Vintage Car Radio Upgrade 6 Volt Positive Ground

I talk about options to update your car audio, yet retain the stock radio. Bluetooth connection to your phone.

[@n8iws484]

Keith, love your channel and your a tour guide for some of us striving to keep our cars original. Our 46 Ford doesn't have a radio but I did obtain one that's in quite good shape just for display. Previous owner installed a junk am/fm cassette in the glove box, powered by a separate 12v battery. All that has been put in the bin, but I left the wiring since it's already run thru the car. I like the idea of using that micro unit over my other plan. I have Sirirus XM on my phone and don't need a playlist. I installed a Dual brand unit that is super small in our 59 Lark. Same features but I can answer phone calls while I'm driving, bonus. We are the proud owners of now 3 preservation class cars, sadly we had to say goodbye to our 38 Plymouth. Due to a work injury, I wasn't able to finish the radiator replacement. I just got back to work but my time is short to keep working as a heavy truck mechanic. Needed the money to keep our bills paid. I was down for 6 months, it drained us. Always looking out for your next video. Keep safe, and see you on the next one. Dale and Cheryl Konyha

[@ScottIsMyName]

I plan on doing something similar, but with kick panel mounted speakers. The cigarette lighter is a good delete location if you want the volume knob readily available. Unless you smoke, in which case you should quit. Bad habit. ;)

[@OUTFXD]

I have been wanting to upgrade the sound system in my 46 Plymouth Special Deluxe and, Like you, I didnt want to hack up the dash and/or ruin the vintage spirit of my car This could be the perfect solution! Thank you!

[@keithsgarage5831]

Let us know how it all worked out once you are done the install.

[@williamdavis2607]

Thanks for the sound idea. Your Chrysler really looks great with the (factory, I assume) tinted windows.

[@keithsgarage5831]

Yes, factory glass. A tinted slightly green hue to them. Thanks for noticing.

[@lkmsl]

Awesome voice you have !

[@auteurfiddler8706]

I found this video so interesting I ordered the same unit from China. I haven't tried it yet since my 52 Chrysler has a bit of "crunchy wiring," too. Not much, just the headlight wires, but enough to cause a short if I'm not careful.

[@MikinessAnalog]

there are fm to am converters for vintage am radios to tune into fm stations on old am radios. I think in the states it is 88-108MHz from 540 to 1600 KHz

[@davidoffenstein3034]

the company must have made some changes between the unit you purchased and the one I purchased two years later, it will not let reverse polarity. It only works pos to pos, neg to neg. I love you web site, and I have learned a lot from you. In this particuler case the manufacture has changed something.

[@keithsgarage5831]

I am sorry to hear that David. Perhaps something has changed. Mine works fine.

[@davidoffenstein3034]

@@keithsgarage5831 Hey, It's still a great idea, and even after purchasing a 6V Pos to 12V Neg converter it will be way cheaper and have more options than anything else I could do. I am in the process of re-wiring the whole car, and yes! after looking a your videos I'm leaving it all 6 volt!. Thanks again, Dave.

[@davidoffenstein3034]

I did contact the company, and yes there is a reverse polarity safety feature now, as well as some other minor things. I did purchase a 6v positive to 12v negative converter for $50 plus to handle everything. Thank you for heading me in this direction, for a $65.00 purchase, I now have FM radio, and Bluetooth to play off my MP3 player. And I have everything anyone would want for under $100.00 US. They wanted $600.00 just to convert my Packard Delco radio to FM. I cannot thank you enough for saving me this much money. Dave O

[@Sparky-ww5re]

I noticed the car had what looked like lap belts. I always thought cars from that vintage did not have seat belts at all, though some models did offer them as an added option. Were those original, or added later to increase the safety? Nice car, i always had an interest in old classics.

[@keithsgarage5831]

I added the seat belts myself. The value of them is questionable. However it does ease sorme people’s minds when they hop in. It’s mostly a town car at 30mpg cruising. The seat belts may actually offer some restraint at those speeds.

[@caddyman7725]

Great idea! I bought it and just installed it in my ‘55 Chevy truck. It was very distorted. Why? As I type this I saw the part about the equalizer. I’ll try that.

[@joebukovsky8876]

I installed this on my '50 Ford with a dpdt switch as suggested, allowing radio or bluetooth. At anything other than low volume, it is very distorted. Worth it though for $23. Maybe someone will produce a better model that works on 6 volts. edit: I had been using better quality 6x9's. When I switched to some 3" 5w speakers I salvaged from an old TV, it works wonderfully.

[@Mushroomonalog]

Could you provide a link to buy one of those doohickeys?

[@keithsgarage5831]

Mushroomonalog Ebay ads expire so it won’t last long. Suggest you search ebay for “bluetooth board”. About $11 USD.

[@scotneumann1559]

How did you wire the round plug-in that these are supplied with for power?

[@johncelsi9618]

I have a 1930 model A, also with 6v positive ground. Radio's for cars didn't come out from the factory till the mid to late-1930's. I'm trying to improvise some kind of sound system. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. I installed a two port usb connection that shuts off automatically when the engine is turned off. I would like to use that as a power source. Will this work with a good Bluetooth speaker? Like you, I don't want to alter in anyway the originality of the car. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Nice video by the way.

[@keithsgarage5831]

I am not knowledgable in bluetooth speakers or their power sources. I can't advise you if one will work with your USB plug that you installed. Sorry.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

Your would not need this unit Bluetooth receiver amplifier if you had a Bluetooth Speaker which is a speaker with a bluetooth receiver and amplifier. I don't know if there are any for 6 volts. I would look for a 1930's or 1940's vintage AFTERMARKET radio. They have a period look. They are a box with the tuner and amplifier and speaker built in and go on the floor or under the dashboard.

[@christophermckinnon4920]

Check out Richard blankenship. Vintage car radio.com. might be his address . or his name is on U tube. He used a speaker that is DVC ( dual voise cone) to give stereo sound. His conversion is pretty sweet. Unfortunatally, it is top dollar. My 51 88 has a box type delco radio. I looked in my rear deck an there was stamped speaker hole on the passenger side . now I have front and rear ..

[@UNILIBRADO]

This might be an ignorant question but how did you wire it up to power it? I bought one after watching this video but now I don't know how to wire it

[@keithsgarage5831]

I spliced into 6V supply that powers the original tube radio. You could splice into any 6V power wire that switches off and on with the key switch, accessories connection. Other examples may include heater blower motor power wire. What make/model car are you trying to hook it up to?

[@UNILIBRADO]

@@keithsgarage5831 thanks for replyin back.

[@davidoffenstein3034]

I love this idea, so I bought the device you have. I wired it up just like you did, as I also have 6v positive ground. It would not work. I tried hooking it up to a 6V lantern battery, only pos to pos, neg to neg. Then it worked. I don't understand it. Do you?

[@keithsgarage5831]

Flip the positive and negative wires on your power install. Try it again. Be sure you use a fuse.

[@davidoffenstein3034]

@@keithsgarage5831 That's what I did the first time. It would not power up, switching the polarity. It would only power up running the Pos to Pos and Neg to Neg.