Radio Questions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Collierville TN
Radio Questions
I've done a search on "radio" and read many threads containing some good information. I'd like to ask a few questions related to my specific circumstances, though.
My '74 has the AM/FM mono system. When I bought the car, the AM side worked but the FM side did not. Soon afterward, the AM side died as well. While the AM was working, I got sound out of the driver's side dash only...not the passenger side.
My questions are...
1. Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be wrong with the radio? It seems odd that the FM would fail, then the AM, rather than the whole thing at once. I don't think this mono system is worth repairing unless I can do it myself on the cheap.
2. Should a car equipped with the mono radio have a speaker on the passenger side as well as the driver side? Obviously its not a stereo system but it seems like they would have installed both speakers anyway.
3. If I replace the factory head unit with the 100-watt KHE unit offered by several parts vendors, will the stock wiring work with it?
Thanks!
My '74 has the AM/FM mono system. When I bought the car, the AM side worked but the FM side did not. Soon afterward, the AM side died as well. While the AM was working, I got sound out of the driver's side dash only...not the passenger side.
My questions are...
1. Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be wrong with the radio? It seems odd that the FM would fail, then the AM, rather than the whole thing at once. I don't think this mono system is worth repairing unless I can do it myself on the cheap.
2. Should a car equipped with the mono radio have a speaker on the passenger side as well as the driver side? Obviously its not a stereo system but it seems like they would have installed both speakers anyway.
3. If I replace the factory head unit with the 100-watt KHE unit offered by several parts vendors, will the stock wiring work with it?
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
Your stock radio has an AM side and an FM part of the tuner module...sounds like they each went out at different time...could be a bad amplifier unit as well. I doubt if it's all that uncommon. When I removed the AM-FM from my '69 it had a repair sticker from the late 1980's.
My '69 had speakers in the kick panels on both sides even though the radio is mono.
When I replaced my AM-FM with an FM stereo/CD player I used all new wiring as well as new speakers in the kick panels. I would think the use of such a high power amp should require heavier gauge wiring. Besides, why cut the original wiring up if there is a possibility of reinstalling the original radio down the road. The connections won't be compatible anyway.
My '69 had speakers in the kick panels on both sides even though the radio is mono.
When I replaced my AM-FM with an FM stereo/CD player I used all new wiring as well as new speakers in the kick panels. I would think the use of such a high power amp should require heavier gauge wiring. Besides, why cut the original wiring up if there is a possibility of reinstalling the original radio down the road. The connections won't be compatible anyway.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
I got a JVC radio/CD at Pep Boys for under $100 - used all original
wiring with no problems. Just get a bezel with a radio cut out, or the
face plate (about $65) and cut the bezel yourself. I've got 4 pioneer
speakers - two in the dash and two in the back. I love music but I
don't need/want it real loud. PS- even with a mono radio you can have
many speakers - stereo just means you have 2 separate signals.
wiring with no problems. Just get a bezel with a radio cut out, or the
face plate (about $65) and cut the bezel yourself. I've got 4 pioneer
speakers - two in the dash and two in the back. I love music but I
don't need/want it real loud. PS- even with a mono radio you can have
many speakers - stereo just means you have 2 separate signals.
