Stock radio

[Dave Richards]

Well Paul, welcome to the forum and congratulations on the car.

 

[Keoke]

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

except half the pics in Clausager's book have a little caveat that the photo was wrong.

What's up with that? [ I don't know but that photo does not have that disclaimer.]----Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

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.

 

[Ed_K]

Daahh... Never mind. Thought it was related to another recent topic.....
Now that you mention it, I have mine installed just like the photo. It has already split significantly but the one in the photo is not split and is very old ? The originals must have been made of better rubber/plastic than recent after market materials. The books all show it like the photo but if someone told me that theirs lasted longer without splitting when installed upside down, I would install my next one that way. Comments ?

 

[suprgnat]

has already split significantly but the one in the photo is not split and is very old ? The originals must have been made of better rubber/plastic than recent after market materials.

I doubt it's original, but it's probably at least 24 years old.

 

[Dave Richards]

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 visiting for a few days.

I know, I know, I lament living here every time I travel South, or Southwest. It's all about inertia...my ancestors received land here from revolutionary war service and we've been (stuck) here ever since. They should have just taken money and stayed away. We're so entrenched with our lives here and so deeply rooted, it seems nothing will move us, not even sub-zero temperatures.

My Healey is safe and comfortable in an attached garage and we see each other most days. It's benefiting from the lay-up, by getting cleaned and massaged in places that haven't see light in forty years.

Where were you on business? Do you come up often?

 

[Keoke]

Yep it looks every bit of that age Paul. The shift boot's quality does not seem to be supplier oriented. Some batches are good and some are bad. Consequently, if you have to replace that one after giving it a good clean up and rub down with a rubber preservative get two when you order.---Fwiw--Keoke

 

[Ed_K]

dar100,

I am in Endicott. I will probably not ever need to come back for business.
I lived here when I was a kid, 1st time back in 41 years. No family in the area...
You should be proud to be able to trace your family roots back to the revolutionary war !

Ed

 

[Johnny]

The radio, the top, the side curtains, and the seal around the transmission (used to keep heat out of the cockpit area,) are all only meant to be used when the car is sitting still. I bought my wife an Ipod for Christmas, it'll work just fine in the Healey.

 

[Keoke]

The radio, the top, the side curtains, and the seal around the transmission (used to keep heat out of the cockpit area,) are all only meant to be used when the car is sitting still. I bought my wife an Ipod for Christmas, it'll work just fine in the Healey.

--------------------------Keoke-------------------- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[Dave Richards]

dar100,

I am in Endicott. I will probably not ever need to come back for business.
I lived here when I was a kid, 1st time back in 41 years. No family in the area...
You should be proud to be able to trace your family roots back to the revolutionary war !

Ed

Hey, Binghamton. I'm from Elmira, just up 17 from there. I live near Syracuse now, up 81 from Endicott. Banjo is in Horseheads, where my ancestors are from. I'm proud of what they did and their patriotism, just lamenting the cold weather! Welcome back to New York! Find a reason to come to the Vintage Grand Prix weekend in September. https://www.grandprixfestival.com/ The Gang's all there.

 

[dphilippo]

Since we're discussing stock radios, our BJ8 has the original radio (although I think it was a dealer add). It's a Japanese radio, it does have AM/FM and it also has the little ground reversing plug shown above. What we don't have is the original speaker. I can't find a speaker that will fit in the area behind the speaker grill. Has anyone else found a speaker that fits this space?

Thanks,
Drew
'65 BJ8

 

[Dave Richards]

My speaker ('66 BJ8) fits in a sheet metal braket that holds it at an angle pointed at the back of speaker grille, it rests on the top of the radio. The speaker is about 4" in diameter. I'll bet you could find one at Crutchfield, or someplace similar.

 

[Keoke]

Hi Drew, I know the speaker you are referring to . It is shaped like a 6 X 9 speaker but is very skinny maybe its 3" wide at its widest point. However, I have not seen one in a long long time and E-bay may be your best bet. If your radio is of Japanese manufacture it was a dealer or PO installation. OTOH, if you can make or find the plate Dar100 mentioned you can mount your speaker in the same way---Fwiw--Keoke

 

[dphilippo]

It was definitely a dealer install since my father-in-law bought the car new and is still the listed owner. I'll see if I can fabricate some sort of bracket for it.

Thanks,
Drew
'65 BJ8

 

[Dave Richards]

I'll try to post a photo, or two today, we're pretty busy surviving the snow and cold and kids home from school...

 

[Dave Richards]

As promised, a few pictures from '66 BJ8 with dealer installed BMC Motorola radio.

The pictures show the metal plate that holds a 3-1/2" to 4" dia. speaker that points upward at about a 15 degree angle at the back of the speaker grille.

The plate attaches to the front of the radio and is held in place when the radio is installed. The plate does not appear to be hand fabricated.

 

[Keoke]

Hi Dar100 yes the plates were used to mount the radio speaker. However to help relieve the load on the front of the console we added large washers over the mounting shafts to stiffen around that area.--Fwiw--Keoke

 

[SHG]

The effort it would take to make that speaker bracket, given that the sound coming out of that itty bitty speaker will never be heard over the exhaust, seems crazy.

If you're just looking to fill the speaker hole, I can understand. If you actually want to hear something, then go for some high quality marine speakers in the upper part of the footwells.

 

[Dave Richards]

SHG, I concur. I wouldn't replace that speaker, if I didn't have one. The radio is AM only anyway. If it's music you want, it won't be coming from that speaker.

 

[Keoke]

The effort it would take to make that speaker bracket, given that the sound coming out of that itty bitty speaker will never be heard over the exhaust, seems crazy.

If you're just looking to fill the speaker hole, I can understand. If you actually want to hear something, then go for some high quality marine speakers in the upper part of the footwells.

Well now the best speakers in the world will not comphensate for the poor fidelity of the old AM radios, and the keep it original thing is alive and kicking.---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif