Wonderbar repair
#1
Wonderbar repair
I have a Wonderbar radio for my '63 98 that I'd like to get overhauled. A Google search reveals a slew of guys doing these radios. I'm interested in finding out whether anyone out there has any recommendations. In particular, who did you use? Were you satisfied with their service? How quickly did they get the radio done? Were their prices reasonable? What was included, and what was not included? Any surprises?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
#2
I have a Wonderbar radio for my '63 98 that I'd like to get overhauled. A Google search reveals a slew of guys doing these radios. I'm interested in finding out whether anyone out there has any recommendations. In particular, who did you use? Were you satisfied with their service? How quickly did they get the radio done? Were their prices reasonable? What was included, and what was not included? Any surprises?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
#3
It's funny; when I am driving my Firebird, I'm fine with Chris Cornell or Alien Ant Farm or whatever, but when I am driving the 98, I kinda like the golden oldies station, and I like how it sounds on the Wonderbar with the factory speaker. What's wierder is that my kids are getting to be the same way.
Anyway, I want the radio to work really well. It's a compulsion with me.
Anyway, I want the radio to work really well. It's a compulsion with me.
#4
It's funny; when I am driving my Firebird, I'm fine with Chris Cornell or Alien Ant Farm or whatever, but when I am driving the 98, I kinda like the golden oldies station, and I like how it sounds on the Wonderbar with the factory speaker. What's wierder is that my kids are getting to be the same way.
Anyway, I want the radio to work really well. It's a compulsion with me.
Anyway, I want the radio to work really well. It's a compulsion with me.
I don't have a manual on the radios in '63 Oldsmobiles, but I think they are 100% transistor and not much to go wrong unless it just goes 100% dead from a power transistor failing. If it doesn't sound right it might be the speakers need new cones. There are people who rebuild old speakers. Age, heat, dust, and insects can tend to make a mess out of speaker sound quality.
#5
An AM-FM radio is a better investment than fixing a Wonderbar, but that's me. We have a good local AM oldies station, but you get 15 miles out of the city AM radio here is gospel, talk and sports, none of which I can stand for very long.
63 was first year for Olds AM-FM and 63-64 radios are identical except the *****. They're not common as dirt, but they're not complete unobtainium either. Have the front and rear speakers reconed (we've been using a guy in Jackson MI) and use a factory reverb system and you'll enjoy your car.
63 was first year for Olds AM-FM and 63-64 radios are identical except the *****. They're not common as dirt, but they're not complete unobtainium either. Have the front and rear speakers reconed (we've been using a guy in Jackson MI) and use a factory reverb system and you'll enjoy your car.
#6
I've thought about used replacements, changes from factory, and so on, but I've decided that what I want most is to have my original AM Wonderbar radio working perfectly. I have an FM converter so if I want FM I have it, but I like the Wonderbar. I like telling my kids' friends that it has motion-controlled tuning, then wave my hand at the radio while I hit the foot button and watch their eyes turn into dinner plates. Usually I can get them flailing at the radio (it's old so it's a bit finicky, you know). Anyway, I want to use that radio, and I want it working perfectly.
No used radio is going to work any better than mine. Capacitors dry out, and these parts just age and need to be repaired or replaced.
I think I am going to use this guy. He sounds like a cranky jerk, but he seems to know his stuff.
http://www.wonderbarman.com/
I am interested in finding more about the person who does reconing in Jackson, since that's pretty close to me. Who is that?
No used radio is going to work any better than mine. Capacitors dry out, and these parts just age and need to be repaired or replaced.
I think I am going to use this guy. He sounds like a cranky jerk, but he seems to know his stuff.
http://www.wonderbarman.com/
I am interested in finding more about the person who does reconing in Jackson, since that's pretty close to me. Who is that?
#7
An AM-FM radio is a better investment than fixing a Wonderbar, but that's me. We have a good local AM oldies station, but you get 15 miles out of the city AM radio here is gospel, talk and sports, none of which I can stand for very long.
63 was first year for Olds AM-FM and 63-64 radios are identical except the *****. They're not common as dirt, but they're not complete unobtainium either. Have the front and rear speakers reconed (we've been using a guy in Jackson MI) and use a factory reverb system and you'll enjoy your car.
63 was first year for Olds AM-FM and 63-64 radios are identical except the *****. They're not common as dirt, but they're not complete unobtainium either. Have the front and rear speakers reconed (we've been using a guy in Jackson MI) and use a factory reverb system and you'll enjoy your car.
#8
You guys would probably hate this, but I took the og radio out of my 56 and gutted it out. Then bought a regular two **** digital radio bought on ebay for about $6 stripped it off its case and inserted it in the 56s radio case. Works like a champ only thing is you have to make sure the the tunning **** is also the am/fm switch when pressed in(not all two ***** are like this) and that if you want your push buttons to work you have to get a little creative . BTW I do have another stock radio.
#10
The Reverb option may have only come out in '64. I dunno - I sold all my '63 and '64 reference materials. But if you can't find it in your stuff, then it probably wan't available in '63 (at least at the start of production). But I'm sure it would all interchange - if you could find it.
In response to an earlier comment about transistors. I don't know what newer Wonderbars are like, but my '62 has tubes. The standard radio that year was all transistor, but they still had tubes in the Wonderbar. I had a '63 Wonderbar that I stole a part out of, but I forget if it had tubes or not.
Paul
In response to an earlier comment about transistors. I don't know what newer Wonderbars are like, but my '62 has tubes. The standard radio that year was all transistor, but they still had tubes in the Wonderbar. I had a '63 Wonderbar that I stole a part out of, but I forget if it had tubes or not.
Paul
#11
Thanks for the recommendation. I will check Barry out. I'd rather not have to put up with the delay and ranting if I can avoid it.
Norm
#12
Pretty sure Verb-A-Phonic was available in 63 since I've pulled a couple of them out of 1963 cars. May have been a late-year option like power locks in 64.
If you decide to keep the WB, try to find yourself a Sam's Photofact service guide. Photocopy it and send it with the radio to the repair shop; that way you/they know they have the correct service info.
I "inherited" a 66 98 LS with a cantankerous Wonderbar that would not lock onto any stations and would quit seeking only if you shut the ignition off. Between that and the power trunk, my teenage friends could always find something to screw with on that car.
If you decide to keep the WB, try to find yourself a Sam's Photofact service guide. Photocopy it and send it with the radio to the repair shop; that way you/they know they have the correct service info.
I "inherited" a 66 98 LS with a cantankerous Wonderbar that would not lock onto any stations and would quit seeking only if you shut the ignition off. Between that and the power trunk, my teenage friends could always find something to screw with on that car.
Last edited by rocketraider; June 26th, 2008 at 01:07 PM.
#13
I thought that, too. Of course finding such a unit is probably a bit of a challenge. I assume I would be looking for a switch, an amplifier, and a bunch of wire?
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