Factory radio repair?

[Bill Mc]

hi guys - I have a '91 with the JBL option. Has anybody ever figured out how to repair the headunits when they stop working? I'm a "purist" and i'd love to keep the factory look of the old stereo! I can use a soldering iron, but I don't know much about radios. Thanks, Bill

 

[luigisho]

You might be better off locating a used replacement. If the car is not collectible in condition I would just swap for an aftermarket newer tech unit-- but that is personal preference. If you have a ton of time you may have found a new hobby

 

[sperold]

The replacement is the fastest, easiest solution. But the original one can be repaired to work again. The most annoying thing about old radios is the digital numbers start to crap out, but they can be replaced as well.
As a last resort, put a post on here to get your exact radio (there are at least 3 variants in each year), working or not. If you get enough derelict radios, you will have enough parts to construct a good one. I have gotten radios from Dan Barbush and he knew an incredible amount about them, and how they interacted with the various amps, and what the wiring should look like. In my case, I could get sound out of one side of the car, so there are lots of ways for the unit to go bad.

My memory is foggy, but I think tommyturbo from Chicago mentioned he had a radio repair guy. But no guarantees on that one, as some days the fog is pretty thick.

 

[tommyturbo]

Yes, I have a hookup on 1st gen stereo repair. And I am in Socal, not Chicago.

 

[Bryan]

The factory radios where crap anyway. I agree with luigisho. Get a new radio and scrap the old one. I cant stand listening to the DJ blabbering on anyway in my area. They never shut up.

 

[tommyturbo]

When working correctly, they are not bad stereos, and for the time were quite good.

 

[Bryan]

When working correctly, they are not bad stereos, and for the time were quite good.

Yes, but where do I plug my iPod in at then?

 

[tommyturbo]

You were implying sound quality was the issue, not modern features.

 

[tommyturbo]

Stereo repair guy, paul
[email protected]

 

[Bryan]

You were implying sound quality was the issue, not modern features.

Old school papercone speakers won't have no where near the quality of modern composite materials. This is not to say the speakers in the SHO were papercone, but I doubt they are ANYWHERE near close to what you can get today for audio quality. This goes for the head unit as well. I blew my speakers in the first week in my SHO lol. But I need my METAL loud so that's me.

 

[tommyturbo]

Again, compare to aftermarket of the same time, and it really was decent stuff. Your looking at 30 years of changes now.

 

[sperold]

This ^^^^^^. My 1990 build sheet lists the "high level audio system" as a $486.00 option; and it is the highest cost option on the sheet. So in their day, they were premium. And in top working condition, they are still good.

That being said, there is still something attractive of that blocky, semi military configuration of the radio and its companion accessories like tape and CD players. And how else do you get that matching green readout and back lighting. Overall, it is still the most attractive install.

I am sure they can be reworked to offer the modern conveniences, and in the future, they will be offered in upgraded form; much like you can get a modern, visually identical replacement for the tube radio in you 50's T-bird .

 

[Bryan]

This ^^^^^^. My 1990 build sheet lists the "high level audio system" as a $486.00 option; and it is the highest cost option on the sheet. So in their day, they were premium. And in top working condition, they are still good.

That being said, there is still something attractive of that blocky, semi military configuration of the radio and its companion accessories like tape and CD players. And how else do you get that matching green readout and back lighting. Overall, it is still the most attractive install.

I am sure they can be reworked to offer the modern conveniences, and in the future, they will be offered in upgraded form; much like you can get

My new replacement radio has the same backlight color as the interior of the car. Not hard to do that with a modern radio. Yes I will agree given in their time they were probably decent and top of the line stuff. And hey if you want to keep it original then by all means have at it trying to find the original stuff. But they will never compare to something you can get today. I am not sure of the material of the speakers in the car. Mine still are working (even though I fully intend to blow them with my metal), so I guess they are not all that bad until I get replacements.