radio wiring

[Guest]

Hi all again, I'm in the middle of finalizing my interior wiring and one thing I'll be doing is installing an aftermarket stereo, just hidden away.
Now on all my wiring diagrams I've got nothing about the radio.
Basically I'm just after information on do these have similar wiring to more modern stuff. Constant power, accessories power, lighting and earth. All I seem to be able too find is 2 wires which I'd assume are power and light in the center and a couple of speaker wires.
Is that it.
Thanks again Chris.

[simplyconnected]

Yep, that's it. One wire that dims with the dash lights and the fused power wire to run the radio. My '59 Ford has a Town & Country radio with a wonder bar for auto-seek. It also has two power transistors along with a host of tubes. Everything else is mechanical. This Motorola radio was available for Squarebirds as well.

Squarebirds had no stereo, no FM band, no electronic memory, etc. It's just a down and dirty AM tube radio.

[YellowRose]

radio wiring

Chris, the wiring schematic for your radio is in the Technical Resource Library. Go to it, slide down to the Radio section and you will find all the details for your '58 radio, including the wiring schematic for it. Just click on the TRL link below my signature element...

Here are a couple of pix as to what the radio amplifier looks like.

[jopizz]

Chris,

Your squarebird radio in the dash is basically just a tuner. The amplifier section is under the dash to the left of the steering column. You should have a white ribbon cable that connects the radio to the amplifier section. The speaker wire also connects to the amplifier.

John

[Guest]

Thanks fellas, yep found the amplifier and wires. So basically for me too hook up a new head unit I've got my already there constant 12v wire, I now just need to run a wire from accessories and lights. Correct.
How many amps is the fuse on the wire, I'll need to obviously use a small fuse box for the acc wire so I may as well fuse the constant too.
Is there any reason the amplifier can't be removed since I won't be using it.
Thanks Chris.

[del]

Hi Chris that fuse is 7 1/2 amp

[YellowRose]

radio wiring

If you are not going to be using the OEM radio that is in the car, then I don't see why you would need to keep the power supply/amplifier in the car. Except, if I remember correctly, the speaker is connected to it, but I might be wrong about that. Maybe John can give you a better response on this...

[Guest]

That's what I figured. The new head unit will have plugs for speakers So it won't be required. It's not doing any harm there so I'll just see how hard it is to get out. I guess it'd just be basic wiring connecting it.
7.5 amp fuse, excellent, thanks mate.
Job for the weekend.

[del]

When I redid my system I left the amp in place. It seemed like getting it out of there was going to involve more energy than I had left in the tank at the time. Also, I didn't remember that I wanted to try removing it until after I had already reinstalled the drivers seat, which would have made the job of getting the amp out even more fun!

[YellowRose]

radio wiring

As Del said, it would probably be harder to get that unit out than it is worth. I would just leave it in place, making sure that all power connection ends are wrapped with electrical tape, or capped so they don't make contact with anything else under the dash.

[Guest]

Haha, funny you say that. Had a look last night and what a nightmare, it can stay. Now does anyone know if the fused wire that ran to the radio is connected to the amp or is that just direct 12v. I can't really tell it like spaghetti up there.
Thanks Chris.

[jopizz]

The amp gets it's power from the radio through the ribbon cable. The fused wire goes directly to the radio, not the amp.

John

[Guest]

Excellent, where does the other end of the fused wire connect. I can't see much up there, bit messy. I don't seem to be getting anything on the end of the fused wire with the test light.
Thanks.

[jopizz]

It should go to the ignition switch.

John

[Daleo56]

I removed the amplifier from the vent housing. It was only four screws and I used the location for a new amplifier.