Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

[Michael L.]

Guys,

I need a recommendation for a good restorer of the instrument panel and the AM/FM radio in my 69. Any advice?

Mike

[Michael M.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

Mike,
I used a company called Electro Design, Simpsonville, SC. The fellow that I talked to is Jerry Rudbeck. Very satisfied with the work and turnaround time. Jerry is easy to talk to and very helpful. Phone 864-363-0947
Mike Markley

[Thomas S.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

I had 2 63 instrment clusters and 2 clocks restore by Redline.http://www.redlineg.com/redlineg/Welcome.html

They were very helpfull and the results on both sets were great. They have the original Sun speedo equipment which is necessary to calibrate the speedometer.

As far as the radio, that’s a seperate art in itself and I don’t beleive Redline offers that service.

If you are not concerned with judging points you can get a dead-on replica from ATR that will look identical to the original and also have the Blu-Tooth option for your phone. I’m not familar with 69’s but if the original speaker(s) use a transformer they will not work and replacing them could be a real challenge - at least that was the case on my 63.

http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/

[Frank D.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

I had 2 63 instrment clusters and 2 clocks restore by Redline.http://www.redlineg.com/redlineg/Welcome.html

They were very helpfull and the results on both sets were great. They have the original Sun speedo equipment which is necessary to calibrate the speedometer.

As far as the radio, that’s a seperate art in itself and I don’t beleive Redline offers that service.

If you are not concerned with judging points you can get a dead-on replica from ATR that will look identical to the original and also have the Blu-Tooth option for your phone. I’m not familar with 69’s but if the original speaker(s) use a transformer they will not work and replacing them could be a real challenge - at least that was the case on my 63.

http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/

I've had four of these repro radios and they are made right here in Florida; they are pretty easy to detect as repros as the front panels and pushbuttons are a bit chincy. One big advantage is that these repros are only about 2" deep and can be removed/installed like a breeze.

There are those that will gut an original radio and put a modern Aurora circuit board in the original housing and it works, looks and feels just like the original...but, it also doesn't work with the original transformer speaker.

www.taymanelectrical.com He did my 63 radio...

[Carmen R.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

Give member Joe Ray a call. (501-680-4740)

Not sure if he does radios or C3's. He definitely does C2 instrument panels.

Very knowledgeable. Very fast and very good.

[Thomas S.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

You are correct on the feel but you can't beast the Blue-Tooth convenience. I rarely use the radio and instead use it primarily for "iTunes". It also allows you to work the phone if necessary.

However thanks you for that tip on Aurora as I had never heard of them before! Being in the electronics business, I would have definitely gone that route with my original restore 63 AM/FM radio. In fact, I'm going to buy the Aurora board and retro-fit the original radio. I won't have Blue-Tooth but I can still use the Aurora AUX in for that purpose.

Here is the web address for other members if interested http://www.tech-retro.com/Aurora_Design/FMR.html

[Frank D.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

You are correct on the feel but you can't beast the Blue-Tooth convenience. I rarely use the radio and instead use it primarily for "iTunes". It also allows you to work the phone if necessary.

However thanks you for that tip on Aurora as I had never heard of them before! Being in the electronics business, I would have definitely gone that route with my original restore 63 AM/FM radio. In fact, I'm going to buy the Aurora board and retro-fit the original radio. I won't have Blue-Tooth but I can still use the Aurora AUX in for that purpose.

Here is the web address for other members if interested http://www.tech-retro.com/Aurora_Design/FMR.html

THe BT-2 Aurora adapter will give you Bluetooth; read about it 2/3 of the way down this page:

http://www.tech-retro.com/Aurora_Design/BT.html

My radio conversion has that as well. It includes Voice Assist and Hands Free calling..

[Richard G.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

Thomas;
I checked the Redlineg link and it was listed as unavailable?

[Thomas S.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

Thomas;
I checked the Redlineg link and it was listed as unavailable?

[James W.]

[Michael L.]

Re: Need a recommendation for a good instrument panel and radio restorer

Guys,

I have another question on the radio resto. For a car I want to have judged do I need to stay with the transformer speaker? Are there look alike non-transformer speakers I can use that would be compatible with upgrading the original radio with the aurora board? I am not an audiophile and have been quite content using a bluetooth speaker and my phone in my other rides so I could just go with a straight up resto on the unit if I had to for judging purposes. The original radio had the transformer under the dash.