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neg ground radio

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tahoe healey

tahoe healey

Yoda
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Can the pos ground original radio be converted to neg ground with stuff from Radio Shack?
Does any one have a neg ground radio they want to part with to fit a BJ8?
 
The radio cannot be easily converted. you could however, use a converter to adapt the positive ground radio to the negative ground car power. At one time there were numerous converters available. See if the last paragraph here helps:
https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et207.htm
This is probably the cheapest safe way to do the conversion if you can find one of the converters. A negative ground supply to a positive ground device.

Another way is to completely isolate/insulate the case of the radio from the car chassis & connect the power backward. This is hazardous & still presents the problem that the radio's antenna coax shield is soldered to the radio chassis & must still be isolated from the car chassis where it is normally connected to the ground side of the antenna. If any of this makeshift insulation fails there is a short circuit. Not recommended!!

There are a few folks that will completely rebuild the inside of your old radio with new electronics to convert it to negative ground. It works well, looks original, & costs a whole lot to do.

Glad my car has no radio. Couldnt hear it anyway.
D
 
I think I told you a while ago I was going to look for my radio. I completely forgot, I have written a note and will start digging this weekend. Sorry about that TH.
 
Tahoe do you want to sell your pos gnd radio? Is it fm?. I met you @ south shore last year Bob In Truckee
 
Sure, I remember you, Bob. It's AM only. It's a BMC. Not in the best condition (one push button is broken which I was going to fabricate someday).
Are headed to San Diego?
 
Hi TH,
I found my radio. I have no idea if it works. After looking at the pictures of it, if you're interested I can hook it up next weekend and see if it makes noise. The chrome would need to be redone.
 
Hi, Tahoe -

I got an AM/FM radio for my negative-ground BJ8 from Doug Flagg in Virginia Beach, VA (dwflagg@juno.com). It's actually a Triumph radio, but the only way to tell is to scrunch down to see the Triumph logo. It's a beautiful period piece that was refurbished and fits perfectly into the console. I've had it for a couple years now and am very happy with it since I can actually hear it at speed with the top down.

Doug says he has more radios available.

Cheers!
Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666
BJ8 Registry
Havelock, NC
 
Interesting, I got a Triumph and it was too small by an inch. I sent it back. I have delt with Doug before and he is a very nice guy. Thanks.
 
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