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Stock radio
- Thread starter suprgnat
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BobHorvath
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Guest
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I am pretty sure that is true. The antena connection can be a problem too. A capacitor can make the connection If you are succesful isolating the unit itself. If you don't want to face all this I might be interested in your radio as I have a negative ground 65 with out. Let me know. Bob
bobh@claybornlab.com
bobh@claybornlab.com
Ed Kaler
Jedi Warrior
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Supergnat:
1st, is there some reason you don't have at least a First Name?? CIA mission?? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif
2nd, you said and I quote:
<quote>Am I correct in assuming that I will no longer be able to use the stock radio (without somehow isolating it) if I convert to negative ground?
</quote>
Are you SURE car is +grd?? If you have a Dealer Installed radio it "most" likely has a plug on the side (maybe rear) that reverses the polarity. 2 pronged cicular in shape. I think I have a radio w/same and if I can find will take a pic if necessary.
Best
Ed
1st, is there some reason you don't have at least a First Name?? CIA mission?? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif
2nd, you said and I quote:
<quote>Am I correct in assuming that I will no longer be able to use the stock radio (without somehow isolating it) if I convert to negative ground?
</quote>
Are you SURE car is +grd?? If you have a Dealer Installed radio it "most" likely has a plug on the side (maybe rear) that reverses the polarity. 2 pronged cicular in shape. I think I have a radio w/same and if I can find will take a pic if necessary.
Best
Ed
tahoe healey
Yoda
Offline
I would like to see that pic too. I have an original AM radio but not installed due to being neg ground (which the PO did and I re did so I know its neg done properly). I don't recall any plug that can be reversed but I haven't checked it it 5 years. I would like you to be correct.
Dave Richards
Jedi Knight
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My radio is currently out of the car, while I attack my heater lever...I can find no such plug, or anything else that would lead me to believe I could switch the polarity.
I believe the radio is stock, it says British Motor Corp and I have the original Motorola documentation.
I believe the radio is stock, it says British Motor Corp and I have the original Motorola documentation.
Ed_K
Jedi Knight
Offline
My 65 BJ8 had a Motorola AM radio, ( tuner only, no buttons ),
It has a round removable/changeable jumper plug as Ed K has described above. It is labeled + and - so you can change the ground polarity. It is hard to miss so If you don't see it, your radio is different than ours. The speaker faces down toward the tunnel. That radio was as useful as a screen door on a submarine in my opinion. It is just taking up space on the shelf. Anyone is welcome to make me an offer that at least covers shipping and it can be yours. Send me a P.M.
The other Ed K.
Dar100,
I am south of you in NY state on business today. I now see why you guys put up your Healey's for the winter. You would have to build a fire under the engine to get it started today ! 9 degrees with the wind blowing. No offense intended but I am glad I am just visting for a few days.
It has a round removable/changeable jumper plug as Ed K has described above. It is labeled + and - so you can change the ground polarity. It is hard to miss so If you don't see it, your radio is different than ours. The speaker faces down toward the tunnel. That radio was as useful as a screen door on a submarine in my opinion. It is just taking up space on the shelf. Anyone is welcome to make me an offer that at least covers shipping and it can be yours. Send me a P.M.
The other Ed K.
Dar100,
I am south of you in NY state on business today. I now see why you guys put up your Healey's for the winter. You would have to build a fire under the engine to get it started today ! 9 degrees with the wind blowing. No offense intended but I am glad I am just visting for a few days.
Dave Richards
Jedi Knight
Offline
You are correct, the radio is different, the radio has 5 buttons and the speaker sits in a metal bracket that attaches to the front knobs, and lets the speaker sit on top of the radio on a bit of foam, the speaker angles slightly upward.
The radio works, but it's a40 year old AM radio, with a cheesy little speaker, I could do with out it but they cut big holes in the dash to put it in. Others seem impressed that it's original and that it works. My car is a '66.
The radio works, but it's a40 year old AM radio, with a cheesy little speaker, I could do with out it but they cut big holes in the dash to put it in. Others seem impressed that it's original and that it works. My car is a '66.
Ed Kaler said:
1. Registering as Supergnat on bulletin boards is habit and not intended to offend. You can call me Paul
2. I'm positive it's positive.
3. (be gentle) I haven't actually received the car yet to start taking it apart. My Dad has decided to give me his 64 Phase 1. Got it running, cleaned it up, just waiting to ship it down. He said "why wait 'till I'm dead". It's an AM/FM push-button radio with the bands marked "mC" and "kC".
The current photo I have shows no more detail than that.
4. WARNING: large photo, (dirt ALL GONE)
https://hodura.dyndns.org/photography/P9037467.jpg
tahoe healey
Yoda
Offline
This is going to start the debate about the rubber seal around the gear shift. Is this the original position?
tahoe healey
Yoda
Offline
Not if you looked at the picture suprgnat posted of the gear shift lever. Half of us install it the other way to make for easier cleaning.
Keoke
Great Pumpkin
Offline
Don't worry about it Paul, I run mine like that too. At least you won't have the gear box jumping out of gear because the rubber boot inhibits a proper shift range.---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
For the historians; see the picture in Clausager's "Original Austin Healey" page 72 it is clearly shown in the same configurations as Paul's.--Same Guy-Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
For the historians; see the picture in Clausager's "Original Austin Healey" page 72 it is clearly shown in the same configurations as Paul's.--Same Guy-Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
SHG
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Keoke said:
except half the pics in Clausager's book have a little caveat that the photo was wrong. What's up with that?
Paul, there's been some debate here about what to do with the radios, especially if you actually want to hear them over the exhaust. If it's there for show, then it doesn't matter if it works. If it's there for music, then you have a lot more to think about then negative ground. There are old threads that talk about what type of radio and speakers to use, and how to set them up, to have the original look with a real working stereo system. It can be done, but there are choices to be made.
anthony7777
Yoda
Offline
Hey Paul,
You do not want to just isolate the radio and run it as positive ground. This would leave the entire case of the radio "hot". If anything which is grounded touches the outside of the radio, you would have a interesting show. Based on how the radio was designed, you might also need to isolate the antennae base from the chassis.
Looking at your photo, I don't know that your radio is an original 1964 radio because of the FM bands. It is certainly a period radio from the later 60's. The MC and KC (megacycles and kilocycles) usage went out of style in the electronics industry in the late 60's (I think). What this comes down to is the radio was probably desinged as a radio which could go both ways. It should be easy to convert it from positive ground to negative ground.
I would locate a (old) radio (fixer/restorer) guy and ask about having it converted. Get the model number. He will be able to tell you. He should have schematics.
Mark
You do not want to just isolate the radio and run it as positive ground. This would leave the entire case of the radio "hot". If anything which is grounded touches the outside of the radio, you would have a interesting show. Based on how the radio was designed, you might also need to isolate the antennae base from the chassis.
Looking at your photo, I don't know that your radio is an original 1964 radio because of the FM bands. It is certainly a period radio from the later 60's. The MC and KC (megacycles and kilocycles) usage went out of style in the electronics industry in the late 60's (I think). What this comes down to is the radio was probably desinged as a radio which could go both ways. It should be easy to convert it from positive ground to negative ground.
I would locate a (old) radio (fixer/restorer) guy and ask about having it converted. Get the model number. He will be able to tell you. He should have schematics.
Mark
MarkA said:
I was just wondering if it was stock myself, though the BBC did start FM broadcasting in 1955. From the wiki: "In the United Kingdom, the BBC began FM broadcasting in 1955, with three national networks carrying the Light Programme, Third Programme and Home Service (renamed Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4 respectively in 1967)." I'm sure someone here has a definitive answer.
tahoe healey
Yoda
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Mine says BMC,AM only and has nothing to change it to neg. Oh well, can't hear it anyway.