1934 Ashtray Radio RHD

Karl

Karl

Well-known member
I'm wondering if a 1934 ashtray radio can be mounted in a right hand drive vehicle .
I realize the cables for the control unit would have to be made longer due to their inputs being on the wrong side if the box unit. The question being is there room to route them across the top of the box.I'm really happy with my glove box radio but having the glove box back would be nice for storage -Karl
 
Hi Karl, My thoughts on this fit up of a centre control radio in a right hand drive 1933-34 Ford. As far as I am aware back in the day right hand drive cars were never fitted with a centre control radio. Ford only ever supplied the Glove Box radio for right hand drive cars, In Australia at least. You would have to make up much longer control head cables and rout them in the front of the radio box but up high. There would be no room directly above the radio box as it is bolted hard up against the horizontal section of the firewall. The antenna co-ax cable would have to be extended as it is routed down the inside of the left front windscreen pillar from the roof antenna on RHD cars and the radio will be on the far right side of the dash above the steering column. I have only ever seen one RHD restored car which has the centre control radio fitted during the restoration, but not original to the car when new. The car is not close to me but I may be able to find out some details if you like. I still prefer the glove box radio for its unique look, nothing else like it and rather special I think. Do you have a centre control radio ready to be fitted ?? Every body asks me why I have two speedos in my car. Regards, Kevin.
 
Thanks Kevin I to like the look of the Glove box radio . It balances the dash nicely. I don't have an ashtray radio but they come up on ebay from time to time, I was just pondering - Its obviously possible but not sure I really want to do it the more I think about it . Still wouldn't mind any info you have on the car you know of but wouldn't go out of you way to get it -Karl
 
In the Ford 1933-34 Book, The glove compartment radio was introduced for 1933. The Ash Tray Radio was introduced in 1934. I would imagine both versions would be correct for 1934. IF this is true, the glove compartment radio would be viable install for your Right Hand Drive. I have in my LHD the Glove Compartment version in my '33. Relatively simple to install.
 
Karl already has a glove box radio fitted to his 34 Ford and I have one in my 34 Ford also. He is enquiring about fitting the ash tray control radio in his car which has problems associated with that fit up because of the control cables are on the wrong side of the radio box when fitted to a RIGHT HAND DRIVE car. Regards, Kevin.
 
How about mounting the radio box upside down (if possible)? Since you are in New Zealand, it will actually be right side up!
 
Could mount the radio box upsidedown to make the control cable fit up easy, but then the speaker opening would be hard up against the firewall insulation panel. Im not even sure if it would fit in that way because the shape of the radio box was designed to go in the correct way. Regards, Kevin.
 
No opinion on if it will work .

For those that aren't sure these are what they are talking about .
 

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I'm sorry Mr. Koates. I misunderstood the intent of Karls post. I can count on you to keep this forum on point.
 
Reviewing the pix in posting #8 would indicate that the '34-35 radio receiver box is very similar, except for the speaker location, which some '35's have, and some don't.
The '35-36 receiver boxes are interchangeable, the only difference being the speaker extension was eliminated from the box making it more compact.
It just might be that a '36 receiver box could be inverted, or rotated, mounting it above the RHD steering column, which would require the relocation of the mounting clips on the receiver box, however, the controls cables would be on the left side of the receiver box. Of course a remote location for the speaker would have to be found.
Might be one of those Yankee Quick Fix things...
 
Is there a problem mounting the box on the left hand side as done with LHD vehicles? I would think if it attaches to the firewall it could be installed there? Is it a steering column mount also or is visibility of the installed under dash box the concern?
 
I think Uncle Buck is correct, although I don't know much about 33-34 Fords, 35-36 Fords RHD mount the radio box on the left hand side, indeed, there are dimples in the firewall indicating where to drill. Assuming 34's are the same, the radio box mounts up on the left hand side up under the glovebox [RHD]
 
34's have the dimples also [ well later ones anyway ] and it mounts with 2 t-head bolts directly to the firewall .

Don't know about 35's but methinks there are serious differences between 34 and 35 radio boxes . Agree they LOOK similar .
 
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Karl, spoke to the gent who owns the RHD restored 34 coupe which has the center control (ash tray) Ford radio fitted. He says the radio is mounted on the left side of the firewall in the same position as it would be in a LHD USA built car. The glove box is still fitted in the original position above and back from the radio. Of course the control head and cables are in the center position in the dash where the ash tray was located. So it seems that you can have your radio and glove box as well but not your original ash tray. I still like the look of that big glove box radio though, rather unique for the time. Regards, Kevin.
 
Thanks Kevin
I'm going to stay with the Glove box Radio set up . It balances the dash nicely and to be honest the amount of extra storage I would get with a functioning glove box is minimal - Karl
 
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