radio problems

[SixtyEight-F100]

So I decided today that it was my mission to get the AM tunes pumpin' in the '68 F100. Up to this point it has made no noise when turning it on. I started by replacing the inline fuse up under the steering wheel area off to the right. Now, when I turn it on it makes that electrical thump, pop (whatever you call it) sound that you get when an old radio powers on. But, that is all. I still get no sound, etc. I pulled the speaker thinking that it was the issue, but brought it inside and hooked it up and indeed it is putting out sound (though it is deteriorated to near non-existence). I'm assuming that all is left is for the radio itself to be the problem. Is it possible for the radio to make the turn-on "thump" but nothing else? Is it possible to get into these things and just replace a part or two? My challenge is getting the darn thing out. I have factory A/C and doesn't seem to leave much room to pull it out through the glove box hole.

Any insight is appreciated. Even though it is only an AM radio I enjoy the old-school sounds in my old trucks.

Thanks. Adam

[fordman]

someone who knows about fixing radios Will have to help you get it fixed. i don't think we have anyone on the board who knows or admits to knowing how to fix or test them to see whats wrong with them. i could be wrong.

to remove them from a factory a/c truck is very fun. i did it once. i had to remove the glove box. remove the bracket that is attached to the back of it. remove the face plate. remove the knobs and nuts. then you push it all the way back. be careful then you have to kind of spin it in the hole back there. and it will come out sideways i think from the glove box area. it does take some patience. it isn't a quick thing to do. it may be that it has to be tilted and worked out sideways or something like that. i removed it in 1983?4 i haven't done one since.

[hazelnut]

here you go, www.philcoradio.com should be able to find your answer there about your radio.

[SixtyEight-F100]

I'll have to try the twist and sideways trick. The site looks like a lot of good info. If I decide to try and crack it open instead of just replacing it they have a ton of radio parts links in that site. Thanks !

[Joe Kriston]

Also, make sure you're connected to an antenna, and make sure your antenna is well grounded to the truck and the wire connection is good on both sides......These old Philcos were great radios---other than the crackling when you changed the station or volume, they were pretty bullet proof...

[SixtyEight-F100]

okay so I have 2 of these 68 trucks, one of which had a perfectly working radio so I decided to pull that one and put it in the Ranger. I noticed on the truck with the working radio that it had a metal mounting bracket that attached to a stud on the back of the radio and bolts to a metal dash brace. I believe this is a ground. This piece was not in the Ranger so probably explains why the radio wasn't working. The Ranger is a factory a/c truck and I could not fit the radio back in with this bracket so I just made my own ground wiring from that brace and connected to the back of the radio and *viola* I now kick the am tunes. Funny thing is...I really don't think anyone had been back under there since new (ie. glovebox screws, etc appeared to have been untouched to date). Is that possible? Or must that L bracket ground thingy must have been removed at some time? who knows. anyhow, it works now.

[fordman]

i cant remember what the factory a/c radio bracket loks liek or if it even ahd one. i am prety sure it had the same as the regular trucks. i really don't have an answer as to whether someone has removed the radio before or not.

[Mach428]

Yep - same bracket for AC trucks and non-AC trucks. AND the goofy bracket is screwed to the lower part of the dash from the bottom, which is then covered by the the left side of the AC unit.

I removed my AM and replaced with a 72 AM-FM just a few weeks ago. No fun getting it in and out past the AC unit. I think if I were to do it again, I would rather pull the guage cluster and use that path rather than fight the wiper linkage and through the glovebox.

[jeepgod]

you make me want to get out there and fix the am radio in my truck but after 3 years and 2 trips across country I have learned to just listen to the Ipod.

[Mach428]

I have a perfect AM radio that I took out of my truck. PM if interested.

[f1shermun]

I have read on here that there is a condensor near the voltage regulator. I cant seem to find it. I have an awful radio noise that gets worse with the engine.

[f1shermun]

does any one have a picture of that elusive condensor?

[michael69]

It looks just like the one in the distributer for points. Its mounted on radator support.

[papabug71]

I PM'ed a guy on a radio forum, philco section awhile back on my AM radio. His exact words were "the 70's was not a good decade for philco radios."

I found a cool 70's era AM/FM/8 track to put in the truck, so I never got around to fixing my original AM.

[fordman]

look at this link in the top left corner is number 152a. that is the condensor. it is held by a ground strap to the regulator bolt. it plugs into the black plug and yellow wire. http://www.fordification.com/tech/wiring/68-09.jpg