Looking for info on 1963 AM-FM radio

[Michael G.]

Good day Corvettes. I've recently purchased by all accounts a 1963 AM-FM radio, having the Civil Defense insigna on the AM dial. Can anyone help me with info off the side and inside of the radio? ID #86FMA-6732 and Chevrolet model #985686. Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Mike
#28614

[Wayne M.]

Re: Looking for info on 1963 AM-FM radio

Fairly rare bird you have there. Not sure exactly what kind of info you're looking for, but in Vette Vues magazine, Oct 1995, they re-printed a 4-page Delco Radio Service Bulletin on 985686, from G.M. of Canada. Gives the specs, alignment procedure, trouble-shooting, Service parts list, receiver parts layout, circuit board view, and schematic diagram.

What is the date on the power (output) transistor on the back (ie. 312; 3=1963, 12=12th week of year). My guess is that going by your sequence # ...A-6732 (the 6732nd of this model) this unit might have been factory-installed in a 1963 Corvette with VIN range 17000-18500.

The 1964 model year Corvette AM/FM (21FJA-xxxx series, part # 985921) also had the Conelrad(sp?) symbols. What are the colors of the background in your AM and FM indicator windows ?

[Michael G.]

Re: Looking for info on 1963 AM-FM radio

Thanks for the info Wayne. The output tranistor is 323 (23rd week) which would certainly tie in with your installation timeline.

Didn't realize the '64 had the symbols as well. The background for FM is red with AM being green. Any way to pre-check these for function prior to installation?

[Jack H.]

Re: Looking for info on 1963 AM-FM radio

Radios are easy to bench test...just connect power/ground, hook the speaker connectors to a REAL Corvette speaker (with the matching transformer on it) and plug in an antenna cable. If the radio is of the earlier Wonderbar design, your bench power supply has to either be a real car battery or a battery 'simulator' with a HUGE instantaneous current reserve profile to absorb the start/stop switching transients associated with the Wonderbar's station seek solenoid(s) functioning....