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Old Feb 8, 2023 | 06:46 PM
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Default Bluetooth OEM Radio Conversions?

I am looking for feed back on anyone who has converted their OEM radio, to add Bluetooth, USB, Subwoofer, etc but keep the stock visible screen/buttons.

Anybody try this yet?

https://www.tech-retro.com/aurora-design/home.html

It looks like they gut the internal of an original radio and add all new electronics.
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Old Feb 8, 2023 | 06:52 PM
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My dad did that to his 65 radio he only got the input jack. Bluetooth was another 200 dollars more.
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Old Feb 8, 2023 | 07:02 PM
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That looks cool..
i left the oem and aux added then did bluetooth.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...o-8-track.html


https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-repair-2.html




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Old Feb 8, 2023 | 07:27 PM
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My friend had this done on like a 37 chevy in California. I think its the same conversion.
https://fb.watch/izZWORzNCE/
theres a few good vids on how it operates there. Besides installing the new inner parts, looks like they mod the ***** so they switch channels and skip songs.

Another. cheaper. alternative is to use a compact BT amp, like the kenwood kac-m1824bt its basically a standalone but the stereo can still play through it as well.
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Old Feb 8, 2023 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by interpon
Robert is the best
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Old Feb 8, 2023 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
My dad did that to his 65 radio he only got the input jack. Bluetooth was another 200 dollars more.
So how does he like it?

What features did he get?
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 05:00 AM
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Originally Posted by leigh1322
So how does he like it?

What features did he get?
we like it a lot only features is the input jack
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 06:07 AM
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I used S&M Electro-Tech, Inc for this conversion on my 65, I don't recall if I had Buetooth or just the 3mm input plug. I used an upgraded dual cone aftermarket speaker in the front and Infinity PERFT61 kit for my rears. While everything worked fine, I always felt the volume was a little on the weak side.
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr D.
I used S&M Electro-Tech, Inc for this conversion on my 65, I don't recall if I had Buetooth or just the 3mm input plug. I used an upgraded dual cone aftermarket speaker in the front and Infinity PERFT61 kit for my rears. While everything worked fine, I always felt the volume was a little on the weak side.
I will say this on ours I find that true too and the FM transmitter I use in my daily driver as well. Always have to have the volume turned up as loud as it can go just to hear it
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 08:33 AM
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on the set up i posted earlier..i got the 'optional' can make it better than factory sound fidelity improvement (no clue what it means but he said the old circuitry is built heavy duty and can be improved with technology tweak) but i find when off bluetooth to radio that that to match volume the phone needs to be about half..or the bluetooth is much louder when at max volume,..
so if i go to the radio i need to bump up volume if phone is at max..so mine is the opposite.. much louder (but controllable by phone volume) when on max volume..
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 08:38 AM
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Another option is a bluetooth transmitter that costs $20 and simply plugs into the cigarette lighter. I got one because I didn't want to do modifications and also rarely listen to the radio. But I wanted the option for longer trips. I've had FM transmitters in the past and they were trash but I was very surprised by the Nulaxy NX12 that I got. It provides bluetooth to the stereo for music and hands free phone. Easy to operate, no volume issues, and the hands free phone is good too. I stream music from my phone through it to the stereo and its clean sound.







https://www.nulaxy.com/fm-transmitters/
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 10:12 AM
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I did the same that 70s did. Works fine,easy to do and expensive and doesn’t involve me altering the original radio nor taking the dash apart which can be tricky and potentially damaging on these older brittle dashes. The only issue I have with my Bluetooth transmitter that is plugged into the lighter is that it hits the side and turns itself off due to the button position. Easily solved by a different style model or an extension. Ike
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by leigh1322
I am looking for feed back on anyone who has converted their OEM radio, to add Bluetooth, USB, Subwoofer, etc but keep the stock visible screen/buttons.

Anybody try this yet?

https://www.tech-retro.com/aurora-design/home.html

It looks like they gut the internal of an original radio and add all new electronics.
Another option is to simply leave it in place working as is and add a hidden Bluetooth amp, sub and speakers in back. You don't have to bother an original radio that way.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...o-options.html
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Old Feb 9, 2023 | 03:07 PM
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I like the feedback guys thanks!

But my car is all apart and I do not have an original radio anyway.
So I bought a "broken" original with the intent of doing these internal invisible modifications
And I only want to put this car back together one time.
It's maybe a couple hundred more than buying a couple hundred $ Bluetooth amp, but I won't have anything to hide.

When done It will have:
  • no external cords, plugs, remotes, wires, modules, amps, etc to hide anywhere
  • OEM dial flip face still works and 5 working station buttons will remain
  • 4 * 45W power vs 5 or 10 originally
  • Uses improved Modern speakers - much better sound
  • Digital HD radio - AM & FM
  • Bluetooth for streaming and phone calls.
  • USB in & Aux in - I'll put these in the cigarette lighter spot I think
  • RCA line out if needed - can handle a speaker amp
  • subwoofer out if needed
  • Adds rear fader control to factory balance control (virtual)
  • Equalizer and adjustable subwoofer crossovers (virtual)
  • Will probably use Polk or Infinity speakers in dash and lower kick-panels
  • I could fit a small subwoofer in the jack area if needed
  • Nothing visible! It will look 100% stock.
  • Many of the adjustments can be made right on the smartphone
I don't see any downsides to this. I have no radio now. The one I am buying looks good but doesn't work anyway.

Most of the time I probably won't be able to hear it anyway over the LS6 BBC. LOL!

But when I do, I'd like the Jazz & Oldies to sound the way I remember when I used to play Jazz Trumpet in HS & College.

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Old Apr 24, 2023 | 09:31 PM
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I decided to wait on this until Spring Carlisle.

I went there last Friday, met Mike & Christine Frenchenk, and handed over my original radio for them to upgrade with 3 brand new circuit boards.
They are great people, and I got to discuss several options and listen to the difference in the display booth he had set-up.
  • The standard setup has outputs for amplifiers etc.
  • It also has 3.5 mm aux input jack for whatever: I-pods, wired phones, XM receiver, etc.
  • I went for the bluetooth option. It will do phone calls, but I wanted to stream from my phone, like Pandora etc.
  • I also listened to and then chose the HD Radio option as well. The Philly area now has 53 Digital HD Radio stations, and in turning it on and off the sound quality difference between Digital and Analog radio was amazing. It was extremely clear, like a DVD or CD. I did not even know online radio could sound that clear!
  • I will be adding some good quality component style speakers with crossovers etc so I can listen to my favorite Jazz in all it's clarity!
It was worth the drive to be able to "hear the difference" before I went ahead.
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Old Apr 24, 2023 | 11:45 PM
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Wow read through the web site you linked above. That is a very very nice solution.

I did not have the original radio in my 71 and I have since purchased 3 to get something that I am almost happy with.

One looked like the original but not fully and failed after a couple of years. I then went with an AAR unit that looked just like an original and was semi current tech.

It also died and I purchased another AAR for US$850 which I have in the car now. It’s not bad but I can’t get am to work in Australia. Streaming works fine but calls are clumsy. The rca outputs are too low and get induced noise easily so I needed a preamp to boost the signals. Ground loops are also an issue and i had to go through loops to stop noise and amp pop on power on and off. As I said it works well after all the extra pre amps amps etc etc.

The Aurora option looks way cool and will be interested to see how it goes.

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Old Apr 26, 2023 | 09:36 AM
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In stock at Zip. Not cheap, but, looks 100% stock.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/72-76-a...oth-radio.html
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Old Apr 26, 2023 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by SteveG75
In stock at Zip. Not cheap, but, looks 100% stock.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/72-76-a...oth-radio.html
Thats the model that I am on the second one.

Looks great and as I said does all work as advertised. I just found if you want to set it up with amps etc it’s got some issues to work around.
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