Feelings about Rebuilding Receivers

[beatcomber]

I just bought a 1975 Ford and it's clean as whistle. I've mainly had Chevys my whole life but I was looking for a new, well old, car and after reading 100's of reviews decided to try Ford. I can't wait to get it. Looks to be in mint condition but it is all original but super clean inside and out. I've read so many posts about re-lubing and putting new tires on it making it drive so much better and I just don't know if I should keep it as is, drives great, well as far it it drives with nothing to compare it to or have it re-lubed and re-tired. Thoughts?

 

[savatage1973]

I just bought a 1975 Ford and it's clean as whistle. I've mainly had Chevys my whole life but I was looking for a new, well old, car and after reading 100's of reviews decided to try Ford. I can't wait to get it. Looks to be in mint condition but it is all original but super clean inside and out. I've read so many posts about re-lubing and putting new tires on it making it drive so much better and I just don't know if I should keep it as is, drives great, well as far it it drives with nothing to compare it to or have it re-lubed and re-tired. Thoughts?

I used to be into the classic car thing (still into cars, but more modern ones now), and even though something looks mint does not mean that it truly is. If it has been stored (like in a garage/under a cover) for any length of time, rubber still deteriorates, coolant still degrades, lubricants turn to tar, and other fluids attract/accumulate moisture. As a general rule of thumb when taking a vehicle out of storage is to change ALL fluids, add a fuel additive, inspect all rubber components (like tires, belts, hoses, rubber brake lines and door/window seals) for "dry rot" or deterioration. Also a good idea to treat interior plastic trim/dash panels and if leather is present, treat it as well.

 

[beatcomber]

I used to be into the classic car thing (still into cars, but more modern ones now), and even though something looks mint does not mean that it truly is. If it has been stored (like in a garage/under a cover) for any length of time, rubber still deteriorates, coolant still degrades, lubricants turn to tar, and other fluids attract/accumulate moisture. As a general rule of thumb when taking a vehicle out of storage is to change ALL fluids, add a fuel additive, inspect all rubber components (like tires, belts, hoses, rubber brake lines and door/window seals) for "dry rot" or deterioration. Also a good idea to treat interior plastic trim/dash panels and if leather is present, treat it as well.

That is exactly the point I was making. A vintage, unrestored piece of equipment may look brand new, and it may even "work," but the likelihood that it performs like when it was new is highly unlikely.

I used to have both an unrestored-but-working Pioneer SX-780 and also a recapped SX-780, and by comparison the stock one sounded very dark, congested and sluggish.

 

[gadget73]

The question is do you feel comfortable working extensively inside this thing? If the answer is no, then you probably shouldn't go fooling with it. If you are comfortable with electronics, feel free. I've rebuilt a couple of things from this era and got improvements, but usually I was fixing some other problem at the time so I can't tell you how much was the caps and how much was the repair of whatever other fault it had. It is a lot of work, and if you aren't well versed in soldering, electronic in general, and have the proper gear to work on it you're going to have a miserable time of it. A vacuum desoldering tool and a good soldering iron along with sharp small sidecutters are absolutely critical.

While I have no disagreement about the condition of parts deteriorating with age, I just question whether its wise to suggest a very involved overhaul if someone isn't up to doing the work. If you're working on a car you start with an oil change and spark plugs, not a body off frame restoration.

 

[StereoAllDay]

The question is do you feel comfortable working extensively inside this thing? If the answer is no, then you probably shouldn't go fooling with it. If you are comfortable with electronics, feel free. I've rebuilt a couple of things from this era and got improvements, but usually I was fixing some other problem at the time so I can't tell you how much was the caps and how much was the repair of whatever other fault it had. It is a lot of work, and if you aren't well versed in soldering, electronic in general, and have the proper gear to work on it you're going to have a miserable time of it. A vacuum desoldering tool and a good soldering iron along with sharp small sidecutters are absolutely critical.

While I have no disagreement about the condition of parts deteriorating with age, I just question whether its wise to suggest a very involved overhaul if someone isn't up to doing the work. If you're working on a car you start with an oil change and spark plugs, not a body off frame restoration.

oh, I would not attempt it myself, I would hire a tech

 

[savatage1973]

That is exactly the point I was making. A vintage, unrestored piece of equipment may look brand new, and it may even "work," but the likelihood that it performs like when it was new is highly unlikely.

I know exactly what you mean--and this has been addressed in several other threads regarding buying NOS/NIB vintage gear/speakers, and I know several people that have been "burned"--paying premium prices for a sealed/new in box item, just to find out that time marches on, regardless of whether the item was ever unpacked and used or not. Granted, you are getting a pristine (cosmetically) item, but electrolytes still dry out and foam surrounds still deteriorate with time, so your investment in service/restoration is likely to be the same as that for a used unit that could be had for a lot less money.

 

[beatcomber]

I know exactly what you mean--and this has been addressed in several other threads regarding buying NOS/NIB vintage gear/speakers, and I know several people that have been "burned"--paying premium prices for a sealed/new in box item, just to find out that time marches on, regardless of whether the item was ever unpacked and used or not. Granted, you are getting a pristine (cosmetically) item, but electrolytes still dry out and foam surrounds still deteriorate with time, so your investment in service/restoration is likely to be the same as that for a used unit that could be had for a lot less money.

NOS/NIB 30+ year old electronics are only really worth the cost of acquiring if you plan to keep it sealed, as a novelty.

Expecting it to emerge from the packaging and work like it would have in 1977 or whatever would be a misguided notion.