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By slumlord444 - 8 Years Ago
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Looking for a modern radio for my '57 T Bird. Current one has a casette player and the knob that tunes the stations has quit working. Debating on a modern replacement made to fit the dash or having my original converted to am/fm with all the latest bells and wistles. Any one have any experince with updating an original radio? Local car guy had a bad experience with the conversion.
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By miker - 8 Years Ago
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I’ve got an older Custom Autosound in my 55 12v Bird, and another in an off topic 67 car. They work, they’re not great, and the balance/fader/bass/treble controls are a bit funky. Push and turn, etc. The readout on the bird is failing, so reading the station is by guess, and the OT car has a “fake” decal over the display making it hard to read the channel setting unless it’s dark. They lose the memory on power off when I shut the battery down. I don’t think I’d buy another one.
These guys are really expensive, but it’s all the bells and whistles, and a memory without power from the battery. If you want to convert your original, look at their dealer listings-some do conversions. If I get time, I’ll do the 56 bird version in my 55 this winter.
http://www.antiqueautomobileradio.com
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By Genuinerod - 8 Years Ago
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Pricey but this is what you want:https://classiccarradiodoctor.com/tbird%20tnc%20radio.htm
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By mrmike - 8 Years Ago
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In the past year, I have installed a Pioneer am/fm Cd player with remote inside of my glove compartment. I made my own bracket & mounted it at the top of the compartment & I still have room for my owners manual & other stuff including CDs. A plus is the remote works with the compartment door shut. Wish I had done it years ago. P.S, there are brackets out there for the install & videos on installations.
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By MoonShadow - 8 Years Ago
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There are hidden audio systems out there too. You can hide the modern radio and use a wireless remote to control it. I have a CD player/radio in my roadster with it and love it.
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By slumlord444 - 8 Years Ago
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Anyone had an orginal converted? There are companies that will do it.
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By miker - 8 Years Ago
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I didn’t have an in dash converted, but I had a radio built to go under the dash of my 32. I found a NOS remote (as in cable operated) for a 40 Ford deluxe dash for a 30’s Motorola under dash radio. They converted that to electrically run the am/fm/ Bluetooth. So my iPod would play thru it, of course you’d use the phone now. So, they’re out there and it’s nothing new. The link above shows the dealer network, and the guy by me (WA state) shows conversions on his web site IIRC. If I were starting over, and I am with both Custom Autosound units failing, I’d either convert the original, or bite the bullet for a converted or reproduction OEM radio.
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By ian57tbird - 8 Years Ago
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I can't speak for the repo Tbird radios but my brother got a Mustang unit and odds are they're the same quality. They look the part but the controls feel cheap and nasty. When operating the controls they don't have that nice tight feel that the original stuff had and they felt loose/sloppy. Just made in China junk. Yes it did have a sticker saying made in China on it.
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By Marc - 8 Years Ago
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I had one of those custom autosound radios quite a few years ago. Complete piece of junk. About 3 years ago I sent to radio from my '60 F100 to Joe's classic car radio in South Carolina for restoration and the addition of an I-pod jack. He did a great job and the price was very reasonable. He'll do stock restorations, FM conversions, bluetooth, pretty much anything you want.
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By blockhead2 - 8 Years Ago
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You have three options: Buy a substitute; convert an original radio or buy a clone. I do not recommend buying an after market substitute. Most buyers of those radios regret it after a year or two. See the above reviews. Converting an original radio to AM/FM gives the best looks and all the advantages of modern radios such as high power multiple speaker outputs, MP3 input and bluetooth. Reliability is a plus. Costs range from $400 up. The exact clones are good for those that don't have an original radio. With the clone you get new knobs and show quality chrome. Prices start at $600. Buying an original radio and converting it can be a lower cost unless you have to add in the cost of knobs and chrome plating.
For more info go here: https://classiccarradiodoctor.com/
'55 Tbird
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By dbird - 8 Years Ago
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I have on of the repops in my 55 and like it so much better than the Custom Autosound that I had before. The autosound only lasted a couple of years, about the same length of time I've had this unit. It looks stock, sounds good, but does have some idiosyncrasies that might have been corrected in newer units. Worst thing about it is it makes the rest of my dash chrome look worn.
Don
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By miker - 8 Years Ago
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Don, could you share which unit you have, and what the idiosyncrasies it has? I’m going to be doing a couple of them, and probably a recommendation to an OT friend who’s in the market.
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By DryLakesRacer - 8 Years Ago
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I had my 56 gutted and an am/fm installed 6 yrs ago. Kept the original push buttons. First turn on fm, turn off and back on am. Was done in central Cali, found in Hemmings.
Much has changed. After the new yr a guy I know is going to up date it all the goodies and phone friendly. Showed me one he did on a 40 ford that plays Sirius radio from an app from his phone. No antenna. A lot changes quickly with Technolgy.
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By slumlord444 - 8 Years Ago
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Thanks for the input. I am thinking having mine converted might be the best option. How do you see where the FM stations are with the original radio converted?
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By miker - 8 Years Ago
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Depends on the conversion. Near as I can tell, some are by guessing. On the stock display putting 2 bands in means I need my magnifying reading glasses to read either one.
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