you know someone with and electronics background he could do one better
he can install a minijack that dumps the signal on the circuitboard straight intoo the end amplifier of the radio , that way youre original radio will work normal untill you plug the external device in and he can prolly make it so you can use the volumeknob of the radio for the mp3 player as whell

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Could be done, but then you'd be stuck using the factory quality audio circuitry. I haven't actually heard a working original radio but I can't imagine it compares with even modern factory radios (which are often replaced/upgraded).

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

That's all it is. Wired through the antenna input -> http://compare.ebay.com/like/1504993...=sbar&_lwgsi=y

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Just to clarify, the purpose of my mod was to allow me to use the factory radio (knob) to turn on/off and control volume of an audio system composed of audio source(ipod,hd-radio,etc)/amp(s)/crossover/speakers.

The main motivation was to avoid having to buy another head unit just for the pre-amp functions.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

i know and its a mod that about everyone can do when they have some mecanical sence

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Just send matt an email from Redi Radand tell him Tims37 sent ya he's a great guy to deal with I put one in my all original 6 volt Chevy and it works great!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Please stop hijacking this thread.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Thanks for the great post Frizzle! I just bought a truck and the radio doesn't work either (same radio as yours). I am going to attempt your mod this weekend with the hopes of rocking pandora. Do you have any advice on trouble shooting the radio to find out why it's not working?

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Troubleshooting the stock AM radio? No. I went right to modding :devil:

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Wow wish I could do that you should build an easy kit for dumdums lol and sell it you really could make some money or let the person send you a radio and for a fee build it for them
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

i think everyone that has a little electric knowlege could put it together for you

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

I think we could use one of these, it has the volume control thing whipped and allows simple inputs and outputs.........could be a pre amp for the other amps...

Kieth

http://electric-avenues.com/audio/amplirider/


how about taking this pot and replacing the one in the radio ?

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

there was an article on hackaday.com for modifying stock radio's to hook up to play mp3 , the older radios are somewat harder to modify as someone with some knowledge of electronics needs to go inside the radio and hardwire the mp3 signal intoo the board
there different ways to do it just do a search on that website and see wat turns up
be warned youre entering nerd central there

i'm kindah milage oriented nowadays (you would too if regulair gas was 9 dollars a gallon at youre gasstation on top of roadtax by weight of car and type of fuel) and now drive a raincoat with wheels eeeh a smart fortwo as a daily driver
the radio in it isnt anything special but it has a hookup for a cd changer
theres a guy that figured out the pinouts on the plug for that and build an adapter that you can plug intoo youre mp3 player
just put the radio on cd and turn on the ipod , works great

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

He HAS to be a rocket scientist...... what a awesome job.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

I know "Thread from the dead". But I just wanted to ask Frizzlefry how his mp3 worked over the long run. I know he said that he was now using Pandora, which is fine if your around cell towers but when you go farther out there's nothing. I like the mp3 idea if it would hold up bouncing around in the truck.
Thanks in advance.