Radio Install?

[jaguar6165]

I just converted to a 12 volt setup and so far the short went well and everything work. Ill get to test the headlights tonight. Now that i have 12 volts i want to put in a radio has anyone done this? Are there any specific ones to use? I have done plenty of radios in other cars so i could just go buy anyone but i wanted to know if there were any specialty products out there that would be better to use on a model a. If any one has put one in where did you mount it?

 

[Pete]

I just converted to a 12 volt setup and so far the short went well and everything work. Ill get to test the headlights tonight. Now that i have 12 volts i want to put in a radio has anyone done this? Are there any specific ones to use? I have done plenty of radios in other cars so i could just go buy anyone but i wanted to know if there were any specialty products out there that would be better to use on a model a. If any one has put one in where did you mount it?

I have put lots of them in including 2 way business band and ham radios.
Most were custom fit so if you are handy, pick one you like the looks of and have at it..Under the wire channel in the middle and under the dash at the far right are popular mounting spots.
I have never tried to get the ignition noise out for AM reception because for me there is nothing there I want to listen to.
Most of the customers I have done installations for just wanted CD and tape capability.
The old class D CB radios were AM and were very difficult to get quiet.
Many books have been written on that subject and can be found in the library.

 

[Jason in TX]

I haven't done it yet, but if it were me (I don't know what model car you have)
I would just mount a two channel (two speaker) amplifier somewhere hidden in the trunk for a coupe, or under the front seat for a sedan and then run a mini-plug to RCA cable to the input of the amplifier and use an iPod or iPhone as your music source.

You can now stream like an internet radio any genre of music on the iPhone, and when you are at a show, you can unplug the iPod sitting next to you on the seat, stuff the mini-plug cord down in the seat and voila, no radio in plain view.

I would mount the speakers in the kick panels of the car, but another thought I've had is putting car speakers inside drive-in movie speaker housings and wiring another mini-plug end onto the cords. Then just mount female mini-plug jacks somewhere near the kick panels and when you want to drive and listen to music, hang your drive in speakers on the inside of the doors and plug them into the car. Again, when you stop and want to show, you can unplug the speakers and hide them in the trunk. No one sees your mini-plug jacks under the gas tank and it looks old and stock.

 

[jaguar6165]

I had two portable speakers in the corners of my front seat with a plug for my phone but i got tired of having to plug it in and open the radio/mp3 player everytime i got in and unpluging it when i got out. Im looking at something that will turn on and be ready to go. I had the speakers in the kick panel idea and i think i like it the most but still gotta find out where to put the radio.

 

[Pete]

Here's a couple pics of one install I did.
The rear speakers are woofers.
Amazing how much bass they can get out
of a small unit.

 

[A-Jay]

I think Henry just rolled over!

 

[Kurt in NJ]

I have seen radios that have remotes, you could hide it under the seat

I have a Grigsby Grunow 110, it has a box that is set in a hole in the rear floorboard, then a cable goes to a control head clamped to the steering column, it was first sold in june 1931

 

[Kevin in NJ]

FWIW there were two radios I am aware of that were available during the A production.

The Bendix radio and the Grigsby Grunow model 110.

Some where I read that Ford had considered offering a radio for the A, but it never happened. The Grigsby Grunow model 111 was the Ford factory radio for 1932.

The Model 110 used two through the floor boxes. One had the radio and the other the batteries. The 111 had 2 boxes also, but they used a motor generator for the power. Both had a control head on the steering column and a speaker box.

So, if you really wanted you could have a radio that would be correct for high point judging.

 

[Jack '29 Sport Coupe]

I thought about putting an inverter in one of my antiques just for a radio,
but decided that the noise with the windows down made it difficult to enjoy.
I do, however, plug my CB radio into my 12V jump starter on occasion just
for giggles. I use the jump starter to run my tire compressor and impact wrench
if I ever have tire problems. My old body doesn't do so well with the lug wrench.

Jack

 

[Dennis L Oberer]

I put a vintage 6 volt + ground radio in the coupe without a problem and with no extra drilled holes. AM only but who cares?

Brings in WTMJ all the way from Milwaukee with the antenna I mounted on the rear bumperette bracket.

Email me for photos if interested.

Dennis L Oberer
Green Bay WI

 

[jaguar6165]

Well i went to best buy yesterday, I have a friend that works there and gets a ridiculous deal on car audio. I have decided that i am going to get a modern unit and mount it under the front seat with four 6 1/2" speakers one in each kick panel and two hidden behind the rear seat with a hidden antenna. Hopefully ill have all the stuff tomorrow and can get it installed over the weekend. I gonna try to hide everything so it looks stock.

 

[Del in NE Ohio]

I have a marine am/fm/cd 12v radio in my sedan that has the entire radio hidden out of sight(under the front seat). The radio is controlled by a remote head that fits in a standard accessory guage bracket. Speakers are in the kick panel.

 

[Bjerg_Menneskene]

Here is how I mounted mine - I built a bracket that clamps on to the stiffener that runs i high up on the kick panel (drilled no holes) it also has a lighter socket for the gps you can see.

 

[jaguar6165]

Del in NE what system do you have? sounds like something i would like to look into.

 

[Del in NE Ohio]

Mine is JBL. Got it about 10 years ago. There are several JBL marine stereos available depending on what you want. Most of them are compatable with the JBL REM-30 remote which mounts in a 2" guage bracket/hole and is hardwired to radio. There are also some that have wireless remotes. Only downside is the radio head is out of site, so you can't see freq you are tuning. I just scan from the remote unit. The remote unit can change bands, scan up or down, adjust volume, and on/off.
12V of course. Do a little search on line and see what you can find.

 

[John LaVoy]

In the Fall issue of the Model A Times we will be covering the installation of the Secret Audio system that is completely hidden.

 

[jaguar6165]

In the Fall issue of the Model A Times we will be covering the installation of the Secret Audio system that is completely hidden.

I looked at those and it is what i really wanted but best buy doesnt have them and like i said i have a friend that works there and gets a serious discount. I went for saving a little money. the secret systems were close to 300 for the unit. I got a unit for speakers and sound insulation for 215.

 

[pdora]

Here's a couple pics of one install I did.
The rear speakers are woofers.
Amazing how much bass they can get out
of a small unit.

Pete -- I love the picture of your electronic package and would enjoy more shots in greater detail. While not to everyone's taste, there are some of us who really appreciate lots and lots of electronic devices in a car. I, for one, like to know just what's going on in the engine compartment.

PAD

 

[Pete]

Pete -- I love the picture of your electronic package and would enjoy more shots in greater detail. While not to everyone's taste, there are some of us who really appreciate lots and lots of electronic devices in a car. I, for one, like to know just what's going on in the engine compartment.
PAD

I only have 2 more and neither show the Motorola X9000 6m control head. You can see the control head bracket under the music radio though.
All wiring in the car is teflon covered wire and all circuits are on breakers. Everything electrical in the car has it's own seperate ground and all grounds are brought back to a central bus bar.

 

[pdora]

Thanks. This is very impressive and encouraging.