56 Speaker Install?
I was trying to help a friend install his original radio and speakers in his 56 this morning. We did not have the AIM and it appears some brackets are missing. the speaker has attached to it a tuner or amplifier but the attachment is not very good and from looking at the side of the assembly it looks like the there should be brackets on both sides to more firmly attach the amplifier(tuner?) to the speaker. Also, the speaker has only a couple of screw holes on the front to mount that to the dash. With all the weight of the speaker and Amplifier it seems like there should be a bracket on the back to mount to the underside of the dash. Looking under the dash I can see no stud or past mounting point. Attached are pics of both sides of the speaker/amplifier. If this is covered in the AIM please let me know. It would also be very helpful if anyone has pics of brackets or other mounting hardware. Thanks your your help, Jim BIMG_0782.jpgIMG_0783.jpg
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
James, There's a downloadable online copy of the 1956/1957 AIM here on Russ Uzes site, but a paper copy is best obtained from the NCRS Store.
at the middle of the page.
Rich
p.s. If you need pics I have a '56 in the shop but can't go out there due to severe weather here in eastern FL at the moment. -
Re: 56 Speaker Install?
you do not have a "correct" power pak for a CORVETTE, that is your problemComment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
Jim You do not have a 1956-1957 power supply. I will try to attach a few pictures to show you what you are missing. DaveComment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
Your power unit has a new OZ4 rectifier tube, 12V6 power amplifiers, and a vibrator. The Corvette unit is all solid state and has none of these parts. I would say it is passenger car except for the fact that the speaker is round. All pass car radios I know of are 6X9.
Might it be a 1955? Or maybe a very early 56? I don't know what the 55s look like, but I don't think the transistors were available in 55. Maybe someone with 55 knowledge can chime in. You might have something very rare here.
-Dan-Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
Thanks to all, great info. David, thanks particularly for the photos. I thought the combination of speaker and amplifier looked very odd; moreso when the owner said the amplifier was supposed to be mounted upside down (how long would it take for the vacuum tubes to work loose and fall out!!Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
They are mounted upside down, but everything usually says in place okay. But with the solid state Corvette unit there is nothing to fall out.
-Dan-Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
Dan, so would this be a 54 or 55 amplifier? If so would you have any pictures of how the amplifier is mounted to the speaker? We are going to have to jury-rig something. Also, if he has a 54 or 55 unit and we can identify it he can be looking for a correct one to trade. Is a part number stamped on the amplifier (if I'm using the correct term).Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
I went through the archives looking for 55 speakers. In an old post I found this picture- purported to be of a '55 radio and speaker. If this is correct it looks little like the one my friend has so maybe his is out of a '54 (was a radio offered in '53?).Radio.jpgComment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
Jim, it won't be a 53 or 54, as they are 6V, and I know what they look like. Just not sure yours is a 55 or not. Was hoping someone with 55 experience would come alive here.
You could PM or e-mail Jerry Rudbeck - he is a member and restores Corvette radios. He is also very willing to help out other members. A very nice guy.
Yours looks like it was serviced recently. It has a new RCA OZ4 rectifier tube and a yellow Mylar bypass capacitor.
Real 56 and 57 radios are hard to come by and very expensive.
-Dan-Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
There is not a shortage of 56 passenger car radio units being passed off as original and correct for Corvettes. About a decade ago I saw a unit that an NCRS member had modified for a 56-57 Corvette. If I recall he used a mid-50s Buick speaker and a Chevy radio and power pack unit. He made brackets and tucked it above and behind the kick panel. It was effectively done. I wish I would have paid more attention to what he did-he is now deceased.Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
All tubes, vibrator, and power transformer are different. May be other minor differences in some of the small components.
Jim, look at the power output tubes. They will be either 6V6 or 12V6. This will tell you for certian if your unit is 12V or 6V.
-Dan-Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
Your right, there is no shortage of passenger 55, 56 car radios. Cadillac radios are also very similar, and they are cheap. The passenger car wonder bar tuner unit is very similar to the Corvette, but there are some differences. Not true of the power unit. They are way - way different.
-Dan-Comment
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Re: 56 Speaker Install?
Thanks again. Will look at the power output tubesComment
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