1972 U69 option AM/FM Radio

[Jeff W.]

Did this radio come with one speaker installed and the AM/FM Stereo option come with 2 speakers? I either have a blown speaker or there is not one there. The one that plays is on the passenger side. I don't know why we have a radio in it any way, I love to hear the wind blowing with the top down!!!
Thanks
Jeff

[Lynn H.]

Re: 1972 U69 option AM/FM Radio

Jeff,
Looking at the 1969 AIM, you will see that both radios (mono and stereo)came with two speakers UPC U69 A3 pg 436 in my book. If you look at UPC U79 (stereo contents) A1 pg 444, you will see that the only things different for the Stereo set-up were the receiver itself and the Adapter Assy. Sounds like somethig is NOT functioning correctly if you only have sound through one side .

[Jerry R.]

Re: 1972 U69 option AM/FM Radio

It's extremely common for those speakers to fail Jeff. I put a 72 stereo on the bench that arrived today and both of his speakers had failed. The voice coil leads are small and brittle and snap between the lugs and where they run onto the spool surrounding the magnet.

One of his speakers actually had a torn cone which snapped both of the small wires. The thick black protective goop used to cover the wires on the front of the cone had hardened and when the audio was turned way up, it just ripped itself apart (or so it appears).

You can still get originals from GM (I sure wouldn't), have yours re-coned at a shop such as Jackson Speaker Service in MI or buy after market units (that aren't made in China!). A good pair will cost about $70 total.

By the way, you can test your speakers by disconnecting them under the dash from the units and using an ohm meter to check for continuity across the green and black leads (going to the speakers).

_Jerry_

[Jeff W.]

Re: 1972 U69 option AM/FM Radio

I have picked up some speakers, but was dreading the task of changing out the drivers side. Any easy ideas on how to change out that one or am I thinking it is harder than it is? At 6'4" its not easy fitting in the floorboard and after shoving my wife in there to change out the speedo, she has refused any other mechanic assistant jobs!!

[David B.]

Re: 1972 U69 option AM/FM Radio

On my '73, I was able to remove the A piller trim and lift up the dash pad high enough to replace the driver's side speaker. Still a tight working area, but easier than from underneath.

[Alan S.]

Re: 1972 U69 option AM/FM Radio

Hi Jeff,
On my 71 I needed to replace the driver's side speaker, too. I followed the same path that David did but was afraid to put too much upward pressure on the dash pad to get enough room to work (it's pretty brittle). So I dropped the steering column as far as it would go by just it's own weight which allowed the driver's side pad to tip down an inch or two which was then enough room to work.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

[David B.]

Re: 1972 U69 option AM/FM Radio

I had also dropped the steering column.