Help! Installing new Radio in 1970 Vette

[Bolisk]

Hey,

Anyone install a custom auto sound USA-2 radio in their vette? If so, I'm dieing to know how you hooked up the "two" dash speakers to the radio. In other words, I'm NOT putting 4 speakers in my car. I just want to use the two dash speakers. Now, as you all know, new radios have output's for four speakers.

So, the question is, did you just hook up the two front speakers to the front left and right conections on the radio. . .or did you use the rear connections? Or, did you splice together the front and rear connections so that the front two speakers are driven by the both the front and rear chanels?

Also, how did you connect the power, and ground.

I don't have the origional radio for reference. And help would be greatly appreciated.

-Bolisk

 

[KANE]

Hey,

Anyone install a custom auto sound USA-2 radio in their vette? If so, I'm dieing to know how you hooked up the "two" dash speakers to the radio. In other words, I'm NOT putting 4 speakers in my car. I just want to use the two dash speakers. Now, as you all know, new radios have output's for four speakers.

So, the question is, did you just hook up the two front speakers to the front left and right connections on the radio. . .or did you use the rear connections? Or, did you splice together the front and rear connections so that the front two speakers are driven by the both the front and rear channels?

Also, how did you connect the power, and ground.

I don't have the origional radio for reference. And help would be greatly appreciated.

-Bolisk

I've installed countless stereos over the years. In high school, I worked part time as an installer to make money to pay for my first Vette.

Usually, with C3s I run the ground off of another ground on the center console. On my 1980, the ignition and power came off accessory outputs on the fuse block- that is the fastest and simplest way. You can also run the power leads from the OEM leads- but you'll need a schematic and a test light to make sure you have the right ones (preferred method).

If you want only the fronts... use only the front leads. That way, if you ever decide to install rear speakers- you are ready and the fader will work correctly.

 

[red70vette]

If you have not yet installed the radio pack t up and send it back. The only thing that radio does is fit your bezel. I have installed 3 seperate custom auto sound USA radios and the sound quality on each of them was lousy. All 3 of the died in about a year or slightly more.(I am not a fast learner).

Three years ago I installed a Pioneer 3500D unit that sounds great, plays great CD's, and has worked flawlessly for the last 3 years. Save your money and time and buy a good stereo. You can cut your bezel if it is not in the best of shape or you can buy one of the aftermarket ones that will fit the new radio.
I would never buy a custom auto sound radio again.

 

[fine69]

If you have not yet installed the radio pack t up and send it back. The only thing that radio does is fit your bezel. I have installed 3 seperate custom auto sound USA radios and the sound quality on each of them was lousy. All 3 of the died in about a year or slightly more.(I am not a fast learner)...
I would never buy a custom auto sound radio again.

I totally agree. I have had two of them... the one that's in the car now has an input for an iPod. Both units have been garbage. I am going to opt for a modified bezel with a modern stereo.

 

[Bolisk]

I couldn't agree more.

However, I my case. . .filling the hole in the dash is all I'm trying to do.

After I put the flowmasters in my car. . .I'm not expecting to hear the radio anyway. After all. . .I didn't buy the car for the stereo sound. . .I bought it for the engine sound.

 

[fine69]

I couldn't agree more.

However, I my case. . .filling the hole in the dash is all I'm trying to do.

After I put the flowmasters in my car. . .I'm not expecting to hear the radio anyway. After all. . .I didn't buy the car for the stereo sound. . .I bought it for the engine sound.

I had the same rationale for installing my radio... I really don't listen to it. I have chambered exhaust which is very loud. However, having something so crappy installed in a car I've spent so much time and effort trying to restore just goes against the grain. It would have been better to find a factory radio (albeit expensive) to keep the look.

 

[Bolisk]

I looked at that route over the weekend. I was at the Chevy Vette Fest here in Chicago. . .and I found that Clocks By Roger had completly rebuilt "origional" corvette radio's. He even had one for my 1970! However the price was over $500. As much as I would like to be "correct", I'm not willing to spend $500 on a radio, when 500 could buy me a bevy of new parts that I need.

I did however, start looked the show over for a correct radio shell (non working but correct looking radio). I was unsuccessful in my search.

At any rate. My problem is that I cannot identify the correct power leads to run the radio. The old shop manual says it's a yellow wire. I found one. . .but there is always a current on it.

-Bolisk

 

[LVMYVT76]

I just hooked my new radio up to the old radio feeds(power and ground), not cutting any of the original wiring. I also put in 2 speakers in the kick panels for added volume. This way if anyone wants to go back to the original radio, which I still have, it's no problem.

 

[Bolisk]

Yeah. . .that's my problem. I have no origional radio. Attached is what the inside of my car looks like. I'm finishing off a restoration. The previous owner had the chassis, enginer, paint, and chrome done. I just have to do the interior. Look at the rats nest of wires and vaccume hoses. . .

Notice the yellow wire with the "Red" tip at about the 7 oclock position of the steering wheel. Does anyone know if that is the origional "power" for the radio? I have a 1970 vette.

-JR

 

[Bolisk]

more photos

 

[6880 Mike]

Sure does look like it; same place as the original connector in my '68 and my '74. You should also find a gray for illumination and a black ground.

You can put up to a 4x10 behind each kick panel (stock locations for 68 & 69). Use those two and your dash speakers and you'll have four.

 

[Bolisk]

hmmm. . ..

I'm not seeing grey. And I'm not getting 12v's over the yellow when the ignition is on. (fuse is good). I'm always geting some vots on the line even with the key off.

I do have a black wire. . .that I assume is ground. . . almost like a thick speaker wire.

 

[red70vette]

The original radio was fed by a 3 wire connector. The 3 wires were yellow,black, and grey. I believe the yellow was the hot lead to the radio, the black was the ground and the grey was the power for the radio lights. I know the color of the 3 wires but I am not too sure on their function. It has been 3 years since I installed this Pioneer radio so my memory has faded. If you had asked me when I was annually installing my Custom Auto sound units I could have done them blindfolded.

 

[Bolisk]

COOL! So the three wires came bundled in a connector! Sweet, that should still be there. I will have to look at it.

I see you are another of the custom auto sound haters. Yeah. . .i heard bad things about them before.

 

[6880 Mike]

COOL!...that should still be there....

Depends on whether a PO cut the harness to install an aftermarket stereo. Good luck with the hunt.

 

[Bolisk]

FOUND IT!

Yeah. I still had the correct radio "connector" in the car. There was a connector with yellow, grey, and black wires connected to it. The yellow had been cut (i.e. the yellow wire with the red shrink wrap on it), and there was a peice of the origional yellow wire left in the connector. So that must be it.

Thanks for all the help! No I just have to figure out which one is the power for the amp and the light.

 

[6880 Mike]

...FOUND IT!...

You got lucky. Thank the Corvettes gods and the POs.

 

[Bolisk]

I beleive I'm the 3rd owner. The previous owner is a friend of mine. . .who has had it since 1983. He had been veeeeerrryyyy slowly restoring it since he got in in 1983. The exterior is 100% complete and restored. The interior is a rats nest of crap. I've asumed the task of finishing off the car.

 

[Bwmurph]

Wow; I thought I was the only one who hated the Custom Auto Sound stuff. Installed one in my '59 and went through three (3) speakers to get one that sounds like crap. I didn't expect it to sound great with just the single speaker in the center under the windshield, but......

Then, foolishly, when I purchased my '71 (sight unseen, on the other side of the country - which is a WHOLE 'nother story by itself), I bought another Custom Auto Sound and had it shipped to CA to have it installed before I picked the car up. I was charged what I thought was a LOT of $$$ to have it installed and it sounds like CRAP !!

I'll never buy another one; I can't believe all the Corvette suppliers push these things like they're the best things since sliced bread.

Just my$0.02.

Bernie O.

 

[HudsonWI72C3]

How do you get the Bezel bolts off?

I'm also replacing a radio, in a 72. Got the new Sony with MP3. Came with a bezel to replace the original. Looks nice but I can't get the old one out. How do you get access to the two nuts on the bottom of the bezel? Do I need to take out the whole center console??? If so, how does that come out? Any advice appreciated.