Radio operation for a 1957
 

Should the radio operate with the key in the off position?

Nope. The key must be on for the radio to operate. :thumbs:

Please give me source of your reply.

Is this in the owners manual or perhaps in NCRS judging manual ?

I would like to be sure the ignition key must be on for the radio to work before I try to change any under dash wiring and yours is the only reply I received.

Roger,

John is positively correct. The radio is powered only when the key is on, and is a fused circuit sourced from the pink wire coming from the ignition switch. This pink wire has no power when the key is in the off position. Another pink wire powers the directionals via the flasher, which should also only be powered with the key to on.

I would suspect that a prior owner rewired the radio to constant power so it could work with ignition off. This would save the distributor contact points from burning up(if closed), while the radio was playing.

Rich

From the NCRS P.V. (Performance Verification) Judging Manual, and from the Assembly Manual, section F.O.A. 102, sheet 2.00, View "A" - that buss on the junction block where you install the radio fuse is fed from the ignition switch. :thumbs: