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| You have a dilemma. Your 58 to 67 radio plays perfectly but the
exterior face of it looks terrible. The bezel is pitted. The selector
slider is worn and the buttons are loose or missing. The repair for
these problems is very simple. Just make a call to Zip Products, Inc., 8067 Fast Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 (800) 962-9632. They now have a Radio Faceplate Kit.
This Kit includes a new chrome faceplate, faceplate lens, push bar or
selector bar and 5 buttons. This Kit is easy to install and will renew
the face of your radio turning it from a fading star into a shining
star. We installed a Faceplate Kit on our Project 64’s radio. It went
on easily and only took a few short hours. So let’s get started and
give our radio a much needed facelift. |
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01: Here is our Radio Faceplate Kit. It includes a new
chrome faceplate bezel, faceplate lens, selector bar and spring, chrome
buttons and set screws.
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02: Start by removing your radio from the dash as per
your shop manual. Now remove the faceplate retaining screws and
carefully lift off the faceplate. |
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03: Remove the buttons next. These are sometimes hard
to remove. You may have to use pliers or vise grips. Here we also used
small pieces of wood so that we did not totally destroy the old
buttons. Also remember to pull the buttons straight off. Do not rock
them back and forth. This could damage the button mechanism. |
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04: Since we wanted everything to look new, we
refinished the metal background area on the dial. Tape and paper off
all of the surrounding area. Then use 1000 grit paper to remove any
rust or scale. Light, even pressure should be all that is needed. After
it is sanded, use Semi-Gloss Black spray to refinish the background
plate. |
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05: Carefully remove the faceplate lens retaining clips. These will have to be re-used on the new faceplate. |
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06: Assemble the new faceplate by installing the
selector bar. Align the two tabs on the back of the bar with the slot
in the faceplate. Place the flat retaining spring down over the tabs
and onto the stepped area of the slider bar. Now place a screwdriver
down into the selector bar slot between the tabs and carefully spread
the tabs slightly apart. Break off the top legs of the tab. Now the
selector bar slider should be held in place by the retaining spring. |
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07: Place the faceplate lens and backup metal plate into the faceplate and re-install the retaining clips. |
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08: Install the new radio push button knobs. Make sure
the button stems are fully extended. Hold the stem firmly in place with
a pair of needle nose pliers. Slide the new button onto the stem making
sure it is all the way down onto the stem. |
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09: Use the supplied set screws to secure each button onto its stem. |
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10: Align the slot in the selector bar slider with the
selector arm shaft and carefully install the faceplate onto the radio.
Now re-install the faceplate retaining screws. Move the selector bar
back and forth and check to make sure the dial is changing as it should. |
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11: Here is our radio all assembled with its new
faceplate and buttons ready to be re-installed. A quick and easy way to
give your aging radio a new facelift. |
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RADIO FACELIFT:
HOW TO RESTORE THE EXTERIOR OF THE 58 TO 67 CORVETTE RADIOS
SOURCE:
Zip Products, Inc.
8067 Fast Lane
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
(800) 962-9632
PARTS LIST:
D-555 • 66-67 Radio Face Plate Kit
D-554 • 65 Radio Face Plate Kit
D-553 • 63-64 Radio Face Plate Kit
D-552 • 61-62 Radio Face Plate Kit
D-551 • 58-60 Radio Face Plate Kit Black Letters
D-550 • 58-60 Radio Face Plate Kit White Letters
The Author would like to thank Scott Coral of Greg Donahue Collector
Car Restorations, Inc. for his assistance with this article. |
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