My 1969 CST/10 has a Chevrolet AM/FM/8-track player

[dmjlambert]

My 1969 CST/10 has a Chevrolet AM/FM/8-track player
I know that's not an option, but the previous owner installed one from a later model year car or truck.

I have not had the chance to check if it works yet, the speakers are so bad from years of rot, but now I've ordered some speakers and will soon be able to test it.
I don't have any 8-track tapes to test it with! Would anybody like to be a donor for this experiment? I can pay a reasonable price and postage. I just need one for now.

In hopes that this thing works, I've started a list of bands that may go well with our trucks, further opinions welcome:

James Gang
Jimi Hendrix
Steppenwolf
Crosby, Stills, and Nash
Neil Young
Jefferson Airplane
Credence Clearwater Revival
Doors
Rolling Stones
Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Moody Blues
Kinks
Guess Who
The Who
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Roger Miller
Merle Haggard
The Carpenters

[hamjet]

I got my neil young and zeppelin on ebay, good prices in my opinion. I also see them at flea markets...

[Grumpy old man]

I've been collecting them off eBay at a couple bucks each
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[100%Chevy]

I find most of mine at flea markets.
Many are ones I bought new way back in the day when I was in a "Tape Club".I even have a couple tapes by Elvis (religious music) still in the original celophane package.
You may need to replace the rubber drive belt in the tape unit as it is probably rotted.And clean the pick-up head with a q-tip and alcohol.
Learning to splice and re-wind an 8-track is an art!
Mike.

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

My 1969 CST/10 has a Chevrolet AM/FM/8-track player
I know that's not an option, but the previous owner installed one from a later model year car or truck.

I have not had the chance to check if it works yet, the speakers are so bad from years of rot, but now I've ordered some speakers and will soon be able to test it.
I don't have any 8-track tapes to test it with! Would anybody like to be a donor for this experiment? I can pay a reasonable price and postage. I just need one for now.

In hopes that this thing works, I've started a list of bands that may go well with our trucks, further opinions welcome:

James Gang
Jimi Hendrix
Steppenwolf
Crosby, Stills, and Nash
Neil Young
Jefferson Airplane
Credence Clearwater Revival
Doors
Rolling Stones
Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Moody Blues
Kinks
Guess Who
The Who
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Roger Miller
Merle Haggard
The Carpenters

In my first car (1969 Plymouth Fury I), I had a Pioneer supertuner 8 track. It was awesome at the time. I had my favorite tape, Made in Japan by Deep Purple. Smoke on the Water was opposite of Highway Star...so when one would finish, press the reverse button and the other would play....pretty much wore that 8 track out... Great memory.

I still listen to Deep Purple in my vehicles....now it's on a flash drive.

[dmjlambert]

OK, thanks. I ordered a variety-pack of tapes, including Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Neil Young, from eBay. And in case I can't get the in-dash player to work, my longer-range plan is to patch the dash and put a regular stock-looking AM/FM radio in there, and I ordered a cool NOS under-dash 8-track player to install under the dash, under the seat, or in the glove box.

[70shortfleet]

Looks like us old guys are still kickin around here. My very 1st concert (Blind Faith) have a Happy New Year!

[Already Gone]

Yes there are a few us of older guys on here. You have great list and have 80% of them on my IPhone and stream them to a JBL Blue Tooth Speaker that sits on my dash. There is something really cool about driving a 67-72 and listening to music on an 8-Track (probably) attached to the bottom of then dash. To ad a few groups to the list here are my picks.

Abba
The Beach Boys
The Eagles
The Hollies
A lot of Motown tunes and a ton of One Hit Wonders from the 60's and 70's.

[weq92f]

SRV!!!

I think he hit the scene hard in the late 80s/early 90s, which was solid cassette and early disc territory, no 8 track probably but some very good C10 worthy tunes!

I had under dash equalizers in my first C10 ( circa, 1986 ). The more crazy lights the better!

-klb

[dmjlambert]

Oh, man, you're right, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Columbia House made Texas Flood on 8-track, it is somewhat rare.

Under dash equalizers/power boosters! I forgot about those things. When I was young I always wanted one, but never scraped together the money.

[100%Chevy]

My 8 track is under my seat,along with an am/fm,cassette player!
It has a 4 speaker system,mono,not stereo.
I still have the am radio in the dash with it's own speaker.
And,I like CCR,the Beatles,3 Dog Night,Neil Young,Black Sabbath,Deep Purple,Lynard Skynard,etc.About anything from around 1970.
I guess it's an old man thing!
Mike.

[nicklear36]

Bob Seger Night Moves

[Coley]

Post up a pic of your am/fm/8 track.....is it underdash or did it find in the existing holes in the dash?
I've seen a few older systems that look like they would fit in that original dash hole layout.

Coley

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by Coley

Post up a pic of your am/fm/8 track.....is it underdash or did it find in the existing holes in the dash?
I've seen a few older systems that look like they would fit in that original dash hole layout.
Coley

...underdash or did it find in the existing holes in the dash: neither one. It is a hack job. The hole was expanded. I am thinking an 8-track tape would not fit into the factory radio hole, so a player would not either. This radio sticks out a little bit on the right. A bezel kind of makes it look a little better than hideous.

Inside the dash, the radio is huge. The ash tray slide has been removed to make the ash tray sit lower, so the radio will fit. And there has been some weird stuff done with the A/C and defroster duct work to make more room.

So bottom line, it ain't pretty. If it doesn't work I am not going to worry much about it and probably will yank it out of there. If it does work, I'll use it for a while. My long term plan is to make the inside cab of the truck nice, and that will include a radio that does not have a digital display, looks period-correct, and that fits in a repaired factory hole. I am kind of formulating my plan as I go, winging it. After this thread discussion, when I went online to look at 8-track tapes, things shifted a little when I found how reasonable in price is a NOS under dash 8-track player.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by 100%Chevy

I guess it's an old man thing!

Hey wait a minute. I just like old stuff (and you old guys, apparently). I know I said earlier "when I was young" I couldn't afford the equalizer, but that just means when I was like 12. :-)

[70cst]

Did someone say 8 Tract?

[hamjet]

I love my 8-track, I get my tapes from e-bay and flea markets. they're out there..

[67 chevelle]

Charlie Daniels is recommended

[bill3rail]

If you were near NY, I could lend you some to test. A neighbor has and still uses his on a regular basis. No longer has it in his '69 GMC, but he has one set up on his workbench in the basement.

Bill

[100%Chevy]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

Hey wait a minute. I just like old stuff (and you old guys, apparently). I know I said earlier "when I was young" I couldn't afford the equalizer, but that just means when I was like 12. :-)

I meant no offense to you or anyone!LOL!
It's just that most people these days seem to think they have to have the latest and greatest product out there.
I like to collect the old stuff and make it work again.
When I die,they will need an old archeologist to figure out what all my junk is!
I have my dad's 1967 Motorola console with am/fm/8 track/turntable that still works and the same from my step-dad ( A Zenith console).
I'm 63.I bought my first 8 track player in 1968! Had to order it thru the electronics store here in town.
Mike.

[dmjlambert]

Yes LOL, this thread is great! I do remember when 8-tracks, cassettes, and LP's were in the stores. Now it is funny that CD's are on their way out and LP's are coming back. You guys have some really nice 8-track players and artist recommendations. I like using this stuff that was once state-of-the-art, then it became junk, and now it is back to classic retro. One day archeologists will also be scratching their heads about some of the stuff they find in my digs.

[el_fantasma]

With all the musical groups mentioned "the carpenters" seems a little out of place with the others.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by el_fantasma

With all the musical groups mentioned "the carpenters" seems a little out of place with the others.

Playing Carpenter songs were great if you were sitting in your truck with your girl in a quiet place looking at the moon and stars and wanting to... I'll leave it at that !!!!

[weq92f]

^^^^^^^^^^ Watching the submarine races...

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by hamjet

I love my 8-track, I get my tapes from e-bay and flea markets. they're out there..

Hi hamjet, I think your in-dash player looks great. If I could get one of those I think it would be a significant upgrade for me. Can you please tell more about it, such as brand and model?