Help with stock AM radio - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

gerry giordano · 03-31-2004, 07:13 PM

Just got my hands on a stock AM radio for my 69 C-10. To my dismay, the only wires left under the dash are the antenna and a couple of stubby ones from the speaker. The factory manual shows a flat 3 terminal plug in the back with one terminal for the speaker (there's one labeled "SPK" - 2 speaker wires, 1 termianl?) and two for power. I'm certain I can hook this up if someone can tell what wire should go on each terminal etc.

Thanks.

*Gee_Emm* · 03-31-2004, 08:48 PM

When looking at the back of the radio, the 3 terminals. 1st one is label GD, the black wire goes there, middle one has no label, the green goes there and the 3rd one is label spk, I would guess power goes there.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-31-2004, 09:23 PM

Here is a pic of the connector. The black and green wires goes to the speaker. Red is the power wire and plugs into fuse panel.

Jim

SWEET7T · 03-31-2004, 10:42 PM

Jim is right. Your black & green wires go to your speaker (with green being pos). Your red is your pos power to the radio itself (fuse it). Then the radio grounds when you mount it to complete the connection.

Perchjerker · 04-01-2004, 01:10 AM

SWEET7T---- i have had my totally stock, unmolested LWB 71 up to 112 mph radar from my constable buddy with a STOCK 307 2 bbl!!!!!
I'm sure with a little tweaking you can get to 150+ in your old Chevy.

gerry giordano · 04-01-2004, 01:57 AM

Thanks again! Seems pretty straight up. My eyes aren't what they used to be but It looks like there's a fuse on the panel under the steering column makred "Radio" and just above that is a terminal. Is that where I'd get power or should I just run a fused link from the + terminal under the hood?

Quote:

Originally posted by JimKshortstep4x4
Here is a pic of the connector. The black and green wires goes to the speaker. Red is the power wire and plugs into fuse panel.

Jim

JimKshortstep4x4 · 04-01-2004, 09:33 AM

I would use the fused radio terminal on the fuse panel.

Someone posted this pic and you can see the fuse position for the radio if your panel is not marked well.

Jim

gerry giordano · 04-01-2004, 05:50 PM

Connected wire from terminal above, HEAT fuse to radio. Nothing. I got out my tester, swithed to 15V DC, touched the red to the radio terminal in the block and the black to body metal. Ignition was switched to ACC: nothing. Does that indicate a dead terminal and if yes, what do I test next? Electric stuff drives me crazy!

Thanks for all wonderful diagrams.

Perchjerker · 04-01-2004, 06:00 PM

Make sure the tester you have is working correctly and that your ground is good. Doing a little testing on known working terminals. If you do all of that and the thing is still not lighting, then I would check the wires theat run to that terminal or replace the fuse.

gerry giordano · 04-01-2004, 06:25 PM

Thanks for the reply. Looking at JimKshortstep4x4's photo, which "fuse" would that be? It's one of the glass fuses right? Or is there something here I'm not understanding about these old fuse panels? Seems like there ought to be a fuse just for the radio or does it "sponge" off one of the others?

sactoC10 · 04-01-2004, 06:40 PM

Not to rob the thread, but to make it EVEN BETTER...

While workig on radio stuff like this, what is the best way to check if an older radio works before installing it in the vehicle? More specifically, how do you power the radio without blowing it up or melting it down?

Ideas...(that have worked)?

gerry giordano · 04-01-2004, 06:55 PM

I'd like to try this before I put mine in too.

*Gee_Emm* · 04-01-2004, 08:24 PM

Did you put power to the 3rd terminal? And it might not work if there is no antenna hooked up and speaker of course.

Guy Dudebro · 06-16-2014, 06:27 PM

Kind of similar problem. I bought an aftermarket radio for my Chevy c10 p/u. I removed the older one which has a cassette player so I assume strongly it wasn't original. The cassette radio player was connected to the radio wire with a glass fuse.
The power line to my new radio has no application for a glass fuse. Can I re-wire WITHOUT the glass fuse? i.e. get a whole new power line to plugs into my fuse box?

03-31-2004, 07:13 PM	#1
gerry giordano Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 44	Help with stock AM radio Just got my hands on a stock AM radio for my 69 C-10. To my dismay, the only wires left under the dash are the antenna and a couple of stubby ones from the speaker. The factory manual shows a flat 3 terminal plug in the back with one terminal for the speaker (there's one labeled "SPK" - 2 speaker wires, 1 termianl?) and two for power. I'm certain I can hook this up if someone can tell what wire should go on each terminal etc. Thanks. Last edited by gerry giordano; 03-31-2004 at 08:48 PM.

03-31-2004, 09:23 PM	#3
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Here is a pic of the connector. The black and green wires goes to the speaker. Red is the power wire and plugs into fuse panel. Jim Attached Images

03-31-2004, 10:42 PM	#4
SWEET7T Try spinnin 4 rear tars Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 757	Jim is right. Your black & green wires go to your speaker (with green being pos). Your red is your pos power to the radio itself (fuse it). Then the radio grounds when you mount it to complete the connection. __________________ SWEET7T 1970 C10, 2wd, LB, 307/TH350/3.08. PS, PB

04-01-2004, 01:10 AM	#5
Perchjerker Beer Power!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nacogdoches, TX Posts: 280	SWEET7T---- i have had my totally stock, unmolested LWB 71 up to 112 mph radar from my constable buddy with a STOCK 307 2 bbl!!!!! I'm sure with a little tweaking you can get to 150+ in your old Chevy. __________________ Rather be fishin'

04-01-2004, 09:33 AM	#7
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	I would use the fused radio terminal on the fuse panel. Someone posted this pic and you can see the fuse position for the radio if your panel is not marked well. Jim Attached Images

03-31-2004, 08:48 PM	#2
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	When looking at the back of the radio, the 3 terminals. 1st one is label GD, the black wire goes there, middle one has no label, the green goes there and the 3rd one is label spk, I would guess power goes there.

04-01-2004, 05:50 PM	#8
gerry giordano Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 44	Something funny here. Connected wire from terminal above, HEAT fuse to radio. Nothing. I got out my tester, swithed to 15V DC, touched the red to the radio terminal in the block and the black to body metal. Ignition was switched to ACC: nothing. Does that indicate a dead terminal and if yes, what do I test next? Electric stuff drives me crazy! Thanks for all wonderful diagrams.

04-01-2004, 06:00 PM	#9
Perchjerker Beer Power!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nacogdoches, TX Posts: 280	Make sure the tester you have is working correctly and that your ground is good. Doing a little testing on known working terminals. If you do all of that and the thing is still not lighting, then I would check the wires theat run to that terminal or replace the fuse. __________________ Rather be fishin'

04-01-2004, 06:25 PM	#10
gerry giordano Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 44	Thanks for the reply. Looking at JimKshortstep4x4's photo, which "fuse" would that be? It's one of the glass fuses right? Or is there something here I'm not understanding about these old fuse panels? Seems like there ought to be a fuse just for the radio or does it "sponge" off one of the others? Last edited by gerry giordano; 04-01-2004 at 06:34 PM.

04-01-2004, 06:40 PM	#11
sactoC10 71 DELUX Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern CA / Sac Posts: 1,056	related to this subject... Not to rob the thread, but to make it EVEN BETTER... While workig on radio stuff like this, what is the best way to check if an older radio works before installing it in the vehicle? More specifically, how do you power the radio without blowing it up or melting it down? Ideas...(that have worked)?

04-01-2004, 06:55 PM	#12
gerry giordano Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 44	I'd like to try this before I put mine in too. __________________ '69 C-10 LWB, 350, TH350, posi-traction

04-01-2004, 08:24 PM	#13
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	Did you put power to the 3rd terminal? And it might not work if there is no antenna hooked up and speaker of course.

06-16-2014, 06:27 PM	#14
Guy Dudebro Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 72	Re: Help with stock AM radio Kind of similar problem. I bought an aftermarket radio for my Chevy c10 p/u. I removed the older one which has a cassette player so I assume strongly it wasn't original. The cassette radio player was connected to the radio wire with a glass fuse. The power line to my new radio has no application for a glass fuse. Can I re-wire WITHOUT the glass fuse? i.e. get a whole new power line to plugs into my fuse box?



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