63 Radio

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Radio

As I understand it you have a Wonderbar AM only radio.
So no ground plate under the antenna.
Only on the AM - FM Cars.

Restoration shop added one on my AM car.
Received a deduction because of the addition.
Rick

Rick, Unfortunate. It's so hard to get under there on a completed car too. Did you change yours back? I had to work on our late Feb '63 coupe U65 antenna and had to remove the muffler to get in there. The wrong bracket pieces were there from a prior so I corrected it. No ground plane there as expected.

It should be noted that the flat copper ground strap attaches to the chassis differently U65 vs U69. Which way was yours, under(U65) or on the side(U69)?

AIM page scans for reference.... Rich

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U65 3.00
No ground plane.
1963_U65_Sh3.jpg

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U65 4.00
Note location of lower ground strap attachment from U69 below.
1963_U65_Sh4.jpg

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U69 3.00
Item #7 Ground Plane & Item #6 Reinforcement riveted together.
Reinforcement is different part# than U65 that didn't have rivet holes.
1963_U69_Sh3.jpg

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U69 4.00
1963_U69_Sh4.jpg

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[Richard G.]

Re: 63 Radio

My December car's ground is on the side(U69)
The grounding parts were missing. I assembled the ground so I know without looking.
I wrongly assumed the grounding plate was in the manual so it belonged there.
You are correct the exhaust will have to be removed to access the area.
I have a NOS exhaust on my car and getting it back apart will be a PITA.
Kudos to the judging team, I couldn't hardly see up in there with my car on the lift.
They spotted it with the car on the ground. Darn fine work!
Once your car is judged their will be little you don't know about it's condition.
Rick

[Andy C.]

Re: 63 Radio

If you have removed the antenna plate from the underside of the body you should be able to see the stain from the reinforcement plate orthe larger aluminum AM/FM plate.
Andy