Keeping 6V but adding a radio?
#1
Keeping 6V but adding a radio?
I'm adamant about not messing with my new truck too much, however there doesn't seem to be a way to add a modern repro radio to the first gen F1s. The 6v to 12v converters max out at 5 amps, and all the cheap chinese ones aren't fully isolated so they won't work. Has anyone figured this out?
#2
A 6 volt positive ground radio is the only radio that will work. If your truck was converted to 6 volt negative ground a unit will be easier to find. You will need to ask around and research any options. Several rebuild radio company’s are aged. And have retired or went out of business during and after Covid. Their might be a guy in Carlyle Pennsylvania. This was years ago. He was a younger guy and I bought a Classic tuner AM radio from him. The price, hope you got deep pockets! They are not cheap. In Radios many are Chinese, stay away from those. Most company’s will not touch them to repair.AJ
#3
There are many products like this that could work at 10 amps (or more depending on the specific product):
Just be careful to keep the aluminum case isolated from the grounded frame and depending upon the radio, it to may need to be isolated from the grounded frame. This overcomes any grounding issues AJ has brought up.
Just be careful to keep the aluminum case isolated from the grounded frame and depending upon the radio, it to may need to be isolated from the grounded frame. This overcomes any grounding issues AJ has brought up.
#4
I run my phone to play a music app, I use Pandora, and use Bluetooth to connect to a portable speaker that runs off USB. I have a dual port power port under my dash. I power both my phone and the speaker off of the power port. I know there are actual USB ports you can hook up but I wanted a somewhat vintage look but you could hide everything under dash. The only thing both devices need is 5VDC. I switch polarity when I mounted the port, look at may drawing.
It can be pretty loud and sounds pretty decent.
https://www.menards.com/main/electri....htm?exp=false
It can be pretty loud and sounds pretty decent.
https://www.menards.com/main/electri....htm?exp=false
#5
#6
The following users liked this post:
#7
Years ago, I bought a radio at Hershey or Carlisle. My truck was always wired up 6 volt negative ground since I bought it in 1978. It’s only am radio, but that’s all I listened to anyway. I didn’t reinstall it when I finished the truck in 2003, because it’s too loud now. I mounted it between the steering column and the firewall. The volume and tuning ***** were mounted separately and connected to the radio with speedometer like cables. I also welded the antenna hole shut and I couldn’t bring myself to make a new hole.
Trending Topics
#8
I have the same aftermarket Motorola radio in my 46 Deluxe. Ralph the Radio Guy brought it back to life and converted it to AM/FM while keeping it 6 volt. https://www.car-radio-conversions.com/
The following users liked this post:
The following users liked this post:
#10
#11
I have the same aftermarket Motorola radio in my 46 Deluxe. Ralph the Radio Guy brought it back to life and converted it to AM/FM while keeping it 6 volt. https://www.car-radio-conversions.com/
#12
Thank you for all the replies! I went ahead and emailed Richard to see what condition the radio has to be in for them to convert it over. I'll have to start looking for a 48-50 radio now.
Another question about radios though, I assume there's no wiring for one already in the truck and I'll need to do this from scratch correct? Other threads mentioned the brackets in the dash for mounting are missing, I'll crawl under there tonight and see what it looks like back there.
Matt...
Another question about radios though, I assume there's no wiring for one already in the truck and I'll need to do this from scratch correct? Other threads mentioned the brackets in the dash for mounting are missing, I'll crawl under there tonight and see what it looks like back there.
Matt...
Last edited by 1950-F1; 03-13-2024 at 07:18 AM.
#13
#14
There is discussion around the bracket here. The shop manual dies not discuss mounting bracket changes between 50 and 51, but does mention some other 51 specific stud arrangements.
Further Radio mounting discussion here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...t-bracket.html
Further Radio mounting discussion here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...t-bracket.html
The following users liked this post:
#15
Just a thought on the positive/negative ground stuff. I bought a’55 Fairlane club sedan in 1984. The battery cables were hooked up 6 volt negative ground. The radio worked. I found out it should be 6 volt positive ground. My wife’s uncle Fry worked at the Ford garage in Ephrata. He said just reverse the cables at the battery and repolarize the generator. The radio still worked and still does. I don’t know if the factory Ford radio makes a difference on grounding?
The following users liked this post: