Questions about 73 radio

[Tim S.]

I am working on an 11k mile 73 coupe. One of the items that needs attention is the radio. The previous owner had installed an aftermarket AM/FM cassette. The car was supplied with what looks to be an AM/FM stereo radio. This car is a well optioned car, so the stereo option would not be a surprise at all. Not being intimately familiar with these cars, I cannot tell if this was originally equipped as a stereo car. in the name of "a picture is worth a thousand words", here is what I am working with.......

The radio supplied with the car,


Speaker wire connection,


No amp,




As mentioned, I am not familiar with the stereo option. Having said that, all there is for speakers is the two dash speakers. nothing in the kick panels. Thankfully, the original speakers pass the ohm test.

Any insight is appreciated. In advance, thanks for your consideration!
Tim

[Anthony C.]

[Mark E.]

Re: Questions about 73 radio

Stereos have a stereo light in the upper right part of the display, regular AM/FM radios do not. Through at least 1970, this light said "Stereo"; at some point in later years this was changed to a small round light.

I owned a '73 with stereo 25 years ago, so going from memory on this next part... Unlike the mono AM/FM radio, I believe the stereo featured a separate box with a large heat sink mounted near the clip for the RH speaker wire connector as shown in your last photo. You should see screw holes if one was there previously.

My '70 stereo has this box but it may have been eliminated in later years (not sure about this).

[Owen L.]

Re: Questions about 73 radio

The rainbow ribbon cable goes to the "convector" bolted to the windshield frame and this one looks like my '72's stereo unit that has a double capacitor convector. Perhaps measure the spacing from the existing bolt to any other open bolt hole in the windshield frame. That distance may indicate which convector was used.

sWkhavuh.jpg

[Tim S.]

Re: Questions about 73 radio

Owen,

There is not a hole there. The way it's marked up (scratched) would suggest something was there.


Although, there is another unused screw to the left......about 10" away

[John S.]

AB0EF1F7-FC72-496F-8537-B3BBFA38A1C3.jpg

Translated, the label indicates 3 for 1973, 1Y for Chev Corvette, FM for AMFM Stereo and 1 indicating the production run. FG in place of FM would indicate an AM/FM mono unit. As Mark also states above, the AM/FM Stereo unit also had the Stereo indicator light in the upper right hand corner of the display.

The AM/FM Stereo unit has the larger amplifier unit as shown below and is attached to the body in the location shown above in your pics.

BA7DDDC4-D76C-4051-B8F3-6EF584404156.jpg

The AM/FM mono unit has a smaller amplifier unit, about half the size installed in the same location. Hope this helps identify your unit.

[Tim S.]

Re: Questions about 73 radio

Great info John......and thank you everyone for the info so far.

I believe the radio I have is indeed the stereo radio. I am questioning as to whether the car is a stereo car. In my research, I came up with some information that indicated a stereo car had a blue wire going to the left speaker, and green to the right (not sure if that is correct). The car I am working on has green going to both sides. My common sense would indicate the car is a non stereo car, and thus the radio provided is incorrect. More than anything, I am just trying to avoid getting the car back together and it not working as it should. This car is a great candidate to pursue a Duntov.

[Leonard M.]

Re: Questions about 73 radio

Tim, Here are pictures from a late '72 with stereo which should be the same.
DSCN2334.jpgDSCN2339.jpgDSCN2345.jpgDSCN2347.jpg