Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

[Raymond R.]

Has anyone installed an AM/FM/Bluetooth Radio, model 472205BT, from Antique Automobile Radio in a 1963 corvette? There are two wires I need help with. The two wires are as follows:
1. Red (fused) wire: Main power input - should be connected to the 12 volt Accessory circuit. How do I identify the wire that is the 12 volt Accessory circuit in a 1963 corvette?
2. Green Wire: used for the dial light. It should be wired to the dash light circuit ahead of the dimmer rheostat so that the radio lights come on when the other dash lights are turned on. Please help in identifying how I locate this wire .
The black wire is the system ground. I figure I can hook that to a bolt that goes into a cross bar that is close to the radio.
There is an orange wire that is a switched 12 volt output used to provide power for options like remote turn-on for power amplifiers, power antennas, etc. Since I do not have any off these options, I figure I tape it up, so it does not touch anything.
The only thing left is the speaker wires. Those I can hook-up.
Any guidance as to how I identify the 12 volt Accessory circuit wire and the wire that goes to the dash light circuit ahead of the dimmer rheostat would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Richard G.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

The gray lead in the factory connector provides power for the light.
The factory radio connector should have a place to connect the new radio and it should be switched correctly.
At the bottom of the fuse panel there are some open connections. I believe one is switched and the other 12V constant. Check them with a test light before using them.

[Bob R.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

I would just use the factory original wires on your original harness. I don't have a wiring diagram available but I would make a wire to run form the original power supply and connect it to your red fused wire. It should then function as the original radio would. Power on when engine running or in the accessory position and power off when not. As far as the radio light there is a gray lead from the harness for the light that is on the original radio use that wire for powering your new dial light and the light will function as the original factory set up would.

[Raymond R.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

Thanks Richard and Bob. I took the old radio out a while back. I just took a look under the dash to refresh my memory. I see the harness connector for the old radio. There are three places to connect wires. There is a gray one, which I now know is for the radio light. There is a black one with a white strip. I figure that is the ground. There is a third, maybe brown with a white strip (it is hard to tell). I figure that is the power. So, I just hook the wires from the new radio to the connections in the old radio harness connector.

I have one more question. I own the 1963 Corvette Assembly Manual and the 1963 Corvette Shop Manual. In some of the posts i have been reviewing, the response is to review the Owner's Manual. Sometimes they refer to a specific page. I think some once indicated that the wiring diagram was on page 47. That does not agree with either the Assembly Manual or the Shop Manual. Is there another book I should buy? If so, where can I purchase it? Thanks again.

[Frank D.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

If your car is a radio-optioned car, just put spade connectors on the wires and plug them into the original radio connector - I ran my '63 this way for years...

No original wiring butchered - no muss, no fuss, no extra wires or connections. A bit of electrical tape will secure things but prob isn't necessary.

Tape up the orange wire....get yourself the Eckler's 140W dual voice coil, single cone 6x9 stereo dash speaker for about $45 - LH speaker in n picture, link to the product provided below.

Don't use any of those dual 4-inch separate small speakers screwed to fiber board - no matter who tells you they are the best. I tried them all. Do not use the Retrosound stereo dash speaker...the cardboard edging has to be butchered to get the factory mounting screws through it...see red arrows in second picture..

https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-dual-coil-dash-speaker-1958-1967.html

[Raymond R.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

Thanks for the picture of the harness connector, Frank. It makes it so much easier. I just ordered the speaker from Ecklers.

I own the 1963 Corvette Assembly Manual and the Shop Manual. I have read posts that refer to the Owner's Manual. Is that something different? If so, where can I purchase it? Thanks again.

[Frank D.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

Thanks for the picture of the harness connector, Frank. It makes it so much easier. I just ordered the speaker from Ecklers.

I own the 1963 Corvette Assembly Manual and the Shop Manual. I have read posts that refer to the Owner's Manual. Is that something different? If so, where can I purchase it? Thanks again.

One other tip on installing the speaker -- lay several heavy books on a towel on top of the speaker grill when installing the speaker....this will keep the grill from popping up while you are trying to get the speaker mounting nuts started...

================================================== =======
There are four manuals that are pretty essential for maintaining/operating your '63 car:

1) Assembly Instruction Manual for 1963
2) 1963 Corvette Shop Manual
3) 1964 Supplement to the Shop Manual
4) 1963 Corvette Owner's Manual (This document would have originally come with the car when it was purchased from the dealer)

They are all separate and several vendors carry them including the NCRS store here, Wilcox Corvette and basically any of the other big vendors... Of course, if flight judging is in your future the 1963/64 Judging Guide is available on this web site.

I find it extremely helpful to have the Dr. Rebuild OoSoEZ pictorial electrical schematics (in color) for your year car. Connectors are shown along with pictures of the wiring terminations and the wiring has been checked against actual cars.... The answers to your questions about radio wiring above would have been quickly found by referring to them. If you buy them and are asked anything about the NCRS when ordering online or by phone -- answer NO!....lots of history there we don't need to go into

Some of the GM schematics have mistakes (like the C1 reversed wires on the ammeter depiction) -- these do not:

http://docrebuild.com/oosoez/8963101.html

[Dennis D.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

Has anyone installed an AM/FM/Bluetooth Radio, model 472205BT, from Antique Automobile Radio in a 1963 corvette? There are two wires I need help with. The two wires are as follows:
1. Red (fused) wire: Main power input - should be connected to the 12 volt Accessory circuit. How do I identify the wire that is the 12 volt Accessory circuit in a 1963 corvette?
2. Green Wire: used for the dial light. It should be wired to the dash light circuit ahead of the dimmer rheostat so that the radio lights come on when the other dash lights are turned on. Please help in identifying how I locate this wire .
The black wire is the system ground. I figure I can hook that to a bolt that goes into a cross bar that is close to the radio.
There is an orange wire that is a switched 12 volt output used to provide power for options like remote turn-on for power amplifiers, power antennas, etc. Since I do not have any off these options, I figure I tape it up, so it does not touch anything.
The only thing left is the speaker wires. Those I can hook-up.
Any guidance as to how I identify the 12 volt Accessory circuit wire and the wire that goes to the dash light circuit ahead of the dimmer rheostat would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I just installed one of these in my 70. Sounds great by the way. I simply used the existing plug from the radio for the power and dial light. tried to find a connector to make it neat and easy but no luck. Just put teminals on the BT radio leads and plugged into the original radio harness.I have the electric schematic to ID the wires. rather straight forward

[Jim D.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

I just installed one of these in my 70. Sounds great by the way. I simply used the existing plug from the radio for the power and dial light. tried to find a connector to make it neat and easy but no luck. Just put teminals on the BT radio leads and plugged into the original radio harness.I have the electric schematic to ID the wires. rather straight forward

I agree. No need for some fancy colored diagram from Dr. Ret--d to do simply wiring. If you can't follow a simple wiring diagram, maybe you should take up knitting instead of car restoration.

[Frank D.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

Hilarious. I wired F-14 and A-6 aircraft for a living as a journeyman avionics technician. If something makes a job easier I use it. Others can do as they like.

[Raymond R.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

I appreciate the clarification as to the manuals. I ordered the Dr.Rebuild OoSoEZ pictorial electric schematics for future reference. Thanks for your help, Frank.

[Raymond R.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

Hi Frank. I just received my updated, original radio back from Tayman Electrical. In another post, I read that you have one installed in your 63. I believe the above picture shows how to hooked up the connections for the installation of an Antique Automobile Radio. Were you able to use these same connections when installing the Tayman upgraded radio? Do you have to make any other connections? You have helped me out a number of times in the past. I appreciate your assistance. Thanks.

[Frank D.]

Re: Installation of Antique Automobile Radio in 63 vette

Same connections as above. Nothing special just switched radio power, power to the radio light and a ground. Of course the speaker connections are now stereo