Our search for components...
Our search for components began in a traditional manor. A good-used music box from a ’64 Ford F-100 had the look that Rob Welborn was after. Keeping in-tune with the theme, a pair of ’36 Ford horn grilles made period-perfect speaker grilles. Reception however, wasn’t good. We’ll be leaving Oz now—traditional tech is black ’n’ white.
In our so-called English language, there are certain words that take a beating. For people like us, these words could include: custom, restored, patina, and last-but-not-least on the list, any variation of the word “tradition”. Like the others on the list, the word tradition is a perfectly good word when used properly. The trouble is that it’s been abused a bit as of late and its expanded definition can create confusion for the geezerly among us. Even so, based on what we see around us today, wouldn’t it be safe to say that the current trend is toward tradition?
Now before you fire off a new-fangled ’lectronic letter to the editor, let me ask y’all a question: How far are you willing to go to maintain traditionalism? It’s not as difficult as many think. And true traditional styling in hot rods goes far beyond red wheels, whitewalls, and flat finishes. If you’re a true traditionalist, you’ll install a truly traditional AM (amplitude modulation) sound system in your ride right away, even though you’ll be sacrificing mandatory rockabilly road tunes for the cause.
In all honesty, we hadn’t...
In all honesty, we hadn’t planned to drill a hole in this finished car. During the coupe’s construction, a modern universal antenna was cleverly concealed within the confines of the left C-pillar, but much to our surprise, it failed to receive the elusive AM signal, proving that AM airwaves can be captured only by a traditional AM aerial.
A truly traditional hot rod music box receives AM airwaves only, and here in Southern California that means no Johnny Dollar, no Johnny Cash, only Juan Dinero, because neighboring Mexican radio stations come in clearly on AM stations.
So with all that said, who’d be traditional enough to poke a hole in hot rodding’s Holy Grail? More specifically, who’d willingly take a hole saw to the exterior of a finished Deuce coupe? That’s what we’re about to do for our customer/friend, Rob Welborn. Now before we continue, y’all should know this about Welborn: he was racing hopped-up gow jobs prior to World War II. With nothing to prove, Welborn is a true traditionalist. So, when cruisin’ his current Deuce five-window coupe on the streets of Los Angeles, all he needs other than the sound of his own glass packs is an AM traffic report.
Unfortunately, a traditional...
Unfortunately, a traditional AM aerial requires a 1-inch hole in a high-profile position. Inevitably, we’ll end up with a long pole sticking up into the sky, making this award-winning hot rod resemble an amusement park bumper car.
There’s just no getting around...
There’s just no getting around it. We know what we must do. In the name of tradition, we are now prepared to proceed with the deed. After pondering our options we decided to go with the 1-inch hole saw.
As an ounce of prevention,...
As an ounce of prevention, masking paper will help to deflect sharp shavings to come. The finish on this car is slick, so we’re hopeful that masking tape will provide a bit of traction for a sharp 1/8-inch drill bit to start—since center-punching is not a safe option. First a speck of black Shinola marks the spot.
Believe me, I put it off as...
Believe me, I put it off as long as I could—I’m nervous about this. With a pilot hole successfully drilled, I’m beginning to feel ill. Is anyone else here beginning to feel ill?
Now past the point-of-no-return,...
Now past the point-of-no-return, we are committed to continue with the 1-inch hole saw.
Taking this in baby steps,...
Taking this in baby steps, we’ll allow things to cool as we go. As it turns out, there’s filler here, so I’m pleased that we’d chosen the hole saw over the step drill and/or the chassis punch on the workbench earlier.
This pneumatic drill has been...
This pneumatic drill has been with me for over 30 years and it’s never been used for anything like this. Ordinarily it’s my little buddy, but today it’s like the smokin’ gun.
Exercising caution, we’ll...
Exercising caution, we’ll remove our masking material, and then blow away any stray shavings with clean compressed air. With the scary part of this job behind us, we’ll brush a bit of primer onto the newly exposed metal and continue with the installation of the aerial.
Ironically, while checking...
Ironically, while checking for burrs on the underside of our newly drilled 1-inch hole, I felt something vaguely familiar—a 1-inch circular patch where I’d plugged an antenna hole during the early stages of the build—in almost exactly the same spot.
After a quick check for even...
After a quick check for even tire inflation, we’ll use a level to dial in the aerial’s verticality. This seemed safer than danglin’ a plumb bob over this finished car—after all we’ve been through, why push our luck any further?
There are other options when...
There are other options when it comes to “non-modern” looking modern audio setups for hot rods and customs wishing to, well, not look modern. Both Custom Autosound and Retro Audio offer retrofit/OE-style(ish) head units and complete sound systems that may or may not fit your needs—all depends on what you’re working with and what you’re after.
If you want to keeps things...
If you want to keeps things entirely discrete—hidden—then consider V8 Audio’s offering as an option. This is an iPod/MP3–type setup (which keeps devices charged), but can also be used with a personal CD player, just no radio or direct CD use.
So, with all due respect for...
So, with all due respect for tradition, the previously unthinkable deed is done, the L.A. traffic station comes in clear enough to hear, and as predicted, Juan Dinero comes in clear as a bell. This concludes a three-year build—our work here is finished.