69ttop502

In another of my never ending questions, I was wondering if the radio will work ok without the capacitors. I had my original Wonderbar restored and all the capacitors are long gone. Can I use a resistor plug with modern plug wires to cover the absence of the capacitors?

Bill

62Jeff

I believe the radio capacitors just mute static in the electrical system, so I don't see why they'd be necessary for your radio to function, although without the caps there could be static in your music.

62RDSTR

I don't have any capacitors and the radio still functions. However, it takes a couple of minutes before it will work. Not sure if this is normal with or without capacitors.

I know capacitors store energy but I'm not sure if that energy is intended to provide juice to the radio when just starting or if it is used during high power usage. Hopefully someone can chime in and provide more details.

Jim

Double-E

You'll probably pick-up noise from your distributor points, your generator, and when you apply the brakes or use your turn signal; the radio definetely works without the external caps.

62Jeff

Normal. Welcome to the world of Tube radios.

69ttop502

Thanks guys. Jeff, I am going to have to pay you a consulting fee.

Bill

62corvette

The capacitors should not be prohibitively expensive, in spite of what you occasionally see on ebay. The only one unique to Corvette is the one on the back of the instrument cluster--the rest (generator, coil, voltage reg.) are not Corvette-only and could/should be available in boneyards with cars of the late 50's and early 60's.

Frankie the Fink

The problem you have with capacitors (ex-avionics technician here!) is that the old ones were usually wrapped in a waxy paper and eventually started to leak di-electric. If you have any and the wrapping is discolored or the printing smeared its probably deteriorated. It may still work but its not in the original shape of course. They do eliminate static but they now make radio filters you can put in the wiring that do essentially the same thing. If you don't care about originality then:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_003S15A...t.html?tp=2653

john5801

i agree with frd above.

i had my wonderbar converted to am/fm w/ external jacks....and needed the unit to eliminate the am static..
the "crutchfield.com" unit is the way to go if you're not going to ncrs-judge the car.. (well- maybe even if you are). i put mine in the upper most part of the left fender -it's about 2"x4". it's easy to put in and easy to pull out if you choose to put original capacitors on..(or do both) ......you're radio will sound much better..
pn # 003515 A = $20
phone #888-955-6000
hope this help's

Ron B

The old capacitors were electrolytic, and the layer of insulation between the plates deteroriates over the years and the capacitors are non functional.
The capacitors block the DC voltage but allow the AC or static component of the signal to pass thru, effectively bleeding them to ground. As they deteroriate, the static is more noiticeable.