MAXIMIZING SENSITIVITY / FINALE - 1953 VACUUM TUBE CAR RADIO Part 6 - CHEVY MODEL 986668 [4K]

PROJECT FINALE - Vacuum Tube Radio for a Classic Car Restoration series.

In this last Part 6, we touch on a couple of brief items before wrapping up this interesting project. We take a look at the Sensitivity Control and also the Solid-State rectifier replacement for a 0Z4 vacuum tube we had and see if we are satisfied with its modification and performance. Then we do a field test away from the shop to see how the car radio performs out in the wild, but without a 1953 Chevrolet 210 attached.

In Part 5 we investigated the tar-filled transformer to see if a factory installed capacitor which was in the transformer can was either removed or replaced when a prior Re-Cap job was done. It "Looks Re-Capped".

In Part 4 we looked at putting in a modern, solid-state vibrator into this antique car vacuum tube radio. It will replace the period electro-mechanical design vibrator demonstrated in Part 1 to run quiet and also to provide a longer life for maintenance of the radio.

Also in Part 4 we check and adjust the Alignment of the radio so that is receives as well as it can.

In Part 3 we addressed a vintage Vacuum Tube Car Radio which receives well, but the tuning mechanism was very hard to move affecting the push button capability was well.

In Part 2 we went for First Full Power Up on this Vacuum Tube Car Radio and let's see if it works. We needed a variable DC power supply with enough power to drive all those tubes - now we have one that we had to find and fix, the EICO 1064.

In Part 1 we checked out this old tube car radio which has been worked on with upgraded capacitors in the recent past and test out its transformer and vibrator type power supply and see if we can develop B+.

This radio belongs to the owner of a beautifully restored 1953 Chevrolet Deluxe Two-Ten classic car he has owned for decades since a teen. He picked this vintage tube radio up not long ago but had not attempted to power it up. This will fit into his Classic Car Restoration.

See the checklist which appears when status changes, for tracking what is discovered that needs addressing in Red, followed by Green when resolved.

Playlist:

EICO Power Supply:

VINTAGE TEST EQUIPMENT USED ALONG THE WAY:
EICO 1064 Power Supply and Battery Eliminator ca1962
EICO 625 Vacuum Tube Tester
Fluke 27/FM Mil Spec Multimeters ca1986
Sencore SG-165

NOTE: This is not instruction, it is for entertainment for people like me who enjoy watching projects and the experiences gained. If you attempt to do any of the things in this video you are at your own risk. I am using special tech-bench safety equipment not detailed here so don't take for granted you can just plug these old items in safely without them being checked and repaired correctly. Check out the link below to Mr Carlson's Lab video below.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND REFERENCES:
[note: am in no way representing how these folks have shown doing these things - I don't even think they would approve.]

Great video by Uncle Doug illustrating the technique of measuring the Plate Dissipation Power of a Single Ended amplifier tube. Many thanks Uncle Doug.
Also, general information on Cathode Bias Resistors:
@UncleDoug

@xraytonyb

Thanks to shango066 for championing the approach of "fix it first", before mass re-capping. See shango066 for many examples of that approach.
@shango066

Awesome discussion of bench safety including variacs and isolation transformers by Mr Carlson's Lab (highly recommended):
@MrCarlsonsLab

Modification method for a commercial Tripp Lite isolation transformer for tech-bench use by Todd Harrison, his channel is called ToddFun:
@ToddFun

Camera: Canon G7X Mark III
Mic: Rode Micro
Video Editing Software: Power Director
Video Editor: just me

[jimnewman]

I really enjoyed this video series on the car radio. I learned some good tips on car radio repair. The radio sounds great.

[janbill]

Yes I agree, really good informative series. Very detailed for sure. I should have a much easier fun time getting my 6 volt from 1948. It just mine doesn't have the rectifier tube because the points have two sets of pointsin the vibrator, then I gues it's called synchronous type

[hestheMaster]

Never heard of UF4007 diodes in the Silicon diode world. Silly me. Their features of high surge current capability and
high reliabilty as a replacement diode for lets say a Selenium rectifier in a tube set in the home makes me think I could
use them instead, well if I run out of the 1N4007 ones I have. I'm glad you found that info on the condenser used in the
auto generator and the rest. I knew it was important to design noise suppression for a tube radio in cars back then. We
often forget why certain electrical components were put in cars in the first place. Like tire static? Who knew. One thing
I might ask if after the car owner puts the radio back in his car we can see a video on how well it receives stations after
all this work you put into it PF, like Doug's post below where he mentions that. Great series man! Steve

[peterlidberg]

Very interesting. But are you not you getting somewhat higher voltage readings using the modern digital voltmeters compared to using the old style analogue turning coil instruments that were used when the car radio was new?

[DERB_Seymour_Indiana]

Nice wrap up on the radio PF. Wow, it does seem to be very receptive. LOL Would be interesting to know how well it performs back in the car if that is a possibillity? The one in my '61 Buick is a tube type Delco radio and it would be neat to see the circuitry differences of almost 10 years would be. I think GM switched to solid state radios in '62 or '63. I tested mine in the car back when I got the car about 13 years ago, but have never had it out on the bench to have a look at it. Might have to do that one day. :)