CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Mild Modifications => Topic started by: bertfam on April 23, 2012, 04:04:16 PM

Title: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: bertfam on April 23, 2012, 04:04:16 PM
Anyone know anything about THIS RADIO (http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/newradiochev67.htm)? It's very pricy (all the repop houses sell it for about the same price), but my radio just died and it would cost close to that to get it fixed. And even then it would still be 50 year old technology. This one "appears" correct, but I haven't seen it up close so there may be some minor differences.

Basically I'd like to know if it really DOES look "correct", how does it sound and how's the overall manufacture quality. It's actually made in the US by ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE RADIO (http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/), so hopefully, that's a plus!

Thanks in advance...

Ed
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: tmodel66 on April 23, 2012, 04:51:05 PM
Ed I don't know about this radio but I got my dash speaker from them and it was spot on. A friend that got a radio from them recommended these guys to me. His radio was for a '62 Gold Edition Impala and it looks great.
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: JohnZ on April 23, 2012, 05:19:40 PM
Ed -

The ultimate "go-to" guy for 50's-60's-70's Corvette radios is Jerry Rudbeck, www.electrodesign.us - he's the best (and most honest) radio guy I've ever dealt with. He restores/rebuilds signal-seeking Wonderbar radios better than new, and can add aux inputs as well. You might touch base with him and see if he does Camaro radios too.
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: Kelley W King on April 23, 2012, 08:11:23 PM
For guys with 69,s Ausley Chevelles in NC sells 69 chevelle unit (exactly like the camaro for $299.00. Looks and sounds great, only thing is the display is digital but you can only tell if it is on. I had 2 others converted by the Florida guys which kept the original AM dial which looks good you just have to preset FM channels. I hear the same outfit makes all the units and others buy their parts.
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: bertfam on April 23, 2012, 08:13:58 PM
Thanks gents. Much appreciated.

Ed
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: 69pace on April 23, 2012, 08:58:58 PM
thumbs up
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: srode on April 23, 2012, 10:08:45 PM
Ed, there was a conversation over on Camaros.net recently about them.  The feedback was they look great but the sound quality is not up to today's standards for radios.  No comments that I remember about the build quality. 
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: srode on April 24, 2012, 12:03:38 AM
here's the link to the discussion over there

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=207002
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: bertfam on April 24, 2012, 02:51:59 AM
Thanks Steve. Looks like there aren't too many options. Go with the reproduction and get an "okay" radio, have someone convert my radio and get an "okay" radio, or go aftermarket and get a good-great radio, but loose originality.

Ed
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: Sauron327 on April 24, 2012, 01:01:49 PM
Larry rebuilds original radios with modern components and sells reproductions. He will also recommend which speakers will produce the best sound at minimal cost. I used to supply him with cores. Have not spoken to him lately.
http://www.woodradios.com/index.htm
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: IZRSSS on April 24, 2012, 01:14:53 PM
Here is another good discussion over at TC & some descent pics, right out of the box; http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=130127

FWIW, I sure like John & Scott's idea's. And if you choose to keep it original I hear this guy is pretty good for re-coning speakers; Jackson Speaker Service, 3921 Pine Crest Ct, Jackson MI  49203 (517)789-6400. Got this contact from SS.
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: tmodel66 on April 24, 2012, 02:16:07 PM
Ed I talked with a local guy that builds high end A and T models, Edsels and such and he said Electro-Tech is the Best in the business.
Here's their link.      http://turnswitch.com/
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: jacmac on April 24, 2012, 11:53:20 PM
Ed,I bought one a couple of years ago.The radio seems fine & sound is ok! What seemed cheesy was when I turn the tuning dial the indicator seems to jump back & forth a little.The radio weights practically nothing & comes with MP3,IPOD,CD,or XM "satellite" inputs.Not a bad radio but $600.00 is a little steep.Overall I give it a 7.I believe their built in Palm Harbor,Florida.
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: sdkar on April 25, 2012, 06:22:08 PM
I have a 69 convertible and one thing I did to improve music output is first, put the two channel/two speaker setup in the dash that is offered by Rick's Camaros. 

http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-kenwood-in-dash-speakers-for-cars-without-air-conditioning.html

I then installed 4x6 plate speakers on the kick panels and used the factory speaker grille like original.    I used infinity Kappa 462.5cfp speakers which is a two way speaker with a mid and a tweeter incorporated.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-mk6dETU5DBP/p_1084625CFP/Infinity-Kappa-462-5cfp.html

http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-radio-speaker-grilles-kick-panel-1967-1969.html

Of course, you could use any decent 4x6 plate speaker that will fit under the factory kick panel grille covers. 

Because I have a convertible, I chose to do without any rear speakers since the factory 6x9's would be buried under the top when it is down and would not provide much in the way of noise.

These four front speakers provide pretty decent sound and clarity.  It may not be the best sound system available, but everything fits in a stock location and is hidden and looks original and provides nice sound quality for not a big dollar investment and no cutting up the car to do it.


Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: srode on April 25, 2012, 09:42:06 PM

These four front speakers provide pretty decent sound and clarity.  It may not be the best sound system available, but everything fits in a stock location and is hidden and looks original and provides nice sound quality for not a big dollar investment and no cutting up the car to do it.
Steve, What do you have for a head unit?
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: sdkar on April 26, 2012, 02:20:41 AM
I have an aftermarket Kenwood am/fm cd player.  For original shows, the radio is a pull out and I have a delete plate I made that fits over the opening and keeps me in the stock class.   

The delete plate you would love.  Instead of spending big money on the aftermarket ones, I made one of plastic, used a woodgrain decal that matches almost perfectly, installed a silver trim using a thin piece of AC metal duct tape and the lower black section painted.  It looks exactly like the woodgrain delete plate, but cost me about $5 to make. 

I have since purchsed a 69 Camaro AM radio the same my car came with new and installing that.  I found the radio at a swap meet for $30.  It had the original knobs and cleaned up perfectly, looks almost new, and works.  I am thinking of putting the AM radio back in along with the column shifter, powerglide trans, and removing the console, shifter and gauges adn put my car back to the way it was.  Then, install an ipod setup under the dash.  I saw where a guy did this and had a plug-in jack for the ipod mounted on the underside of the dash.  I don't listen to AM/FM radio anyway, so why not put it back to original?
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: My68SS on January 03, 2013, 12:44:58 PM
Just picked up one of these repro radios http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/newradio0F.htm (http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/newradio0F.htm) and have to say that the pointer drive is anything but quiet stepper motor precision, sounds more like a sewing machine!
Have made a youtube vid of it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da6oYGFUyzs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da6oYGFUyzs)

When slowly rotating the tuner knob for manual tuning, the pointer moves up and down as well as in and out, in a circular motion as it traverses the dial i.e. it corkscrews it's way along the dial, which strongly suggests to me that the stepper lead screw is running out of center, causing the sewing machine noise.
Let me know what you think.
Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: doomer on October 22, 2013, 12:42:34 AM
... and have to say that the pointer drive is anything but quiet stepper motor precision, sounds more like a sewing machine!


Jeeziminy!

Is that normal for these radios? Did you contact the seller?

I've been considering one of these for a long time, but the uber high pricing has kept me at bay. Seems that for that price, it would support bluetooth streaming or have a usb port hidden somewhere in the back or via a extender wire.

Title: Re: Reproduction AM/FM quality?
Post by: My68SS on October 26, 2013, 12:10:21 PM
... and have to say that the pointer drive is anything but quiet stepper motor precision, sounds more like a sewing machine!


Jeeziminy!

Is that normal for these radios? Did you contact the seller?

I've been considering one of these for a long time, but the uber high pricing has kept me at bay. Seems that for that price, it would support bluetooth streaming or have a usb port hidden somewhere in the back or via a extender wire.



Sorry for my long absence here. Yes, I contacted the seller and he was happy to give a full refund.
The concept is good and the finish is great, but the implementation both mechanically and electrically needs more refiinement.