USA-230 Radio

This area is for posting questions/information concerning 1964-66 year Thunderbirds NO FOR SALE POSTINGS

Moderator: redstangbob

User avatar
RedBird64
Posts: 2234
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:42 pm
Location: Bothell Wa.

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by RedBird64 »

My radio came Don Kimrey and I know it was off a 65 bird. No legs to be seen and it's been that way since 1995.
So apparently they don't play a major role.
1964 Coupe Wimbledon white/Rangoon Red w/black int. Owned for 42 years. It was my folks car before that (second owners). VTCI # 12013.
jtschug
Posts: 1472
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:33 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by jtschug »

I've got a whole stack of 65-66 radios, both AM/FM and AM only all of them attach the legs with large screws, not rivets.

Also, if you want to listen to FM stations and still have the looks of an original AM radio, you can get the Aurora conversion where a new tuner is installed inside the original radio body. I have one in my car and it works great.
1966 Thunderbird Convertible (Emberglo / White-Emberglo)
Modified 428 - stroked, rollercam, aluminum top end, headers
Livermore, CA
User avatar
XMas 64
Posts: 132
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:46 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by XMas 64 »

My '64 radio has a couple FM buttons, is that different on other years?
1964 Whimbledon White Thunderbird Coupe VIN 4Y83Z116724
User avatar
RedBird64
Posts: 2234
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:42 pm
Location: Bothell Wa.

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by RedBird64 »

XMas 64 wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:46 pm My '64 radio has a couple FM buttons, is that different on other years?
The 64 and 65 AM/FM look like that. The 66 was different shaped and had the 8 track tape stereo option.

Scott
1964 Coupe Wimbledon white/Rangoon Red w/black int. Owned for 42 years. It was my folks car before that (second owners). VTCI # 12013.
RAVEN
Posts: 1851
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 am

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by RAVEN »

Take note that a 64 AM/FM is different than a 65//66- AM/FM in the in the push button "Buttons" and dial face.
A 64 radio had a dial w/AM and FM scale; smooth faced selector buttons. Plus the buttons had AM or FM lettering on face of buttons
65 and 66 had a dial w/AM/FM selection window in centre of face with buttons having a colored groove offset on the face of the buttons. The buttons rotated to select the AM or FM frequencies. You would rotate the groove up for one, or down for the other frequency. By setting the orientation of the button the frequency was chosen.
CDN Member since 1975 #2086
Flock: 1964 Landau Original Family Owned
1964 Sr Convertible "RAVEN"
Past: 2003 Blk Lab "RAVEN" "RIP"Nov 15/17
1964 Lincoln vin4Y86N00007
1964 Red Convertible
User avatar
RedBird64
Posts: 2234
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:42 pm
Location: Bothell Wa.

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by RedBird64 »

Sorry Raven but I'm not following you. Perhaps I'm just missing something though.
For ref one can google "64 and 65 Thunderbird dash" and get countless images of 65 and 64 radios. They are all identical as far as I can tell just as they have been in all the cars I've seen unless there's some tiny nuance I don't see. My own radio has transistors that are date coded 65XX as well as a 65 D/c stamped on the housing and was purportedly removed from a 65 in a salvage yard. At the time they also had a 64 but it was in rougher shape.

I know there was a big change in 66 with the 8 track and stereo - neither of which was available in 65. The buttons are different (bigger) as well.

Here is mine:
Is this not a 64 radio? A Concourse judge who I bought it from said it was.. (FWIW)

Image

BTW, it does have an AM radio lens in it although one cant tell from the outside.

Thanks for any additional info you can provide.
Scott
1964 Coupe Wimbledon white/Rangoon Red w/black int. Owned for 42 years. It was my folks car before that (second owners). VTCI # 12013.
jtschug
Posts: 1472
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:33 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by jtschug »

Yes Redbird, that is a 64 radio. 65-66 Am/FM radios are different. They have a window in the middle of the dial which switches back and forth between AM and FM depending on which it is tuned in to. Also the buttons are not dedicated to AM or FM, they can be twisted 180° to be AM or FM. There is a red line on them so you can tell which way they are twisted.
1966 Thunderbird Convertible (Emberglo / White-Emberglo)
Modified 428 - stroked, rollercam, aluminum top end, headers
Livermore, CA
User avatar
bwssr
Posts: 136
Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2015 3:25 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by bwssr »

It's not hard to install. I did not use the original speakers. You can mount them in the doors or there are under the seat speakers too. The 66 had four speakers all mounted in the doors. Sounded pretty good. It was the one with an 8 track stereo installed. I used to have an am/fm in the car but it sounded like crap. I can always reinstall an am radio it If I want to. I sold the am/fm one.
I was in the army stationed at Ft. Lewis in November 1973. I bought my 65 Thunderbird near there and was hooked on Thunderbirds ever since.
Redbird66
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:47 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by Redbird66 »

jtschug wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:32 pm I've got a whole stack of 65-66 radios, both AM/FM and AM only all of them attach the legs with large screws, not rivets.

Also, if you want to listen to FM stations and still have the looks of an original AM radio, you can get the Aurora conversion where a new tuner is installed inside the original radio body. I have one in my car and it works great.
I'm looking for a 66 radio, is there a certain way to tell from the wiring if it originally came with just am or am/fm?
jtschug
Posts: 1472
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:33 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by jtschug »

The wiring for AM only and AM/FM is the same. The 8Track has different speaker outputs because of the stereo speakers in the doors, so that wiring is different.
1966 Thunderbird Convertible (Emberglo / White-Emberglo)
Modified 428 - stroked, rollercam, aluminum top end, headers
Livermore, CA
Redbird66
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:47 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by Redbird66 »

Alright I'll be looking for a am/fm radio because some kind of aftermarket radio in it right now does nothing. Everything in this car has been a hack. Fixing the previous owners hack jobs never ends
User avatar
paulr
Posts: 1800
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:03 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by paulr »

Redbird66 wrote: Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:08 pm Alright I'll be looking for a am/fm radio because some kind of aftermarket radio in it right now does nothing. Everything in this car has been a hack. Fixing the previous owners hack jobs never ends
Used AM/FMs are rare so they'll set you back. They are good sounding radios; it's worth the trouble.

My '64 had some hack jobs, too. Returning the previous "work" to original specs or upgrading (in the case of brakes and suspension) has been really satisfying I can't tell you how much. These machines really hummed off the line; you'll be glad you took the time.
Paul
VTCI 12014
Registry 45122
'64 Landau HT
"Beer, now there's a temporary solution!" ~Homer Simpson
Redbird66
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:47 pm

Re: USA-230 Radio

Post by Redbird66 »

Thanks there are so many parts to replace or test like the vacuum actuators cause I have no idea if they really work. The biggest issue is the previous owner deliberately removed the complete a/c system that the car was originally equipped with.
Post Reply