C2 Big Bock AM/FM Radios ... (seriously)

[Wayne M.]

The '67 P&A 30 (Rev 1 Oct '66), Group 9.650 RADIO, lists 6 different part numbers for item "AM/FM push button w/left rear fender antenna". Different part numbers for '65, '66 and '67, with and without 396 or 427, as applicable.

Now the Delco model number for all 3 of those years was 986281, and to my knowledge, the internal components are identical; only the control knobs varied. Aftermarket catalogs show different dial lens for '65 [my previous post on this lens subject drew a blank -- SOMEBODY must know].

So why different part numbers for big blocks ? I don't think that radio shielding was part of the "radio", although the catalog item line description indicates the antenna was. If shielding was included, there'd have to be a third part # for '67, to account for the tripower shields being different than the L36. The ANTENNA UNIT group 9.645 doesn't show a difference for big or small block, and the number for the '65 and '66 power antenna is the same. So the difference must be in the radio itself.

Surprisingly, the '65 P&A 30 (Rev.July 1) does NOT show two different radios, and uses the same part # 986280 (one digit less than the sticker for the Delco model # '65 thru '67 on ALL radios) as is given for the non-L78 '65 in the '66 and '67 P&A catalogs.

Any theories ?

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: C2 Big Bock AM/FM Radios ... (seriously)

------Yes! I will advance one. Cant remember the part number but years ago saw an NOS 67 radio in the box. It had all the shielding that would have been on the car as well. I believe there was a part number for just the radio and several part numbers for radios with different assortments of shielding (big-block, small-block, etc.). The complete big-block radio part number didnt absolutely duplicate a factory installation, just an installation that would be close and work on all big-blocks. Hope this helps...........Bill S

[Bob R.]

Re: C2 Big Bock AM/FM Radios ... (seriously)

If you did not order a radio you did not get the shielding. So the engine size must control the radio ordered.

[Loren L.]

Could it be that if you had a BB & side

exhaust, you got a radio that failed to pass inspection, because you would never know that it didn't work.......

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Big Bock AM/FM Radios ... (seriously)

Wayne-----

Bill's got it. The part numbers shown in the P&A Catalog were for a radio KIT, even though the description in the catalog might not be clear about it. However, note that the group 9.650 heading is "RADIO". In GM "parlance" of the time, "radio" referred to a KIT which included other parts required for an installation. This assumed, of course, that one wanted a complete kit to install a radio in a car that was not originally equipped with a radio.

If the unit was described in the catalog as a "RECEIVER", then it would have referred to just the radio head, itself. However, that's not what the catalog said; it said "RADIO". That's the "whole enchilada".

So, could a person once-upon-a-time have purchased just the "receiver" (i.e. radio head unit)? Yes, they could. However, they could not have obtained it through the GM parts system. They would have to have obtained it through the Delco Parts System and, specifically, the Delco Radio SERVICE Parts system (which is seperate and usually cannot be ordered through regular Delco parts channels). As a Delco radio SERVICE part, you could have ordered GM #7290631 and gotten just the receiver unit. This part number was the same as the PRODUCTION part number for 1965-67 Corvette radio receiver units.

I don't have any information that would indicate that the lens for the 1965 radio was different than the lens for 66-67. The fact that the receiver part number was the same for all years would imply that there were no differences. However, it's possible that there was.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 Big Bock AM/FM Radios ... (seriously)

There were in fact real differences in original radios 63-67. They mostly had to do with the treatment of the AM and FM indicators. Some were red and green, some showed red and green when lit, and some the later ones 66-67 showed all green when lit.