My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

I’m the type that likes the look of a stock dash and radio but wants a modern sound system. A few weeks ago I bought a Rockford Fosgate Omnifi mp3 player. It’s basically a 20gig hard drive based system (easily upgradeable to 120gig) that allows you to transfer mp3s from your computer to your car via USB or optional wireless (which I have).

I had planned to run it stand-alone directly to my cross-over/amps, but I soon found out that it has no built in pre-amp, so no volume control. My existing 10+ year old CD player had no audio inputs either (the way the Omnifi was designed to be installed). I looked at the USA-1thru6 options, but didn’t really want a new deck.

I decided that all really needed to run this thing stand-alone was some sort of volume control capability and power antenna signal. So I did a little google’ing and found info on in-line RCA volume control. A trip to Radio Shack and I was ready to do a little radio surgery.

I picked up some 0-10k ohm potentiometers and surface-mountable RCA jacks. I later discovered that 0-10k was insufficient and went to 0-1M ohm. The 0-10k pots only adjusted volume from 100% down to about 90%. The 0-1M pots adjust volume from 100% down to about 5% (plenty low). A further improvement may be possible using this configuration. My setup works just fine, though it does get a little touchy/sensitive near full volume, meaning a little adjustment goes a long way in volume. But it's not enough to be an issue.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793075

When you remove the covers from the radio you can see there is plenty of room to do this. Just take out a few components behind the volume knob. I didn’t use nor did I plan to use the radio as an actual AM radio.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793145
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793210
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793249

The existing volume/tone knob has two pots (two are required for stereo volume control) so at first glance I thought this was going to be easier than expected. But they are not matched and are the wrong specs for the job. But the amazing thing is that the annulus (resistive disc - more info here), is nearly identical in size/shape from stock to new. A little clearancing on the new ones and they fit perfectly.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793407
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793441
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793486
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793524
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793575
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172793630

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Now, the other thing I learned is that the stock sweepers don’t work very well with the new annuluses. They look like they will but when I tested them in this configuration there were open spots in the volume range. So, tried gluing the new sweepers onto the stock sweeper discs. That seemed to work ok, but when I went to the 1M pots I decided to use the new sweepers AND their plastic discs. I did this because the centering of the sweeper on the annulus and shaft is critical. I just drilled holes in the center of the black plastic sweeper discs to fit them over the shafts.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794057
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794096
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794124
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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794185
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794218
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794265
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794296

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794453

Drilled holes and mounted the RCA jacks. I would move them forward or to the bottom of the deck if I had it to do over because they are pretty close to the wiper motor as is.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794508
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794534

Another great thing about the stock pot housing is that it has a built in switch. This was the main reason I chose to stick with the stock pot housing instead of trying to find a compatible dual-gang pot. I wired the switch up to the existing power jack in the back of the radio. So two of the spades in that jack are now used for power antenna (on/off signal to the crossover, amps, and mp3 player), and the other spade is now connected to the internal light. I later wired the radio light to the dash light circuit so it will be on/off/dim with those. You could wire it to the knob switch if you want it to switch on/off with your system, but I like the back lighting on and dimmable even when the system is off.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794569
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794707
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794753
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172794780

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Holy Crap....what are you..a rocket scientist!

That's impressive and a little (way) beyond me!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

I left the tuning mechanism alone so the kids can sill push the preset buttons and watch the needle move all day long. But you could build a balance/fader knob on that side if you wanted using the same technique and simply wiring one pot inversely as is also explained here.

I installed a new bulb while I was in there (also put all new bulbs in the rest of the dash).

This set-up would work for any audio device that is designed to be run through AUX inputs in a deck and has its own control interface.

Here it is installed. The faceplate is pretty thin and could be mounted anywhere, but it's going here for now (hot glued on so it's easily reversible).

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172795147
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172795197

Next install; my new covered fiberglass kick panels thanks to this FAQ :metal:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1172795475

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Nice post!! That is exactly what I would like to do. :metal:

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

That is so cool. I'm not sure I'm that smart for this though. It also needs to be moved to the FAQ forum.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

I'm alittle old, well make that a lot old, but what is mp3. Your work is impressive even tho I don't know what you said. I'll have to go back and reread it. That is awesome to see it look stock. Congrats on your success... J.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Nice work indeed!

I was going to get the OmniFi setup until I saw the limitations and the price. One thing let to another and I am now planning a system around a Mac Mini. I will do it in stages, I still need to modify the dash to accommodate the screen,

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

You`re a frickin`genius Frizzle Fry.Shoot me your address.I`m sending 1/2 dozen radios your way. :lol: That`s great!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Thanks guys. The basic idea was pretty simple, but making it work the way I wanted it to using some of the factory parts took a little trial and error. Now that it's all figured out it would be cake to do again. I just wired up the radio back light today so I went outside a few minutes ago to check it out after sun down and it looks great :)

I think I'll move the Omnifi face-plate somewhere else in the future and put the ashtray back, but for now this works.

You could run a stand-alone CD changer or HD-Radio unit this way too.

Here's a link for jaros http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

will it play 8-tracks??

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

That's the coolest thing I ever saw. How the hell did you come up with that?

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

that's awesome.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

holy crap man!! this is awsome!!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

:jdp: :jdp: :jdp:

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Thanks Fry, but that was way to much info. Are you saying it plays CD's? Your work is way too cooool! Wish I knew what you were talking about.... J.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

:agree: that is awsome. I see this going to the FAQ!:metal:

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Incredible . . . just incredible. You could surely make some money marketing these conversions!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Very, Very Impressive!!!!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Very impressive. I have a factory AM radio. I may do something with it someday.

DLB

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Frizzle,you do realize this is a great mod but probably only a few on here are 'lectronically literate.This is a great write up and pics for a FAQ,maybe it should be used as a template for them.You should look at posting it on an audio forum or maybe selling it to them as a mod from stockers.

BTW my TV wont work do you do house calls.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

could I plug a i-pod in to that and have it work

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Yep, with the iPod RCA adapter. All this mod does is give you the ability to adjust line level into your amp or crossover (and on/off). So anything that puts out an analog audio signal can be run through it. The best iPod RCA adapter is the one that runs from the bottom port, not the headphone jack. You can get this type with RCA out and charge capability.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

You should try using audio or log tapered pots for volume controls, instead of linear. This will give you the "normal" control you expect from a volume control.

Neat setup. A lot of AA5 tube radios in the 60's had a "fader" arrangement for plugging in a phono; with nothing plugged in, the volume control worked as normal, but, with a audio sourse plugged in, and the radio tuned to an empty spot on the dial, the knob was used opposite of normal (full clockwise was min. volume). I have thought of modifiying my truck's stock radio this way so I can still use it as an AM radio. I know it wouldn't be stereo, but I could mix both channels together with two 1K resistors and get true mono from any stereo source. It wouldn't be hifi, either, but that's why I got a nice amp at home.

Anyway, nice job!!!!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Thanks for all the comments guys. That's what makes posting stuff like this worth while.

Oldgold, I actually looked for logarithmic pots, but found the linear(s) in the right size/shape/specs/price so I went for it. Sweet amp you've got there.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

That is sweet! Wouldn't work on my truck though... with the potholes around here, even a digital mp3 player would skip. :lol: :lol:

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

You could run an HD-Radio receiver through it. Only if it has no pre-amp of it's own. Otherwise there's no point.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

that is friggin awesome! you should sell the converted radios, i,ll bet alot of people would buy them.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

:agree: I want one now :phat:

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

thats amazing!!!
your smart man!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Update!

I decided that mounting the control panel in place of the ashtray went against the whole purpose of running my audio through the factory radio--to keep the stock look. So I ran the cable up the A-pillar (thanks to Rockford Fosgate for providing plenty of it), and over to the the spot between the visors. I will admit that it was easier for me to do this because it's a Suburban with the headliner removed. Yes I did have to drill one hole, but I also weld... Now I can get one of those cup-holder ashtray replacements :)

Here's the before and after:

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

i was thinking about your solution, as well as those guys online that do the radio conversions to modern electronics. after having the radio apart, do you think it would work to gut the inside and replace it with the guts of the one below, which retails for about $30? then still have all the controls and then some?


-

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

You'd lose the tape deck, but who cares. I bet it wouldn't be too hard to make that work. Is that actually a mechanical dial? Interesting idea. Try it!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

yup, it's all analog. i definitely wouldn't care about losing the tape deck. wal-mart and target both sell this radio (wal-mart has the best price, i think.)

the challenge will be to sync the tuning knob. i was actually thinking about replacing everything, even the shafts, and putting the original knobs on it. then, of course, using the original face and tuning dial. i might be able to swing a $30 experiment this weekend... i'll let you know (without hijacking your thread this time...:rolleyes: )

actually, i figure it'll be just less than the quality of the usa-1 autosound ones...so i don't want to spend much on it.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

cstanley wrote:
Hey, that is an idea. I wonder if the board out of a late 70's-early 80's GM AM/FM radio could be made to work in our radio chassis. They both use the permeability slug-type tuner, and even that looks the same. Make an FM only out of it, and just remark the dial for the FM stations. Hmm, I really nead to clear the bench and try this...

The thing that really bites about most newer shaft-tune radios is they don't have the presets, so maybe you can keep the preset feature in your modification, that would be great!!

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

depends...
in my c10, I have a mini jack come from my ipod into back of my headunit, from the ipod headphone jack, you can control volume on ipod...
in my work van I have another that connects to bottom of ipod, no ipod volume control.
I prefer the volume control.

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Now if only there was a way to make the other knob skip to the next track or something that would be really cool.


Nice work - I'll be doing that soon.

-Brian

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

Did you end up with an FM tuner? If so, how is it controlled?

I'd like to modify my 69 pickup's stock AM radio to work to work with a digital AM/FM tuner. If it will also take inputs from a remote CD or MP3 player, that would be a bonus, but not a must have.

Any ideas?

Re: My Factory AM Radio is now mp3 Compatible!
 

That is poetry in motion. I am constantly amused, as well as amazed at the capabilities of the posters on this site. As with everything, I have not done, I find things like this incredible. I admire your courage and quality of work. Not to mention, it beats the hell of those who butcher the dash on their classic truck, to install the latest technology in their rig. I dig the unmolested dash and factory look, with the features of modern technology.

Exceptional work!

Tony