Author Topic: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio  (Read 43214 times)

Steve Shauger

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 633
    • View Profile
    • Vintage Certification
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #30 on: November 01, 2010, 10:54:34 PM »


  Car Build             Rev        Light        Transistor date     Date
      NA                FM2          Blue          6916              1969   16th week
      NA                FM2          Blue          6917              1969   17th week
     12A               FM2           Blue          6843             1968    43rd week
     12B                FM2          Blue           6842             1968    42nd week





      9B                 PB1         AM             6837              1968   37th week

If anyone has an amber light stereo your assistance is needed so that the transition from date from blue to amber can be determined.


Steve Shauger
Vintage Certification™ Program, Providing Recognition And Status To Unrestored Vehicles.  The Supercar Registry-www.yenko.net-

Mark

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1089
    • View Profile
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #31 on: November 02, 2010, 12:15:02 AM »
The difference between an FM1 and FM2 AM/FM stereo radio is the use of a single Zener diode DS149 on the FM mixer board.  The FM1 was used early and it was replaced with the FM model at some point.  You would have to open the unit up and look at the diode in the center of the "C shaped circuit board inside the case to see the diode.  As near as i can tell that is the only difference between the two model numbers.
Mark C.
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11

crobjones2

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 404
    • View Profile
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #32 on: November 02, 2010, 02:21:14 AM »


  Car Build             Rev        Light        Transistor date     Date
      NA                FM2          Blue          6916              1969   16th week
      NA                FM2          Blue          6917              1969   17th week
     12A               FM2           Blue          6843             1968    43rd week
     12B                FM2          Blue           6842             1968    42nd week





      9B                 PB1         AM             6837              1968   37th week

If anyone has an amber light stereo your assistance is needed so that the transition from date from blue to amber can be determined.



The 1970(possibly late 69?)I I have, is dated 6942
Chris
69 SS 350

IZRSSS

  • Guest
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #33 on: November 02, 2010, 02:21:42 AM »
Mark,

Does FM=FM2?
Was the purpose of the Zener diode to improve quality/clarity? Hence FM stereo...
Along with the change in diode did the stereo indicator light change from blue to yellow?
Or...Does FM1 & FM2 have anything to do with color change?

Thanks
« Last Edit: November 02, 2010, 02:40:44 AM by IZRSSS »

IZRSSS

  • Guest
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #34 on: November 02, 2010, 02:27:00 AM »
Chris...according to your 6942 date it is a late '69 model...
1969, 42nd wk. Do you have a pic of the transistor?

KurtS

  • CRG Coordinator
  • *****
  • Posts: 5881
    • View Profile
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #35 on: November 02, 2010, 03:05:01 AM »
Chris...according to your 6942 date it is a late '69 model...
1969, 42nd wk. Do you have a pic of the transistor?
But according to the plug, it's for a 70 model year car.
Kurt S
CRG

IZRSSS

  • Guest
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #36 on: November 02, 2010, 03:11:54 AM »
This ought to be fun ??? :-\.

opelitis1

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 309
    • View Profile
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #37 on: November 02, 2010, 11:13:56 AM »
Have a 1970 Green Light (tint) A.M./tape unit in front of me with the original speakers and wires - good on '70 Chevelles. Would the speaker wire length be the same for Camaros and Chevelles.. Believe there should be an inspector's number  tag along the wire lenghth.
Again this is the '70 Chevelle Green Tint model, maybe it is the same ? ? ?
If so, I'll take a pic and measure the length.
Ted

Steve Shauger

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 633
    • View Profile
    • Vintage Certification
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #38 on: November 02, 2010, 03:17:07 PM »
Chris...according to your 6942 date it is a late '69
 model...
1969, 42nd wk. Do you have a pic of the transistor?

That is configured for a 1970 production car. The camaro wasn't available until feb 1970 and am/fm stereo wasnt offered in second gen camaro until 1974. According to the dated units (limited sample) that radio would have been installed in a car built Dec of 1969 and possibly orig installed in a 1970 chevelle or full size cars.

But according to the plug, it's for a 70 model year car.

Chris's radio is configured for a 1970 production car. The camaro wasn't available until feb 1970 and am/fm stereo wasnt offered in second gen camaro until 1974. According to the dated units listed above (limited sample) that radio would have been installed in a car built Dec of 1969 (70 production) and possibly orig installed in a 1970 chevelle, full size or other model vehicle.

Steve Shauger
Vintage Certification™ Program, Providing Recognition And Status To Unrestored Vehicles.  The Supercar Registry-www.yenko.net-

crobjones2

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 404
    • View Profile
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #39 on: November 02, 2010, 06:52:12 PM »
Chris...according to your 6942 date it is a late '69 model...
1969, 42nd wk. Do you have a pic of the transistor?
But according to the plug, it's for a 70 model year car.

exactly - I hope the date helps to pin down the change over from blue light to amber light

were the radio's interchangeable( would it be possible to change the plug to a 69 style?)
Chris
69 SS 350

Steve Shauger

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 633
    • View Profile
    • Vintage Certification
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #40 on: November 02, 2010, 08:12:43 PM »
Chris...according to your 6942 date it is a late '69 model...
1969, 42nd wk. Do you have a pic of the transistor?
But according to the plug, it's for a 70 model year car.

exactly - I hope the date helps to pin down the change over from blue light to amber light

were the radio's interchangeable( would it be possible to change the plug to a 69 style?)

If I remember correctly the unit you have not only has the 70's style plug and location, but also has the non angled heat sink, and the integrated multiplexer. It is my understanding that the heat sink (for 1969 radio) needed to be cut on an angle due to fitment considerations.  That tag sure would come in handy  ;D
« Last Edit: November 02, 2010, 09:02:33 PM by paceme »
Steve Shauger
Vintage Certification™ Program, Providing Recognition And Status To Unrestored Vehicles.  The Supercar Registry-www.yenko.net-

crobjones2

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 404
    • View Profile
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #41 on: November 03, 2010, 12:28:27 AM »
unfortunately there is no tag- otherwise I would have gotten rid of the radio knowing it was not original
Chris
69 SS 350

Steve Shauger

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 633
    • View Profile
    • Vintage Certification
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #42 on: November 03, 2010, 01:08:25 AM »
Chris, was this radio installed in your car? if so how was the power connected to the radio. Was the input/power  harness cut or spliced or dids it look factory/ undisturbed.
Steve Shauger
Vintage Certification™ Program, Providing Recognition And Status To Unrestored Vehicles.  The Supercar Registry-www.yenko.net-

crobjones2

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 404
    • View Profile
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #43 on: November 03, 2010, 07:07:14 PM »
It was cut and spliced, more than likely when the dealer installed an 8-track. Although the original owner has told me the car came with an am/fm radio and they requested the dealer install an 8-track. The 8-track was definately not the same unit that came factory on the camaro, but the 8-track appeared to be the type installed on the larger vehicles( i.e. chevelle)

Thus I cannot confirm this is the original radio - quite possibly a replacement to allow the installation of the 8-track with out the installation of the seperate multiplex unit?
Chris
69 SS 350

IZRSSS

  • Guest
Re: Am/Fm Blue-Light Radio
« Reply #44 on: November 03, 2010, 09:17:00 PM »
The difference between an FM1 and FM2 AM/FM stereo radio is the use of a single Zener diode DS149 on the FM mixer board.  The FM1 was used early and it was replaced with the FM model at some point.  You would have to open the unit up and look at the diode in the center of the "C shaped circuit board inside the case to see the diode.  As near as i can tell that is the only difference between the two model numbers.

We know that for 1969 there were two AM/FM radio's offered. One under RPO U69: "Radio; pushbutton AM-FM", and the other under RPO U79: "Radio; Pushbutton AM-FM Stereo". Both radios were very expensive back then but the stereo retailed at $239.10 compared to the other one at $133.80. Significant difference between stereo and non-stereo.

Would it be safe to assume FM1=w/o stereo and FM2 =w/ stereo?