1948 - 1950 Ford Truck Radio Interchange Help!

Okay, here's one for all you Hollander Interchange-wielding Samurais out there: In what other Ford/Mercury model passenger cars can I find the same radio that's in the '48 - '52 Ford & Mercury pickups?

This will help anybody else looking for one, as it can greatly expand their search! I KNOW that the '48 Merc radio swaps off, but am unsure of any others. Can you guys help?

~Jason



This one was $500... AND HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WORKS!!!!
http://www.woolcockantiqueauto.com/Ford-Truck-Radio-Original-1948-to-1950.htm

 

Specs: http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/zenith_ford_8_mf_881.html

8MF881 (8 MF 881) Ford (Zenith Radio Corp.; Chicago, Illinois)

Principle Superhet with RF-stage; IF-Freq. 265 kHz; 2 AF-stage(s)
Tuned circuits 7 AM circuit(s);
Wave bands Broadcast only (MW).
Power type and voltage Storage Battery for all / =6 Volt
Loudspeaker/pwr.out Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) Loudspeaker (moving coil) - elliptical / 6 W
Material Metal case
Shape Chassis only or for «building in»
Valves / Tubes 8: 7A7 (more for members)
Notes Vibrator for +B; 6" x 9" PM elliptical speaker; Push-pull output stage.
External source of data Ernst Erb
Circuit diagram reference Rider's Perpetual, Volume 20

Here's a .PDF of the diagram: http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/435/M0025435.htm

 

Awww hell. I should've just PMed Bob!
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/392315-anyone-know-where-i-can-find-me-one-of-these.html

He even posted schematics of the adapters you can make to get the Merc radio to fit the Ford hole!



As well as the two side-by-side, and some generic buttons from Mac's that fit!



You should definitely post something over here, Bob. And if anybody has anything to add with regards to any other interchange information, either for a '48 Merc or a '48 - '50 Ford Truck, clue us in!

 

Here's the Zenith 8MM890 from the Mercury:

 

Thanks for the post, man. I've got a factory radio in mine, but it only lights up. Not sure if it's a bad tube, or a bad speaker. I'd love to have it play again someday.

 

I thought I saw on here awhile back about an outfit that takes old radios and puts new guts in them to make them modern but keeps the old look. I have a AM radio in my '56, and it actually works sometimes, and it has the wonderbar type of search thing. I'd love to have it redone with modern FM stuff in it. Anybody remember that thread?

 

Snag those specs I linked to (click on the tiny blue floppy icon on that page) and keep 'em handy. Hell, armed with that, a HAM radio shop could probably fix it!

~Jason

 

There's a BUNCH of companies out there doing that! Flip through a Hemming's next time you're out grocery shopping and you'll see 'em.

~Jason

 

BTTT so folks can see me answering my own question. LOL!

~Jason

 

The 8M Merc radio would actually be '49 Merc...
Ford had a kit to put '46-8 Ford/Merc radios into F-1's...I ran into someone at Hershey with a stack of NOS adaptor kits. I's been a long time, but I think the kits were just a bag of straps and wingnuts, not anything that would be visible.

 

This is out of my 51 and was gone through by Rollow Radio Repair @ 918 786 4514. 49 Zenith was the manufacture in 50 Zenith and Colonial and 51 just Colonial was the manufacture.

 

So the '51 & '52 Ford Truck (and '49 & '50 Ford cars and wagon) radios will fit the '48 - '50 Ford trucks as well?

~Jason

 

No, they will not fit without cutting the dash or using an adapter kit. They will not fit into the hole in the dash like the stock one:



The adapter kits show on the 'Bay pretty often.

 

It is probably the vibrator and power tube. These are available for reasonable cost at antique electronic supply 480-820-5411 www.tubesandmore.com I have ordered from them several times to fix my 49-50 radios.

 

I am looking for a FACTORY AM RADIO for a 1948-50 Ford pickup. I was told that a 1951-52 is the same. However I can see differences in the dashes, according to the radio holes, which are different. (The 1948-50 being Squarish in shape, and the 1951-52 being roundish in shape). I have tried a 1951-52 Ford pickup radio in the 1948-50 Ford pickup dash, and can see that it does not fit correctly. So what did a 1948-50 Ford pickup actually look like? And was there a seperate face plate that was installed over the dial once the radio was installed in the dash? Or did the radio dial just stick out by itself? Photos of the factory 1948-50 Ford radio and the the outer face plate, if there was one would be appreciated. And if possible maybe a photo of the radio installed in the dash, as well. Hope someone can help me out. Thank you all for your help. Its greatly appreciated. Thank you again. Dan.

 

The radio did not have an additional face plate. It just stuck through the dash, kind of crude looking.

And no, the radio from a newer truck will not fit without an adapter.

 

This is a stock radio mounted in the dashboard of a '48 truck.

 

Thank u for the info and the photo. Now where can I find a factory am radio for a 1948-50 Ford pickup? It doesn't need to work, just so its all there. Thank u again. Dan.

 

On the subject of this Adapter Kit, U install the adapter onto the radio, then u install radio into dash. So then the adapter basically covers up the hole in the dash, as the radio is a 1951-52 Ford pickup, and its being installed in a 1948-50 Ford pickup, which has a different shaped dial hole. What r the little holes atop the adapter (3 on top and 2 on the bottom) for? R the holes used along with the bolts that hold the radio top and bottom inspection covers on? Or do u have to drill holes in the dash to mount the adapter to that? I have a adapter mocked up out of Aluminum, like the one in the photo, and am just want to know what the 5 small holes are for. So then, does the adapter go behind the radio hole? Or does it go in front of the radio hole? I am going to guess behind the radio hole. Please correct me if I am wrong. Thank U.

 

The adapter plate is.screwed.to the front of the dash through the holes, top and bottom.

 

Ok just so I understand, the adapter plate goes on the outside of the dash, correct? And it attaches via the small screws on the 3 screws atop atop of the radio, and the 2 on the bottom? Am I correct? Thank u for the info. Dan.

 

Here's a picture of the adapter mounted in the dash:

 

Hello all I am new to the site and the classic truck rebuild. I have bought a 1950 ford f1 and I want that adapter kit. Any ideas of where they are without using eBay? I am not a welder or fabricator so I am looking for the screw in kit. Any help would be awesome


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