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Retired
04-05-2009, 02:42 PM
So, I have a old original (1970s) AM radio in my Mk1.

On the GC I can not find any AM radio stations and I want to convert it to be able to play my iPod via AUX input.

I have seen this done to similar headunits but there is no info I could find about it.

Anyone have any idea what's involved?

This is the headunit in question:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/03/DSC_0214-1.jpg

Cheers

Retired
04-05-2009, 02:49 PM
Heres a photo of the converted one:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/04/P7100425-1.jpg

The_Hawk
04-05-2009, 02:51 PM
If it was FM you could get one of those FM transmitter jobbies, but since it's not...

There is no reason you couldn't hook up another unit and hide it somewhere else to keep up the OEM facia (no reason you can't leave it working either).

Or for $2k you can get one of these ;)

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/15/retro-radio-with-ultra-modern-features/

The_Hawk
04-05-2009, 03:08 PM
Or whip yourself up an AM transmitter:

http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/radio/am_transmitter.html

HOLEIN1
05-05-2009, 12:20 AM
ive seen this done,however i cant remember what forum it was on...

from what i remember the fellow who did it has a electrical engineering degree so it obviously was pretty invlolved...

also had a much newer standard HU (late model commodore) so the coversion was not as hard due to it having many more buttons to control things such as volume, skip track etc

nothing is impossible though i guess...

Lorenz
05-05-2009, 09:37 AM
You can get adapters to run your iPod (or other MP3 plsyer) in through your arial input on the back on the headunit. Check out Jaycar

davidno64
06-05-2009, 11:43 PM
Heres a photo of the converted one:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2009/04/P7100425-1.jpg

Yes, this radio can be converted. Wont be good quality sound, You're ipod is stereo with good frequency response. Original radio is mono, with poor frequency response.
If you can get a cct. diagram or someone that knows what they are doing, any audio signal can be injected just before the pre-amp stage. Thus only requiring 1 or 2 diodes (cheep), some wire and a suitable connector/socket.
The hard bit will be finding some one to do it.

It would be cheaper and sound better, if you just put a cheep/newer unit hidden away.

ross_m
07-05-2009, 10:09 PM
Yes, this radio can be converted. Wont be good quality sound, You're ipod is stereo with good frequency response. Original radio is mono, with poor frequency response.
If you can get a cct. diagram or someone that knows what they are doing, any audio signal can be injected just before the pre-amp stage. Thus only requiring 1 or 2 diodes (cheep), some wire and a suitable connector/socket.
The hard bit will be finding some one to do it.

It would be cheaper and sound better, if you just put a cheep/newer unit hidden away.

Not quite true. Thats my stereo and it has modern sound quality. It uses an amp and modern speakers. None of the original internals are left

Preen59
07-05-2009, 10:17 PM
Not quite true. Thats my stereo and it has modern sound quality. It uses an amp and modern speakers. None of the original internals are left

More info dude? Cause that's cool as! :)

WABIT
07-05-2009, 10:17 PM
awesome, what would you say if we shipped some radios over to get worked on? :bowdown: would love to have something like this

cheers mate
dom

ross_m
07-05-2009, 10:30 PM
Thats all I know about the stereo. I dont know how it was done and the company who made it are no longer around so cant really help.

mikepologti
14-05-2009, 12:44 AM
:eek: good god! it doesnt evan have a tape deck!