Delco Radio Restoration: I Recommend....

[Bearhawg]

Just wanted to share my recommendation for stock GM/Delco radio restoration. Howard Foulds just finished mine and I could not be happier. He was recommended to me by Greg at Turnswitch. Howard did a great job and in record time. He DOES NOT do conversions so don't even ask him. He is a purest and a very talented one at that. It so happens that he is also an extremely knowledgeable gardener so be prepared if you bring it up. I picked a few good tips while I was talking with him. He is a great guy and he does great work. I highly recommend him.

[toms68cst]

Looks like a very comprehensive list. I restore vintage audio equipment too but not professionally. I am limited in my test equipment. Someday I need to get my AM radio out and service it.

Any pictures of the refurbished unit?

[Bearhawg]

[QUOTE=toms68cst;8917921]Looks like a very comprehensive list. I restore vintage audio equipment too but not professionally. I am limited in my test equipment. Someday I need to get my AM radio out and service it.

Any pictures of the refurbished unit?[/QUOTE

The only cosmetics he did was cleaning the dial lense, new decals and polishing the push buttons. the face plate is still pitted but I couldn't care less as I'm thrilled with the results. the only problem I have now is the number of stations it pulls in and overlaps since I'm near a major metro area. Its also amazing how many modern electronic devices put out a signal/noise of some type. goes away as soon as I pull away from the house. no ignition noise whatsoever. I grounded the radio directly to the frame and the frame to the engine block. amazing how many electrical gremlins can be cured with a good ground.

[toms68cst]

Looks great!

I've noticed weird noises too on my am radio. I was alongside a Harley(?) a few weeks ago and I picked up a lot of noise from it's ignition until it pulled away. Modern electronics in todays radios probably deal with that stuff better.

Heck, I can jam out to a good song on my AM radio as much as I can on a good stereo.

[54blackhornet]

You guys actually listen to AM stations. The only thing on AM in my area is C&W plus recorded Rush.

[toms68cst]

Actually lately, I just listen to rattles, transmission whine, throw out bearing and the thrum of my 327. That's usually much better than anything on the radio. Once and a while I'll tune into a local oldies station.

[IronCanine]

As you guys may know Greg from TurnSwitch recently passed away. I think his family is working to keep the speaker side of the business going. They also recommended Howard Foulds to me for radio restoration.

I would prefer a conversion and someone who is willing to refinish the chrome face plate.

Anyone have any additional recommendations/experiences they can share. Turn around time is not the big issue for me. Primarily, quality and completeness of work.

Thanks.

[68 C10 Driver]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

As you guys may know Greg from TurnSwitch recently passed away. I think his family is working to keep the speaker side of the business going. They also recommended Howard Foulds to me for radio restoration.

Sorry to hear about Greg over at TurnSwitch, it is always a great loss when we lose skilled craftsmen like that. I didn't know him, but as a radio guy my self (work mostly old tube radios as a hobby) I know that working this kind of equipment is becoming a bit of a lost art. Hopefully some of the younger folks will find an interest and keep this art going.

My deepest sympathies to Greg's family.

[HotWheelsFan]

I'm curious if noise is introduced from the power wire to the radio.

Modern day power cords to home electronic devices use a ferrite core around them to block or suppress unwanted frequencies to certain devices.

Might be something to look into? Just a thought...


Bob

[special-K]

I never knew about these guys. I'm sorry to hear Turnswitch has passed away.

I never have listened to an AM radio. That was the first thing to go in anything I owned. I prefer all the improvements myself. Purist or not, you can't see the difference but you can sure hear it. They are so many places to convert a vintage radio these days to modern capabilities it isn't funny. Personally, I stick with the guy who has been doing it since before the others ever got the idea. More than likely they got the idea from Mike Hagan www.mikehaganantiqueautoradio.com . I'm sure he'd do a straight restoration as well. But he was a pioneer in vintage radio to modern conversions and he gets my business. He's the best in my eyes

[Beach-Burban]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

I would prefer a conversion and someone who is willing to refinish the chrome face plate.

Anyone have any additional recommendations/experiences they can share. Turn around time is not the big issue for me. Primarily, quality and completeness of work.

Thanks.

Hey IronCanine...I can toss you the two names that were recommended to me, then you can look them up online as they both have very informative websites. Gary Tayman or Richard Blankenship. I can't remember why, but I went with Richard (R & B Vintage Auto Radios) who is in Tennessee, and my radio conversion was just completed yesterday so I don't actually have it yet (it's on it's way to CA)...but Richard seems to do excellent work and posts a wide variety of Youtube videos on completed conversions. Due to the "CHIP" shortage, mine took 10 months...not sure if things are better now, but I'd assume anyone in this business are facing the same or similar hurdles. Besides the conversion, Richard polishes the chrome bezel (not sure if he offers rechroming or not), but I've included the picture he sent me yesterday of mine. I wish I could tell you more but hopefully this will help you explore your options.

Woody

[HO455]

Gary Tayman did mine. It been in the truck for over 32k miles and I'm very satisfied with the conversion.

I didn't get the Bluetooth module in mine so I can't speak to how that works.

Mr Tayman installed the Aurora conversion system in it.

[IronCanine]

Woody...sorry I missed your reply. Thanks for taking the time to give me a heads up. I would have taken your advice. As it turns out, the shop I did choose did an outstanding job. So good that I thought I'd share. I used Joe's Classic Car Radio. Here's a before and after. Pictures don't do it justice.

He did a full soup to nuts. Chromed the face, tone/dummy rings and sourced some deluxe knobs for me. I requested an FM conversion with bluetooth. Every surface, every fastener looks brand new. It even smells good.

[Already Gone]

I plan on getting my original radio converted to A/M F/M with Bluetooth etc and had looked all the shops mentioned in this post. I actually talked with Richard Blankenship about it, he answered the phone, and think I will use him for the conversion. Just gonne put Retrosounds dual coil Ultrathin front speaker up front and seeing my gas tank is not in the cab I am going to " bigblock73's" corner speaker brackets with 6 x 9's. Just want things to look original and be able to use my phone hands free and stream music from it..

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/p...k-series-truck

[mkmc69]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

I plan on getting my original radio converted to A/M F/M with Bluetooth etc and had looked all the shops mentioned in this post. I actually talked with Richard Blankenship about it, he answered the phone, and think I will use him for the conversion. Just gonne put Retrosounds dual coil Ultrathin front speaker up front and seeing my gas tank is not in the cab I am going to " bigblock73's" corner speaker brackets with 6 x 9's. Just want things to look original and be able to use my phone hands free and stream music from it..

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/p...k-series-truck

I like that speaker option. I may check into that myself. As far as conversion/restoration goes, I am going with Richard Blankenship https://www.randbvintageradio.com/. I spoke to him at the C10 Nationals @ Nashville. Very nice guy and the quality of his work is outstanding. I don't think there would be any disappointments in going with him either.

[Beach-Burban]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Woody...sorry I missed your reply. Thanks for taking the time to give me a heads up. I would have taken your advice. As it turns out, the shop I did choose did an outstanding job. So good that I thought I'd share. I used Joe's Classic Car Radio. Here's a before and after. Pictures don't do it justice.

He did a full soup to nuts. Chromed the face, tone/dummy rings and sourced some deluxe knobs for me. I requested an FM conversion with bluetooth. Every surface, every fastener looks brand new. It even smells good.

I'm glad you found someone to do your work...and WOW...it looks incredible!!!

Woody

[Jason Banks]

I have that same speaker, I'd recommend it, it sounds great. I'm using it with a cheapo bluetooth amp and have a radio delete plate.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

I have that same speaker, I'd recommend it, it sounds great. I'm using it with a cheapo bluetooth amp and have a radio delete plate.

Thanks, good to know as never sure with this stuff ths one is a little tough to install on an A/C truck.