IML: rebuilding AM/FM radios

["Neal Herman" <chrycordoba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Forgive my reply to the whole group, but I couldn't figure out how to reply only to Don, who had asked about rebuilders for AM/FM radios.  What year radios are you talking about-early '80s as you reference below, or something else?  Do you want to merely have them rebuilt to the specs they had out of the factory, or be converted to more modern electronics with CD capability?  My mechanic had an AM/FM with reverb out of my '65 Bonneville rebuilt to factory specs from a company in Kansas, and it came out quite nice.  The reverb in that car is a bit brassy, not refined as the one in the '66 Imperial.  But then what else should I expect, when the Bonneville is a tarted-up glamour-barge and the Imperial is a statement of refined Engelicious elegance!

 

He said to rebuild to factory specs is about $250-$300; a conversion is about $550.  I can get you contacts if you're interested.

 

Neal Herman

1959 Imperial Crown

1966 Imperial Crown

et al.

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Don Hudson

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: 12/29/2004 7:06:30 PM

Subject: Re: IML: Digital radio/81 Imperial Help

I, too, would be interested in this conversion.  Also have an analog AM/FM/8 Track in my 81.  Never have tried the AM or 8 Track but the FM seems to work OK.  I have an AM/FM/Cassette out of an 83 Imperial that I would like to swap over.  I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

Don

----- Original Message -----

From: RWestra@xxxxxxx

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 5:33 PM

Subject: IML: Digital radio/81 Imperial Help

I am trying to replace an original equipment analog dial radio in my 81 Imperial with a digital dial Chrysler radio of perhaps a little later vintage.

The radio I am trying to install is an AM/FM/Cassette with the six small pushbuttons to the left of the readout.  It has the gray and black. 7 wire, 4 speaker system connectors on the back.  I have carefully connected the wires as correctly as I can.  The four positive  speaker wires were connected to the appropriate speaker plug going to the rear amp.  The negative speaker wires were joined together and connected to the black wire on the rear amp plug. 

 

Now the problem.  When I connected the radio to the '81 I got a pulsing intermittent radio sound from the speakers.  I cut the black wire to the plug and the radio worked.  However,  it runs very hot.  After about 15 minutes of operation I saw smoke coming from the power transistor area.   You can see the digital readout dim slightly when heavy base tones are played.  The radio sounds great but I suspect life will be short.  Maybe an hour or so.

 

My suspicion is that with the black ground wire disconnected the power transistors are running out of control and overheating.  By connecting a 10 ohm power resistor in the break in the black ground wire the base tones are subdued but the radio still runs hot.     By now you electronic types will recognize that I have no idea what I am talking about.  But I do need help.

 

Has anyone made the conversion from the analog dial radio to a two plug, four speaker, digital dial, successfully.  If so what do you suggest.  I am tired of pulling the analog dial radio every six month for the bi-annual volume control bath.  Also the tape player has started to eject while playing. 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

                                                                    Rolland Westra