I have the original radio for my 1966 corvette. It works on the bench. I want to restore/replace the components to near original function and put it back in the car. Are there any good radio shops in the Midwest for this restoration work, and it is affordable? Thanks.
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Re: 1966 AM/FM radio
Richard, I'm recording AM/FM radios and how their ID Number equates to the car's VIN. If the radio had the id tag attached and you don't mind would you email me the id number and the last 5 digits of your VIN.
I imagine the id number starts with either FSC, FSD, FSE or FSF.
Thanks
Harry -
Re: 1966 AM/FM radio
Those who work on these older radios are basically into repair vs. 'preventive health'. About the only thing in the radio you have that ages/drifts are the wax foil & mica based capacitors, so the typical radio repair shop is going to put 'er on the bench and confirm what you've seen (no problem) and bill you for their bench minimum labor...
About the only guy out there who understands what you're after (make 'er be in tip top shape with the latest/greatest substitute technology that won't age and deteriorate over time), is Charles Siegfried of Sebastopol, California. But, his services aren't cheap.
Charlie goes through each antique radio, cleans them up, guts the circuit boards of known age suspect components, replaces the components removed with state of the art equivalents, applies all outstanding Delco Remy circuit improvement modifications and then burns the radio in before returning it to you.
The last time I checked he was getting around $400 for his services. The last contact number I have for him is: (707) 823-7927Comment
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Re: 1966 AM/FM radio
i restore radios for the clubs around sacramento ca. what really needs to be replaced are the electrolytic caps. on a mono radio there are 3-4 of them. i think it would be "nice" to replace all the caps but not necessary. i polish the lense, clean and lube the tuner, repaint the pointer if necessary and play it on the bench for a few days. depending upon how much cosmetic work it needs and baring any expensive power transistor that is leaking, a radio usually costs ~$200 plus shipping. i will give u a 90 day warranty. you will need to send the speaker with it so it can be inspected for paper cracks. if you want the buttons and face replated chrome im not your guy. i do this as a hobby to help pay for my car parts and just to remember the days i repaired TV's while going to school. drop me an email if interested.
regards dick
rfnf@pacbell.netComment
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Re: 1966 AM/FM radio
Yep, if an electrolytic cap lets go and leaks electrolyte onto the underlying PCB all (*&^ will break loose! Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often, but I once saw a computer peripheral with a switching regulator power supply that had a big electrolytic cap installed OVER the AC main etch traces that leaked resulting in an open fire that took out not only the peripheral but the entire building the computer system was in!!!Comment
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Jack H: A follow-up question on radio resto
Jack,
Can Charles Siegfried also restore the cosmetics?
GaryComment
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Re: Jack H: A follow-up question on radio resto
Depends on what you want done when you say 'restore the cosmetics'... If you're talking about pulling the chassis enclosure and having it stripped and replated, I think the answer is no. If you're talking about having him purchase a reproduction face plate kit from somebody like Corvette Centeral and install it in place of a scratched/worn original, I think the answer is yes.
If you're talking about removing the original face plate and tuning push buttons and sending them out for re-chrome to preserve the originality aspects there, I believe the answer is no. But, the last time I had Charlie do a '61 WonderBar, he offered to help. He pulled the push buttons and face plate and sent it to me while he was off doing the innards. I took the chrome pieces to my local platter and had them re-chromed and sent them back to Charlie for re-assembly.
So, it's a matter of call, talk, and hatch a plan. I wanted the original face plate components because I'd seen the visible/detectable differences between the factory original items and the reproduction pieces....Comment
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