AM RADIO basic install questions

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couchcuts
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AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by couchcuts »

Hello I have learned a bit from the material on this site so far and I was hoping someone can help me out with some basic AM radio install questions.

When I bought my 1970 F100 the previous owner gave me a AM radio that he got from a '72.

My truck originaly came with the radio delete option, would I be missing key parts to get the radio working?


Last night I got my glovebox off and got a better look around


What should I look for as far as a power source?
What is going to hold that radio in place besides the two bolts up front?

Also, the AM radio that I have has two wires coming out of it, is the black one for a speaker and white for power?
thanks

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Image
Last edited by couchcuts on Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:03 pm, edited 5 times in total.
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=64227

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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by 70 ranger »

The double plug is for the speaker. The wire with the white end is half of a fuse holder for the power. Do you have a speaker in your dash? If so it should have the other end of the plug hanging from it. Hook the power up with a fuse and you will be rockin in no time! :thup:
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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by couchcuts »

Great thanks

I do not have a speaker in the dash, I did some research and found this speaker.

http://macsautoparts.com/cart.asp?qo=complete

I am not sure if it has the same connection for the two plug speaker wire, but it does look like it will fit.
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=64227

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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by Montana71-F100 »

The back of the radio is held up by a bracket that goes from the bolt in the back of the radio to a support to the left of the radio. There is one here:

http://www.vendio.com/stores/weldon707/ ... id=2422747
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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by Mancar1 »

couchcuts wrote:Great thanks

I do not have a speaker in the dash, I did some research and found this speaker.

http://macsautoparts.com/cart.asp?qo=complete

I am not sure if it has the same connection for the two plug speaker wire, but it does look like it will fit.
I have the original mono dash speaker out of my 68 if you need it.
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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by 70_F100 »

Mancar1 wrote:
couchcuts wrote:Great thanks

I do not have a speaker in the dash, I did some research and found this speaker.

http://macsautoparts.com/cart.asp?qo=complete

I am not sure if it has the same connection for the two plug speaker wire, but it does look like it will fit.
I have the original mono dash speaker out of my 68 if you need it.
John, that speaker is not compatible with a 72 radio.

Wrong impedance.
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That's not an oil leak :nono: That's SWEAT from all that HORSEPOWER!! :thup:
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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by Mancar1 »

70_F100 wrote:
Mancar1 wrote:
couchcuts wrote:Great thanks

I do not have a speaker in the dash, I did some research and found this speaker.

http://macsautoparts.com/cart.asp?qo=complete

I am not sure if it has the same connection for the two plug speaker wire, but it does look like it will fit.
I have the original mono dash speaker out of my 68 if you need it.
John, that speaker is not compatible with a 72 radio.

Wrong impedance.
Thank you. I didn't know that.
May your sails stay full, and your knots not slip. Unless a slip knot.
Once I thought I was wrong, but I was wrong.
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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by 70_F100 »

No problem!! :thup:

I'm thinking it's 4 ohms up through 71 and the 72 went to 3.2 ohms. :hmm:

That information is subject to verification!! (My old brain is missing a few cells after all these years) :doh:
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.--Plato
Why is it that there's seldom time to fix it right the first time, but there's always time to fix it right the second time???

That's not an oil leak :nono: That's SWEAT from all that HORSEPOWER!! :thup:
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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by flyboy2610 »

Montana71-F100 wrote:The back of the radio is held up by a bracket that goes from the bolt in the back of the radio to a support to the left of the radio. There is one here:

http://www.vendio.com/stores/weldon707/ ... id=2422747
You can do that or you can use some plumbers tape, which is a piece of thin flexible metal with lots of holes in it. Mount it to the speaker bolt in the bottom of the dash, then attach the radio to it. A hardware store will have it for a lot less than $20 plus shipping.
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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by couchcuts »

Thanks for the advice, just the kind of information I was looking for.

thanks again Mancar1

We will see how it all turns out.

I have created a project thread to track my interior progress
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=64227
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=64227

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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by couchcuts »

70_F100 wrote:No problem!! :thup:

I'm thinking it's 4 ohms up through 71 and the 72 went to 3.2 ohms. :hmm:

That information is subject to verification!! (My old brain is missing a few cells after all these years) :doh:
I did some more research regarding speaker impedance and radio compatibility.
Seems that speakers were 3.2 ohms (1972-later) and 8 ohms (1971-earlier).


I found the information at this thread
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... ce#p421397
FORDification wrote:As for checking the speaker, just get a regular multimeter and set it to read ohms (impedance). Put the two leads onto the speaker terminals on the speaker and see what reading you get. If your speaker is blown, it will read infinite impedance. If your speaker is good, it will read 3.2 ohms (1972-later) or 8 ohms (1971-earlier).
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=64227

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Re: AM RADIO basic install questions

Post by Mancar1 »

70_F100 wrote:
Mancar1 wrote:
couchcuts wrote:Great thanks

I do not have a speaker in the dash, I did some research and found this speaker.

http://macsautoparts.com/cart.asp?qo=complete

I am not sure if it has the same connection for the two plug speaker wire, but it does look like it will fit.
I have the original mono dash speaker out of my 68 if you need it.
John, that speaker is not compatible with a 72 radio.

Wrong impedance.
Problem solved I will pass along the 68's radio along with the speaker :thup:
May your sails stay full, and your knots not slip. Unless a slip knot.
Once I thought I was wrong, but I was wrong.
Life is a banquet, and every days a feast.
68 F-250 CS 390 C-6 P/S A/C front disc. 2nd owner.
2016 GMC Terrain Denali 301 HP V-6 AWD.
2009 Silverado Crew Cab, V-8, 4X4.
DD-727
DD-806
AE-35
LSD-39
AS-41
AR-8
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