Correct Radio for Chargers

[bakerhillpins]

While walking the swap meet at Carlisle I noticed that radios have several different sets of text on them. (beyond the differences due to the type AM/AM-FM/AM-8Track)

Some say "Chrysler Solid State", some "Solid State by Plymouth".. and so on.  My 69 Charger has a (coded R21) AM/FM radio in it and is adorned with the "Chrysler Solid State" text such as the one below but I wonder if it should have the "Dodge Solid State" text?

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,20275.0.html  This thread suggests that it should say Chrysler but there were no others that confirmed and I could find anything specific in searches.

Just from what I've learned by hanging out here, the Dodge and Plymouth ones were from 68, and the Chrysler ones were from 69, and there were 2 companies making Mopar radios, Motorola had the chrome push buttons, and Bendix had the black ones. I have a nice Bendix radio with black buttons that says Chrysler solid state on it, but my car originally had the chrome buttons and said Dodge solid state on it. If anyone has a chrome button Dodge radio and would like to swap it for a black-button Chrysler radio I would be interested.

[resq302]

pretty sure in 1969 it was supposed to say Chrysler Solid State.

[Dino]

Agreed, never seen a radio in a 69 that said Dodge, always Chrysler.

[bakerhillpins]

Cool.  I was fearing that I would have to try to find a different AM/FM in an already thin herd.

Hey Brian, how is your Wards conversion working? When they made that change does the radio still function as stock or do they rip out the guts and put in a replacement?

[BrianShaughnessy]

Cool.  I was fearing that I would have to try to find a different AM/FM in an already thin herd.

Hey Brian, how is your Wards conversion working? When they made that change does the radio still function as stock or do they rip out the guts and put in a replacement?

I got mine converted by resto radio awhile back to am/fm  40 watts output.   They put in new guts.   It works fine.   I didn't bother with the cd deck hookups or 4 channel outputs.   It's still analog tuning.
Probably much better than the big 5W output from factory am/fm back in the day  bbbbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttttt  you could get better sound from a $100 sopiosonicny  from best buy if you gave up the thumbwheels.     

Vendor at carlisle was selling new am/fm thumbwheel radios for show special $599.   Regularly priced $650.   I said thanks and walked away. 

[bill440rt]

I had mine done by Tayman Electrical in my '68. Did a great job, has the 4 outputs on the back & a jack for CD, iPod, etc.
I ran a cable & tucked it into the ashtray for easy iPod hookup.
Sounds good enough for me.

[bakerhillpins]

So with all of these conversions the radio no longer functions as stock as they rip out the guts correct? I can't see how they would make them work side by side anyhow though so I guess that is what happens. 

I don't want to destroy an original AM/FM that works so I guess If I want other sound options I need to find a dead AM radio and make a fake faceplate.

[Ghoste]

Correct on the lettering.  The "Dodge" ones seem to be a 1968 item.  The "Plymouth" ones are self explanatory.  I believe there is a place in Ontario (Old Tyme Radios?) that if they are still around restores old auto radios, not sure if they modify them though.

[Dino]

So with all of these conversions the radio no longer functions as stock as they rip out the guts correct? I can't see how they would make them work side by side anyhow though so I guess that is what happens. 

I don't want to destroy an original AM/FM that works so I guess If I want other sound options I need to find a dead AM radio and make a fake faceplate.

Correct, it's either stock or a total upgrade, no side by side.

What you can do is find a plain am radio instead of am/fm and have that converted.  It will still be able to receive both am and fm and one of those companies installs a small red led on the face so you can see which one it's set to.  The am radio's are cheap, especially if they're busted.  I would definitely not gut a working am/fm radio.

[nvrbdn]

i have a thumbwheel radio at home. dont know if it works or not. never put power to it. if your interested baker let me know if your wanting to convert a different one. i will have to look at it to see what it says on it.

[bill440rt]

Baker, here's a link to Tayman's 'site for more info:

http://www.garytayman.com/stereo.htm

Basically, the volume knob is the same, & the tuner. All the way to the right is tone. You have to operate a thumbwheel a certain way upon radio startup to adjust the fader. When an iPod or accessory is hooked up it automatically defaults to that device.
It's very easy to operate.

[bakerhillpins]

Baker, here's a link to Tayman's 'site for more info:

http://www.garytayman.com/stereo.htm

Basically, the volume knob is the same, & the tuner. All the way to the right is tone. You have to operate a thumbwheel a certain way upon radio startup to adjust the fader. When an iPod or accessory is hooked up it automatically defaults to that device.
It's very easy to operate.

Thanks for the link Bill!   Interesting read. I need to pull my AM/FM unit and take a look at it's construction. Seems like the thing to do would be to take a dead AM radio and do the conversion and at the same time swap out the AM freq plate for one that looks like an AM/FM unit.  I really should have spent more time talking with the vendors at Carlisle.  Problem is the current funding situation. 

Man, everything for these cars is $400.  Maybe for my birthday or Xmas. 

[bakerhillpins]

i have a thumbwheel radio at home. dont know if it works or not. never put power to it. if your interested baker let me know if your wanting to convert a different one. i will have to look at it to see what it says on it.

Ill PM you about the radio.  Thanks!

[nvrbdn]