radio mount

[1 Crummyshooter]

I have 2 cabs, both have had the radio mounting ears ripped out, damaging the dash. I want to go with an original radio. Any one out there had experience refitting back to the original radio? Pictures?

Thanks

[mstpn2]

Do you have the bezel piece that fills in the radio hole? If you do you should be able to install an oem style radio with just the bezel. It wouldn't be as strong as with the ears but it would work. If you don't have the bezel there's usually a couple on ebay at any given time.

[Uni Moe]

Are you going to listen to the original AM radio? What about using the radio delete plate?

[Busboy]

It should be pretty easy to weld in some replacement sheet metal. I will end up having to do this on my 67 hi-boy if I ever get to it.

[Wilfred of Ivanhoe]

LMC Truck has several radio options. Both original and custom. There's also the harder option of trying to find the parts from another truck.

[gaertner_jan]

Hope you don't mind but I'm gonna hijack this thread! =) I have a similar problem... although I still have tabs in place, mine are pretty badly bent out of shape. These tabs are on the side and bent inwards which leaves me wondering:

1. whats up with the picture in my shop manual??? It shows two tabs attached to the bottom flange of the radio mounting hole??
2. where are these mounting tabs supposed to be for an original type radio? Does anybody have a picture?

thanks! J

[flyboy2610]

Most likely someone put a modern radio in it at some point.
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =a#p624632

[fonfixer]

Im pretty much in the same boat. The truck I'm building had the radio ears cut out for a modern radio, the truck I drive on the weekends is intact. I plan to trace the intact ears on to a piece of sheet metal and cut/grind into the correct shape. My only issue is connecting the two parts. I tried with a MIG and a just burnt holes in the sheet metal (on practice parts of the same gauge). My next attempt will be to spot weld the two, maybe with a third piece behind it all to brace it. If that works then cover the seam with seam sealer and paint.

[gaertner_jan]

Hey fonfixer,

If you get a chance, could you take a picture of your original radio mount? I'd love to see how the ears are supposed to be bent and have not yet found any pictures.
As for the welding: the metal is indeed quite thin. You'll have to play with your weld settings some more and most importantly: "stitch weld". That means just making one spot weld at a time, alternating from top to bottom. One spot after another til you've welded it all up. One more thing you can try is holding your mig torch differently. Instead of coming in at a 90° angle, try coming in at a much smaller angle (flatter). That will decrease weld penetration and distribute the heat better into the metal. Take your time and let the metal cool or use a wet rag to cool it down in between spot welds. It probably won't look too pretty but it'll clean up nicely with a dremel. I often use the cutting discs to gain better control over the grinding process.

good luck! J

[Busboy]

Might be a good candidate for some brazing with brass rod.