The Ford Barn

38 coupe · 07-06-2025, 05:41 AM

Thank you for posting this, it was a fun read.
Both my 38 Fords have functioning AM only tube radios, which is a bit of a waste. Other than showing people the radios work I never turn them on, since there is very little on the AM dial to listen to these days. Great ideas to make the radio function in a fun way again.
One question, have you considered using LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs in the radio? Another reason I don't use the tube radios in the 38s is the amp draw when the engine is off. I suspect your setup might be low enough amp draw to be playable with the engine off, and that might be helped with low amp draw LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs. Just a thought on a great project and very interesting series of posts.

07-06-2025, 05:41 AM	#5
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,135	Re: 1940 Ford Zenith Radio Project Thank you for posting this, it was a fun read. Both my 38 Fords have functioning AM only tube radios, which is a bit of a waste. Other than showing people the radios work I never turn them on, since there is very little on the AM dial to listen to these days. Great ideas to make the radio function in a fun way again. One question, have you considered using LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs in the radio? Another reason I don't use the tube radios in the 38s is the amp draw when the engine is off. I suspect your setup might be low enough amp draw to be playable with the engine off, and that might be helped with low amp draw LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs. Just a thought on a great project and very interesting series of posts.