1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

[Mike F.]

Just picked up a 1970 Coupe,

How many speakers should be installed for the AM radio? Locations?

How many speakers should be installed for the AM-FM radio? Locations?

How many speakers should be installed for the AM-FM Stereo radio? Locations?

Is there a physical difference when looking at the AM-FM vs AM-FM stereo radios?

TIA,
Mike

[Edward J.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Mike, your 70 should have speakers under the dash pad (2) all radios am. am/fm, or stereo.

The am/fm stereo had a yellow ind. lamp that lighted when you where receiving stereo, other wise look the same.

[Mike F.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Mike, your 70 should have speakers under the dash pad (2) all radios am. am/fm, or stereo.

Aren't there holes for a speaker in the kick panel (next to feet), below the vent?

Were these empty from the factory?

[Edward J.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Mike there were no speakers in the kick panels. should be empty.

[Jerry R.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Mike, the 68-71 stereo radios used a green block letter transparent indicator in the upper right hand corner of the escutcheon window. It spelled out the word "stereo" and only lit when the separate multiplex decoder box sensed a stereo signal. The yellow(orange) stereo indicator dot was first used in 72 and remained through 76.

The insides of the 68 through 72 radios were essentially identical and all used the separate stereo decoder box on the firewall. In 73, the stereo decoder was incorporated into the radio itself.

All 70-76 radios used two speakers in the dash. They were wired in parallel for monaural radios and separately for stereo radios. They did not age well. Expect to replace them. Hope that helps...

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Aren't there holes for a speaker in the kick panel (next to feet), below the vent?

Were these empty from the factory?

Mike------


1968-69 used speakers in the kick panels and no other speakers. 1970+ used 2 speakers mounted under the dash. However, as I recall some or all 1970+ used kick panels with speaker holes. Theoretically, you could add speakers to the kick panel location and create a 4 speaker system. However, the original kick panel speakers were 4 X 10 and had small magnets. The mounting space does not allow for a speaker with a very large magnet and most modern speakers have large magnets.

[Pat M.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Mike------


1968-69 used speakers in the kick panels and no other speakers. 1970+ used 2 speakers mounted under the dash. However, as I recall some or all 1970+ used kick panels with speaker holes. Theoretically, you could add speakers to the kick panel location and create a 4 speaker system. However, the original kick panel speakers were 4 X 10 and had small magnets. The mounting space does not allow for a speaker with a very large magnet and most modern speakers have large magnets.

Interesting, Joe. I've always wondered why my 70's kick panels have speaker holes, since there are no speakers there. I didn't know that 68-69 had speakers there.

[Michael W.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

I think the speakers holes and grills in the kick panels carried on long after 1970. My'73 has them.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Joe,
Interesting. Did the 68-69s have the holes in the dash panel
if they had speakers only in the kick pads?
Ken

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Joe,
Interesting. Did the 68-69s have the holes in the dash panel
if they had speakers only in the kick pads?
Ken

Ken-------


No, the 1968-69 upper dash pads had no holes for speakers.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Ken-------


No, the 1968-69 upper dash pads had no holes for speakers.

Joe, Thank U. Such a simple thing that I never realized or looked for.

[R N.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the tech board and congratulations on your new 1970.

Be sure to check out the 1970 Corvette Registry at: http://www.1970corvetteregistry.org/

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Joe, Thank U. Such a simple thing that I never realized or looked for.

Kenneth------


For quite some time, GM sold the 70+ upper dash pad as SERVICE for 68-69. So, there might be some 68-69 Corvettes out there that have one of these installed, but they didn't originally have it. In addition to the holes for the speakers, the 70+ upper dash pads have a stitch line along the upper forward edge. The original 68-69 dash pads did not.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Just picked up a 1970 Coupe,

How many speakers should be installed for the AM radio? Locations?

How many speakers should be installed for the AM-FM radio? Locations?

How many speakers should be installed for the AM-FM Stereo radio? Locations?

Is there a physical difference when looking at the AM-FM vs AM-FM stereo radios?

TIA,
Mike

Mike, when you find that 1970 with a factory installed AM radio will you let me know. I want to see it.

[Pat M.]

Re: 1970; AM vs FM vs FM Stereo

Mike, when you find that 1970 with a factory installed AM radio will you let me know. I want to see it.