Help (Radio, A/C, horn)

[Ryan Wright]

I have a '76
I was wondering if any other radios (such as chevelles,cutlasses,camaros,gto's) are the same for the corvette this year, if no where i can get one

I was also wondering how hard it is to rebuild an a/c Compressor or what special tools may be needed

And last question how i test the curent in my clock, and horn wires beings there are no grounds with the horn i know the current runs to the relay

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Help (Radio, A/C, horn)

Ryan, most Corvette radios are Corvette specific. I doubt that you will find a radio out of another car to fit. However, there are aftermarket replacements specifically for your application. All the Corvette catalog vendors carry them. Some are quite inexpensive, and they are direct bolt in replacements.
As to the AC compressor, you can get a rebuilt compressor at any auto parts store on an exchange basis. Shouldn't be too terribly expensive.
Horn: Your horn works by means of a ground in the horn button. There is a hot lead from one side of the relay coil going to the steering wheel. When you press the horn button you ground the circuit and make up the relay. You should be able to jumper from this connection to ground and make your horn blow. Sorry, I don't have a C3 wiring diagram, so I can't tell you which wire. Most horn problems are 1) bad contact in steering wheel hub, 2)bad relay, or 3) bad horns; pretty much in that order.
Clock:Using a 12V test light, test the wire to the clock for voltage. If you have voltage, the clock is probably bad. Frequently the clocks can be resurected by taking them apart and cleaning the contacts on the winding mechanism. If not, they can be repaired or converted to a quartz movement at a very moderate cost. Check out www.clockwks.com These guys do a great job.

[Jim T.]

Re: Help (Radio, A/C, horn)

There are a lot of radios available throughout the US. A lot of Corvettes have been parted out throughout the years because of wrecks, fires, etc. Try contacting www.contemporycorvette.com. Not knowing where you live I will tell you that in Knoxville,TN in April there will be plenty of used parts at the Corvette Expo. Try Carisle this summer. If there is a Super Chevy Show you can attend you should find some stuff you could use from the used parts venders.
Another place to look is www.corvetteforum.com and search used parts for you year.

[Reba 8804]

Re: Help (Radio, A/C, horn)

Ryan, 1976 was the last year that Corvettes had their own radio. You have some good advice on where to find one. Be sure that you get the amplifier (I think it really has another name.) if yours has been removed. I got lucky and mine was still mounted behind the RH dash.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Help (Radio, A/C, horn)

Ryan,

Be advised that the Corvete AC compressor is slightly different than other GM models. The rebuild you get will be "generic" and applicable to everything else. The Corvette unit has a nominally smaller stroke capacity (and going up to the passenger car capacity won't hurt), and the rear of the unit should be rotated 90 degrees clockwise (looking from the rear) from what you get on the rebuilt unit.

I'd look for someone to rebuild your current unit, if possible. Else, if you want correct appearance someone can rotate the rear face as needed to match original configuration.

There's a fair amount of info in the archives on this that explains it even further.

Good Luck,

Patrick

[Jack H.]

Da Thingy....

Name for 'thingy' is Convector. It's actually a simple heat sink with DS-501 speaker drive transistor and cable interconnect (to radio for power and audio signals and to speakers with final audio drive waveform). Appears 'somebody' ran out of depth space in the center console to accept radio chassis with the protruding heat sink fins and had to 'cobble' the radio chassis into separate parts and spread things around using space available (varies with A/C vs. no A/C car configuration)....

This is for standard AM/FM setup. If radio is optional Stereo system, the 'thingy' is more complicated as it does both final speaker drive function as well as some of the de-mux (stereo channel separation) function.

Last, take Reba's advice to heart! Without the external 'thingys' which are VERY often discarded by Corvette radio removers and not included in typical radio resale 'deals' (like eBay sales), you've only gotten HALF a radio!