convert an AM radio to a AM/FM radio?

Question

I have a 1972 GMC jimmy and I got over ambitious for my senior essay in college and now am somewhat over my head. I need some advise on how to convert an AM radio to AM?FM radio in the Jimmy. The objective being that I want to keep the look of the old radio but I also want to modenize it to get FM. I have turned this project into my senior essay for college and people that said they knew how to help me dont and now I am lost. I kind of get the concept I am looking mostly as to what kind of circuit board I need to use and what not. Does anyone have any advise at all?

I am an electrical engineer, it can be done... i just do not know what type of circuit board to use..the ones i found are too big

Answer 1

a person answered it will take months..he is talkin s.h.i.t
it wont take a day to do..the simplest thing right now is to go to google and find how to make an am fm reciever..u have the am..so make a fm reciever and connect it to the radio using the same reciever coil usied in am reciever..i dont kno what that coil is specifically called..i mean the turning knob is connecten to the coil right..so u will use the same coil..a switch is one more thing u need to switch the power supply between am and fm.. i mean its not at all difficult..i had made an fm player with just one capaciter and one more thing just to recieve one fm station..i did it this when i was in high sckool..it was givin in my course book..best of luck to u..its no a challenge for me if i were u just a matter of few hours to decide the capacitors ,resistors,and ne other thing..using simple formulas to recieve specific frequency and m ready.i am nopt dissapointing u but yes in todays world of ics its difficult to find loose parts.best of luck again

Answer 2

You can't make a microwave out of a toaster. You're talking about using one technology to build another, which is just ***-backwards. You won't be able to use the same circuit to pick up both AM and FM signals. The circuit you will build will be equivelant to an AM radio with an FM radio taped to the side of it.
Build an FM radio who's output connects to the output of the AM, and encorporate a switch to toggle between them.

Connect the output of AM to the N.O. of a switch, the FM to the N.C. of a switch, and the COM connect to your amplifier.

Answer 3

Even if you have the electronic knowledge, it is cost prohibitive, assuming that you can find individual electronic components like capacitors, resistors, coils, transformers, chokes, etc. Individual electronic components have become a dinosaur with the advent of integrated circuits

Back in the late 1980's, Radio Shack use to sell a FM converter you can just hook up to an AM radio and receive FM stations, but those days are long gone. Just buy another radio.

Answer 4

I too, am an electical engineer, with a PhD in electrical engineering and a PhD in applied physics. I also put myself through grad school working as an electronics technician, so I know the practical aspects of electronics. You've chosen quite a project for yourself. It can be done, but it's going to take you months of work. National Semiconductor has AM and FM radio circuits on IC's. I'll see if I can find them. My email address is: [e-mail]. If you'll send me your email addess, I'll email you what I find.

Answer 5

Can't be done unless you're an electrical engineer. Best bet...find a stock AM/FM from that year truck and replace the radio. Probably won't help your project but you're fighting a losing battle on your original method....sorry for the bad news

Answer 6

I was thinking of an FM receivers output connected to an AM transmitter...

Not practical, but would work.

As far as converting an AM radio to receive FM, you 've got your work cut out for you...

Answer 7

There is a tiny circuit board for this purpose, I m looking for it myself. You gut the radio, keep the tuner and voila... No engineers req d, there a a multitude of companies doing just this for approx $400