1960 Radio Problem

[JohnG]

but this was a factory based option of some kind?? in other words manufactured in 58-60??

I am well aware of various people making such conversions now. They are usually very expensive. What got my attention was the word "original" which I took as possibly indicating a Ford option from back then. Maybe I interpretted the post wrong.

[tbird430]

No John this was not an original 1958-60 option, it a modern day modification.

I used the word 'original' just to state they use our our stock AM radio chassis & 'change out the guts' to the more modern AM/FM stereo- with 2 RCA output jacks too for accy's.

Looks like an OE AM radio in the dash, not these chrome AM/FM cassette players that have been around for many years through just about ALL of the T-Bird vendors.

-Jon

[YellowRose]

1960 Radio Problem

Please go down to the bottom of this page and read the additional comments I just added to the pictures of the location of the radio power chassis assembly. I have added something very interesting that I would like your comments on.....

[bcomo]

Radio is Fixed

Well --- I fixed the radio problem in about 15 minutes.

I easily got to the 5 Amp radio fuse and found that it was blown. I put in another fuse, and it blew right away --Hummm.

I traced the fuse wire and found that someone had installed an "In-Line Noise Supressor" between the radio and the fuse. The noise supressor must have decided to go to heaven and short out internally.

Long story short -- I removed the noise supressor, spliced the hot wire back to the radio, put in a new fuse. Works fine again.

P.S. I don't notice any difference in "radio noise" with the noise supressor removed. But it made the radio happy again.

[Penelope]

Hi Bart, I wonder if the noise supressor was put in when we didnt have spark plugs with built in resisitors. I am way out on a limb here as I know nothing about electrics, but I do know I fixed my AM/FM radio noise in my 60 by replacing the plugs with ones that have an "R" in their part number.

Good to see you back on site too!

[bcomo]

The noise supressor was definitely not put in there by the factory -- it was from Radio Shack

I don't have my shop manual handy, but I think that the original plugs called for in the manual (for the 430) are Champion F11Y. As you said, not a resistor plug.

I'm using AC resistor plugs and resistor wires.

[JohnG]

I have a box stock 1958 radio. Works great (for a 1958 radio, anyway). No noise of note.

Since I have had the car I have scrapped the stock wires and plug caps and put in metal core wires. The plugs are standard Autolite ( Y 45?). No attempt at noise suppression at all.

The radio works fine - but if you open the hood all **** breaks loose, which reminded me of the significane of the metal body in noise containment. By comparison I have friends with fibreglass body cars (Vette, Avanti) and their ignition systems are enclosed in metal boxes to do the shielding.

[Dan Leavens]

Bart I am also glad to see youu back on the site and providing your expertise.

[Astrowing]

Do the Tbirds have a ground tab for the hood from the firewall to the hood? I haven't gotten far enough with mine to really worry about the radio, but if the hood is not a good ground plane you'll get RF noise from the engine to the antenna. Also, make sure that the ground is good to the radio chassis and the antenna at that end. My noise problems have almost universally been ground problems on other projects, including the space shuttle.

[YellowRose]

1960 Radio Problem

Yes, there is supposed to be a ground tab that connects with the hood when closed. The section in the Shop Manual about the radio shows where it is.