BluegrassDan
New Member
Adding Bluetooth to my 1967 Chrysler Newport's original Bendix 376 AM radio. Here's a little preliminary sample.
1967 Chrysler AM Radio - Now with Bluetooth!
- Thread starter BluegrassDan
- Start date
Binx
Active Member
Far Out!! Nice 67 by the way, looks like I have it's cousin!
BluegrassDan
New Member
Basically, just following the advice in this video:
However, since the original radio doesn't have any switchable modes, I simply patched the Bluetooth audio output in at the volume potentiometer. Adjust the tuner to a silent channel and Bob's your uncle.
However, since the original radio doesn't have any switchable modes, I simply patched the Bluetooth audio output in at the volume potentiometer. Adjust the tuner to a silent channel and Bob's your uncle.
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'66 Fury I
Active Member
Wow! How is this done? Please share in more detail. Thanx LC
Gerald Morris
Senior Member
Neat hack that! I did pretty well with that cheap sino-receiver w the Koss brand when I bought a bluetooth cassette to pop into the player. With that, I can pipe any audio I want from the 128 GB SD card on my Motorola phone. Bluetooth redeems MANY OLD WEAK amplifiers by permitting folks to use their phones as the initial "pre-amp" and then send clean, strong audio into the amp circuits of these obsolete devices. I add here onne might use some caution in how much initial gain you put on your input.
Using this, I'm able to play my FLAC or even MP3 tracks through to the modest, but sensitive (91 dB) Kenwood speakers described in aother recent thread, to excellent effect! I rejoice in your own method. Nothing I love more than using a LITTLE modern tech to enhance performance of our antiques!
Using this, I'm able to play my FLAC or even MP3 tracks through to the modest, but sensitive (91 dB) Kenwood speakers described in aother recent thread, to excellent effect! I rejoice in your own method. Nothing I love more than using a LITTLE modern tech to enhance performance of our antiques!
Gerald Morris
Senior Member
If I were doing this, I would look for the radio circuit's primary output to the power transistor amp circuit. since these old AM radios used VERY SIMPLE TUNING, that likely would be at the "top" of the "tank circuit" made by the AM coil, and the tuning capacitor for the +side of the audio signal, with vehicle ground as the - side. If the bluetooth input were to come in here, then the volume pot could control the signal just as if it came off the AM coil-tuning cap junction.
WHEN I get time, I plan to open my old Motorola AM radio from Mathilda, and carefully replace all the capacitors. After that, I expect the unit will play. The caps were the components most apt to fail in 1950s-60s audio tech, aside from vacuum tubes. The twin BJT power transistors usually were pretty rugged.
*Electronics guys*: "Oh yeah, this is so easy just flip the 5 Ohm resistor on the output rheostat and then switch out the capacitor on the circuit for the bluetooth- also, snivet, squegging, and spudger"
XD an 'explain like I'm 5' version might help? I'd probably screw this up, as my soldering usually ends up looking like the Elephant's Foot in chernobyl. I'd hate to roast my original radio
XD an 'explain like I'm 5' version might help? I'd probably screw this up, as my soldering usually ends up looking like the Elephant's Foot in chernobyl. I'd hate to roast my original radio
BluegrassDan
New Member
5-year-olds should probably not be messing around with vintage automobile electronics.
[just being cheeky!]
[just being cheeky!]
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A little more money...I wonder if this thing would work? AudioControl ACX-BT1 Add Bluetooth® connectivity to radios with an RCA or AUX input at Crutchfield
It would work but the signal has to be spliced in front of the amplifier section. More modern head units would use AUX-in to do this but with some wiring skill you could make one. I think that's what is happening in the video. Not sure though. And BTW those things can be found elsewhere for 1/2 price. Another option if you have FM radio is one of these that essentially transmits your music to your headunit via an FM band. Just manually tune to that frequency and it plays whatever is on your phone,ipad, etc. Looks like there is an option for AM radio using the antenna input but reviews are questionable. And of course if you have a tape deck there are adapters that include a wire to your phone. All of these put the signal before the built in amp of HU.
GM, while you are at it just add this tiny bluetooth and amp board into you radio. All we need is someone to try this (i may one day) and we can do what the retro radio conversion guys do at a very cheap price.
BluegrassDan
New Member
Here's one more sample of what I've been up to!
Gerald Morris
Senior Member
Looks like a cool tech widget. Be sure, by the time I get to piddle w that old Motorola, something better will be for sale, and I'll grab that. What I REALLY want is a GOOD OLD PIONEER, CRAIG, Kenwood, or even Sony NOS stereo in NOS condition that I can pop into Mathilda and rock out with. That Koss I copped proved to be the MOST EXECRABLY CHEAP-ARSE **** I ever touched! Yes, it plays, poorly. Yes, it fit, just. Yes, it was NOS, as anyone who had heard about these bottom quality sino-ripoff gew-gaws would have avoided them when on the market, relatively recently too.
BUT, it serves its purpose for now, just.... I use a bluetooth cassette cartridge with this ****, and so long as I carefully insert it, it engages the head well enough to give it stereo input.
I've spent all the $$ I'm going to on audio this year, but next, I'll likely correct my mistake. The speakers are decent enough anyway.
REBELLE 300
Member
Do you have a tutorial of this process?
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