Classic Car Radio Conversion On a 1962 International Harvester 2TMI Radio
Upgrading an International Harvester 2TMI Radio
A 1962 International Harvester 2TMI sat in our stock, transistorized, tired, and silent.
A 1962 IH 2TMI, dusty dead and in need of repair.
A 1962 International Harvester 2TMI sat in our stock, waiting for the right buyer. Consequently, I knew this truck radio would not last long. We listed it and it sold right away; The set is a solid-state rare survivor. However, nobody had powered the audio in decades. Therefore, it sat dusty, dead, and deeply stubborn.
We offer three options for every radio we sell. First, you can buy it rebuilt to original. Second, you can buy it rebuilt original with Bluetooth added. Third, you can have a complete Retro-RAD conversion. This customer chose the conversion. As such, there was no debate about originality, and I planned the job around that.
This job skipped the usual classic car radio repair because the old chassis was coming out anyway. Given this, there was no point refurbishing it. Therefore, I opened it only to diagnose, and I saved my energy for the conversion.
International Harvester, briefly.
Firstly, a word on the name, because it matters. International Harvester built trucks, tractors, and farm equipment. They started in 1902, and they built rugged machines for working people. With this in mind, an IH radio had to survive dust, vibration, and hard labor.
The 2TMI is a 1962 transistorized model. Therefore, it has no tubes. Solid-state arrived in car radios right around this era and this set sits on the cusp between the two technologies.
Accordingly, this radio is a survivor. It earned its rest, and it earned a second life.
Capacitors, a dead transistor, and a cold joint.
Predictably, the chassis told a familiar Classic Car Radio Conversion story. I worked through it methodically and documented my findings. First, the electrolytic capacitors failed ESR testing badly. As well, the first RF amp transistor read as a resistor and I found a cold solder joint cracked near the fisrt IF transformer. Therefore, the chassis is certainly repairable and worth keeping as a donor.
Above all, the permeability tuning slugs, potentiometers and power switch were good. Primarily, these are the old components we use as part of the conversion. I did not repair any of the old tech, because it was coming out anyway. Accordingly, I left the original components untouched and moved straight to the conversion.
Removed, logged, and kept as a donor for future Classic Car Radio Conversion or repair.
I logged every part, its location, and its condition.
Admittedly, I do struggle somewhat removing good components. I am a bit of a purist, and this always bothers me. Consequently, pulling working parts feels like watching a nice old character home get torn down for a new build. However, it is the customer's radio, isn't it?
The original board, transformers and other associated parts, such as the germanium output transistor, now sit in a labeled bag. I will keep them as donor parts for other radios. Importantly, a tired chassis like this one keeps another vintage sets alive down the road.
Four changes, and a 1962 radio learns new tricks post Classic Car Radio Conversion.
This is what a classic car radio conversion looks like in practice. I installed the Retro-RAD. Then, I used a new power line/fuse to power the system.
Next, the dial needed fresh light and fresh paint. I also replaced the old dial bulb with an LED. In addition, I painted the dial indicator with fresh blaze orange. As such, the needle now reads sharp and bright against the scale.
In summary, the bench work came down to four changes:
- Retro-RAD FM and Bluetooth board installed
- Comprehensive detailing
- Dial bulb replaced with a cool, efficient LED
- Dial indicator repainted in fresh blaze orange
A 1962 truck radio that does modern work.
Indeed, the International Harvester 2TMI now plays, and it stands as a textbook classic car radio conversion. The dial glows bright, and the blaze-orange needle reads sharp. Pair a phone, and the Bluetooth streams clean. Consequently, a 1962 truck radio now does modern work, behind a faceplate that betrays nothing.
A lucky pickup will now have its voice back. Importantly, the original parts wait as donors for the next tired chassis.
Some good writing here and throughout your blog. Happy I found this site. My 1962 Galaxie is going to be happy with the radio I bought, too!