66 original radio installatiion

[Dan C.]

I am installing an original radio after pulling out a Custom Sound radio, speakers, etc. The original radio is much larger and I am having difficulty negotiating the twists and turns it take to put it in place. Any particular pattern of twists and turns to put it in? I pulled one piece of heater duct out from behind the radio when pulling the Custom Sound radio. Do I need to pull the duct above that leads to the defroster?

Thanks for your help one and all. Dan

[Bill W.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

Dan,
This process can be made easier if the horseshoe console is removed. Keep working, it will go in. Back to the garage! Bill

[Mike M.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

i start the insertion from the drivers side with the radio on its side, then as it enters its final resting place , rotate it. its not one of my favorite tasks but ranks better than honey dipping at the the septic tank.. mike

[Dan C.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

Bill and Mike,

Thank you both. Each was a big help. I removed the horseshoe this morning which created more clearence. I then removed the passenger side screw (not the bracket) to create clearence. I laid the radio down on the non-bracket side.....slid it in from the Driver's Side. I then lifted the front passenger side top and slowly twisted as I inched further upward. It sat right inplace as through it was born there. The only alteration was I had to round out the holes for the radio controls a little bit to bring the screw threads forward. A clean round Chain saw file did the trick.


The radio works beautifully with the antenna up for FM...AM still crackles. Has anyone used a signal booster to improve AM radio reception?

You guys should have seen the Bubba rigged Custom stereo system wires buried under the carpet....some on both sides of the car leading to the back, through the fire wall, and down the center counsol. This has been a two week project. Their were two antenna cables going to the back. I tested both and found one to work best. The other was cut in three places as I tried to fish it away and toward the back....so it went to the dump. The good antenna wire had 2' of extra length which was rolled up behind the steering column. I stretched it out and sent the extra toward the back of the car.

Thanks again to both of you for the help......I button it all up tomorrow morning.

[Dick W.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

Bill and Mike,

Thank you both. Each was a big help. I removed the horseshoe this morning which created more clearence. I then removed the passenger side screw (not the bracket) to create clearence. I laid the radio down on the non-bracket side.....slid it in from the Driver's Side. I then lifted the front passenger side top and slowly twisted as I inched further upward. It sat right inplace as through it was born there. The only alteration was I had to round out the holes for the radio controls a little bit to bring the screw threads forward. A clean round Chain saw file did the trick.




The radio works beautifully with the antenna up for FM...AM still crackles. Has anyone used a signal booster to improve AM radio reception?

You guys should have seen the Bubba rigged Custom stereo system wires buried under the carpet....some on both sides of the car leading to the back, through the fire wall, and down the center counsol. This has been a two week project. Their were two antenna cables going to the back. I tested both and found one to work best. The other was cut in three places as I tried to fish it away and toward the back....so it went to the dump. The good antenna wire had 2' of extra length which was rolled up behind the steering column. I stretched it out and sent the extra toward the back of the car.

Thanks again to both of you for the help......I button it all up tomorrow morning.

You may need to trim your radio to the antenna. It has been so long since I have trimmed a mid year, I forgot where the trim screw is located. Gittin' old is a b****

[Wayne M.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

You may need to trim your radio to the antenna. It has been so long since I have trimmed a mid year, I forgot where the trim screw is located. Gittin' old is a b****

Real easy on a model 986281 ('65-7 design) especially when installed. Just remove tuning knob, flat hex nut and plastic backlit bezel, and you'll see the screw right there. Seem to remember that you should use a non-metallic screwdriver (??) to adjust for peak signal. Memory vague, but it might be just an AM adjustment, perhaps in the lower frequencies. (wish I could locate that article).

[Mike E.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

The procedure is written up in the '65 AIM



Mike

[Dan C.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

Mike......thank you so much. I have a 66 AIM and should have looked there to start with. I got the horseshoe in this monring ....then spent a hour looking for my coffee cup and the silver cup on top of the shifter knob. I need an AIM for life .....

[Mike E.]

Re: 66 original radio installatiion

Mike......thank you so much. I have a 66 AIM and should have looked there to start with. I got the horseshoe in this monring ....then spent a hour looking for my coffee cup and the silver cup on top of the shifter knob. I need an AIM for life .....

Dan,
Pick up a PDF version, I think I paid $20 for mine on Ebay, it included a PDF shop manaul and parts book. It's much easier to find things. Plus you can just print a single page when you need to take it to the garage and not mess up your printed copy.

Mike