1972 Radio Speakers

[Erich M.]

My 1972 original in dash speakers need to be replaced. I believe the original speakers are 10 ohms and no longer available from GM. Corvette parts suppliers sell 4 ohm replacements for the orignal speakers and seem to require connector modifications. Will 4 ohm speakers work with the original radio and what are the details of the required wiring modifications. Does anyone sell 10 ohm replacement speakers with connectors that fit the original wire terminals?

[Paul O.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Erich check this web site they should be able to repair your old ones.

http://www.circuitshop.com/

Paul 18046

[Lawrence M.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Erich, you can try S/M Elecrto-Tech . Their web site is www.turnswitch.com I used their 4x10 kick panel speakers in my 1969 and they work great. Almost exact duplicates of the originals and they plugged right in with no mods. The 4x10's were rated at 8-10 ohms.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

While the Shark era car radios didn't have speakers with matching components built on as did '58-67 Corvettes, an impedence of 4 ohms is QUITE a way off from the factory original speaker impedance. My advice is to:

(1) Have your original speakers re-conned.
(2) Shop for NOS originals (they ARE out there; eBay, Etc.)
(3) Buy aftermarket 8-ohm speakers of the same size and transfer your original connecting wires over onto them.

[Kevin G.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Eric,

You might try your local Chevrolet dealer. I found an acceptable replacement with only a minor electrical connection modification needed. I was told the speakers were used for many years however the part number had changed over the years. Another member asked me for the part number which I no longer have but perhaps he saved it. I'll try to reach him for you.

Regards,

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Most of the Corvette catalog companies sell the GM replacement, which as Kevin notes is a 10 ohm speaker.

For only a small extra in $ you can have yours reconed, and if you have them that's the way I would go.

Another source: http://www.circuitshop.com/

[Lawrence M.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

As Jack and Patrick suggested, having your originals redone is the way to go. In my case a po had replaced the originals with Radio Shack 4x6's. You could barely hear the radio. It would never have passed an Ops Check. With the proper size and ohm speakers all is good. Do wish I had the originals to work with though.

[Robert E.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Eric, I went the reconing route when the speakers in my '71 needed to be done. After 2 seasons, the drivers side speaker failed again.

While my original stereo unit was sent out to Jerry Rudbeck, I had mentioned that my speakers were in need of reconing. He recommended the following new 10 ohm speakers by Electro Tech and suggested they way outperformed the originals, so I ordered a set and installed them with the restored radio. To say I was pleased is an understatement.

Check the website and scan down 3/4 of the page and you will see them.

http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

Good luck

Robert

My 1972 original in dash speakers need to be replaced. I believe the original speakers are 10 ohms and no longer available from GM. Corvette parts suppliers sell 4 ohm replacements for the orignal speakers and seem to require connector modifications. Will 4 ohm speakers work with the original radio and what are the details of the required wiring modifications. Does anyone sell 10 ohm replacement speakers with connectors that fit the original wire terminals?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

My 1972 original in dash speakers need to be replaced. I believe the original speakers are 10 ohms and no longer available from GM. Corvette parts suppliers sell 4 ohm replacements for the orignal speakers and seem to require connector modifications. Will 4 ohm speakers work with the original radio and what are the details of the required wiring modifications. Does anyone sell 10 ohm replacement speakers with connectors that fit the original wire terminals?

Erich------


You should only use 10 OHM speakers with your original radio. Replacements are available from GM or Delco dealers under GM #15173233. However, if it were me, I'd probably go with the upgraded replacements available from Electro-Tech as linked in responses by others.

[Pete B.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Thumbsup on the electro tech ones. They work great in my 71. Hats off to Jerry also he did a great restoration on my radio and he was very reasonable too!

[Erich M.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Thank you all for your help. I think I will go with Electro Tech but I do have some additional questions. I talked with Greg Thompson at Electro Tech and learned that the terminations on the original speakers were either a black terminal which is no longer available or the black and green wires soldered to the speaker as shown on Electro Tech's web site. I haven't pulled my speakers yet so I do not know what my speaker terminations look like. Greg advised that if I have black terminals on my original speakers I can remove them and send them for mounting on the new Electro Tech speakers.

Robert what was your experience on the Electro Tech speaker terminations? Also I would assume that if the speakers sound better than orignal that this would not be a judging issue. What do you think?

[Robert E.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Erich,

I can't speak for all C3 speaker wires, but all that I've even seen have been green and black as mine were.

The instruction sheet was quite clear which wire get soldered to which speaker terminal. It only took moments to read and solder them up. Maybe check the connections with an ohm meter after soldering as I did just to be sure.

About judging, I'm pretty sure that speakers and wiring are not part of the judging process unless of course door panels or kick panels were altered to place speakers there. If mounted in their factory location, I'm sure no judge will even notice.

Robert

Thank you all for your help. I think I will go with Electro Tech but I do have some additional questions. I talked with Greg Thompson at Electro Tech and learned that the terminations on the original speakers were either a black terminal which is no longer available or the black and green wires soldered to the speaker as shown on Electro Tech's web site. I haven't pulled my speakers yet so I do not know what my speaker terminations look like. Greg advised that if I have black terminals on my original speakers I can remove them and send them for mounting on the new Electro Tech speakers.

Robert what was your experience on the Electro Tech speaker terminations? Also I would assume that if the speakers sound better than orignal that this would not be a judging issue. What do you think?

[James N.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Go with Greg at S/M Electro Tech. His work is great, service is the best.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

Want 'originals' to send out for re-coning? Boogie on down to your local scrap yard. You should find those from a Chevy passenger car of the era are identical as far as the speaker frame is concerned...

[Jack H.]

Re: 1972 Radio Speakers

I'd expect the aftermarket speakers to be good. GM originals from this era were NOT 'special' in terms of functional specifications. The cockpits were pretty noisy compared to today's cars and that masked MANY performance issues for speakers...