65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

[John C.]

First off, if anybody has an exceptional amount of patience, I'd like to either borrow some or buy enough to get me through this radio problem because I've run smooth out. I've had it out twice, which isn't the easiest job on an air car. Jerry says it performs perfectly on his bench, but it won't work in the car. Every component is either new or restored. I read on another forum about guys buying a cheapie antenna in order to verify if their mounted antenna is working or not, and this is what I need to do. Problem is, none of the parts stores in my area have an antenna that accepts the OEM screw on antenna cable. I did fine one online made by ward, but by the time I buy it and have it shipped, I'm at $48 "just" to check and see if my OEM power antenna is working or not and I won't be able to return it. Does anyone have an actual source for a cheap antenna so I can see if the antenna is the problem or not ?
Or, if anyone has one laying around that is of little value, I'll buy it.
Any assistance is appreciated !
JC

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

First off, if anybody has an exceptional amount of patience, I'd like to either borrow some or buy enough to get me through this radio problem because I've run smooth out. I've had it out twice, which isn't the easiest job on an air car. Jerry says it performs perfectly on his bench, but it won't work in the car. Every component is either new or restored. I read on another forum about guys buying a cheapie antenna in order to verify if their mounted antenna is working or not, and this is what I need to do. Problem is, none of the parts stores in my area have an antenna that accepts the OEM screw on antenna cable. I did fine one online made by ward, but by the time I buy it and have it shipped, I'm at $48 "just" to check and see if my OEM power antenna is working or not and I won't be able to return it. Does anyone have an actual source for a cheap antenna so I can see if the antenna is the problem or not ?
Or, if anyone has one laying around that is of little value, I'll buy it.
Any assistance is appreciated !
JC

John------


I don't see why you need to find an antenna that accepts the OEM screw-on cable. Just find a cheap antenna with cable that you can use to test the radio in the car. You don't need to install the antenna; just place it in a good reception location. If the radio works, then you know the problem is with the antenna cable or antenna. Then, you could check the cable for continuity or resistance. If the cable checks out OK, then you know the problem is with the antenna.

By the way, are you sure the radio is getting power and are you sure the speaker connections are OK?

[John C.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Well, I was trying to avoid boring everyone with the entire story. In short: Jerry restored the radio, looked great. Speaker is new and correct. Already did the new cable thing, no change. Radio powers up, Ipod jack jerry installed works fine, so the speaker is OK and power to radio is OK.
Sent radio back to Jerry last year because I thought something was wrong in the radio; not the case, Jerry played it all day while working on other radios and it never skipped a beat, reinstalled and same issue, driving down the road and it quits working.
As far as using a cable/ antenna without the screw on attachment for a cable, this won't work per Jerry because the factory correct cable has a built in capacitor and over the counter antennas at the local parts stores won't work ( supposedly ). Also, checking the cable with a meter isn't that easy either due to the capacitor. As you can see, this has turned out to be a very frustrating ordeal. Oh, and my antenna is a factory correct and correctly dated restored power antenna. That doesn't mean there isn't a problem with my antenna, but it has been restored. The antenna is the only thing left that could be causing the problem, assuming the radio isn't wigging out. I'd like to be able to exclude the antenna as the culprit before pulling the radio out for the 3rd time. So, unless I've been misinformed, I'll need a donor antenna with the threaded cable attachment point in order to attach my cable and see if the radio will work. Am I missing something ?
JC

[John C.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Oh, forgot to mention one thing. I did buy a antenna with the fixed cable and plugged it into the radio, no change what-so-ever. Radio come on, IPOD will play, am is complete static and FM picks up enough to hear, but I have to turn the volume all the way up and at that point I can barely hear music.
JC

[John C.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Anyone know how to get in touch with Greg Thompson, the antenna guy. Member 41250. I don't see a member search tool.
JC

[Donald H.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

I had a similar issue and similar thread. Jerry did my radio and all tested fine. I have a Greg Thompson restored antenna and installed the original antenna cable.

I got maybe one AM station but barely, I got a few FM stations but mostly static. I email Jerry and he suggest I get an inexpensive antenna at a local auto parts store. I think I paid $11 and got better reception than with my restored antenna and original cable, so I eliminated the radio as the problem. I believe my issue was the cable. I managed to find an NOS GM service replacement cable and have it installed. I also bought and used one of the Corvette Central cables that they claim is correct. To be honest, I don't notice much difference between the CC cable and the NOS cable. But I have not tested the radio outside my garage yet as I'm just getting the car back together.

Jerry did say that the AM reception would be very poor inside the garage.

A couple of questions - are you check your radio outside, i.e. not in a garage?

Are you sure you have good solid ground? This is a shot in the dark and probably isn't any of the cause, but I would simply use a jumper cable from a known good ground and clip it to the radio housing.

[Donald H.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Another suggestion. If you are left to lay out $48 to buy something that may or may not be functional. You can buy a 67 antenna body ($25) and mast ($21) from Paragon. You then have to pay shipping, but if what they sell works for a 67, it should work for your 65.

[Joe R.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

John,

Your radio should play even with a coat hanger plugged into the antenna hole with no ground.

Only if you live underground in a metal house you should not have a problem with reception.

JR

[Don H.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Greg is at

http://c2powerantenna.com/index.html

and the member search tool is up in the small tool bar, in the drop down under Community.

[John C.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Yes, the car is in the garage, but was on the road when the problem began. It's weird, because I can hear on FM if the volume is all the way up. As far as grounding goes, I was told that if the radio will turn on, then it's grounded. I'll try the ground trick to the radio housing just to see if maybe it could possibly be as issue. There is absolutely no change going from the existing cable to the new CC cable.
I also don't have the big aluminum antenna plate installed at the base of the antenna for the same reason a lot of guys have, there isn't enough of the threads coming through the fender to install the nut on the top side.
Another thing, if a ground was the problem, wouldn't it affect the IPOD jack also ?
At this point, I'll try anything. This radio problem has by far been the most difficult thing I've tackled on the car. Not to mention I have a small fortune tied up in all the components.
I did get in touch with Greg. He suggested checking the CC cable as he has seen problems with them.
Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. I'll continue searching form the problem.
JC

[Donald A.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

John, Your radio should play even with a coat hanger plugged into the antenna hole with no ground.....

I agree. I have worked on many of these midyear radios and if working properly they will receive just fine with a coat hanger. I had a problem antenna in my 66 and to check my radio I got out my $10 radio shack fixed mast 12" car antenna which has the proper male connector to fit into the back of the radio. I plugged that into the radio, left the antenna on the passenger seat, and got great AM and FM reception in the garage and driving around town. Those old radios will receive well as long as some kind of functional antenna is attached. Now FWIW and this is just my opinion, but leaving out the antenna ground plate might be part of your problem. That big aluminum plate is not only for antenna support but is also a "ground plane" device to enhance antenna function for radio reception. I found the plate was missing on my car, for the usual reason probably of difficulty having enough threads to secure the antenna nut on top. I got the antenna kit (Paragon # 3671K for 25 bucks) and installed it, the antenna now works, the reception is great. The trick I used was to grind 1/4" down on the antenna spacer (photo below) which allowed the antenna to extend another 1/4" up through the mount hole making attachment of the antenna nut easy and secure. Anyway, it worked for me, just a thought. The spacer is only 6 bucks (Paragon # 4921) and I figured if I messed it up it would be easy to replace. But again, if your radio doesn't work with a cheap fixed mast one plugged in and sitting on the passenger seat, then you have a radio problem primarily. Good luck with your project!

[John C.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Well, looks like I'll be pulling the radio out again. I did try a cheap antenna from Auto Zone and nothing changed. The spacer trick will come in handy, thanks Don for the part numbers and experience !!!!!
JC

[Donald A.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Well, looks like I'll be pulling the radio out again. I did try a cheap antenna from Auto Zone and nothing changed. The spacer trick will come in handy, thanks Don for the part numbers and experience !!!!!
JC

Another thought for you... I had a 67 radio I was helping a guy with, and it worked intermittently but when I tried the cheap antenna on the passenger seat trick, his radio worked sporadically. So took it apart and found a loose solder joint where the antenna wire is soldered to the connector inside the radio - 50 years of plugging and unplugging that connection can loosen things up! Anyway, I found this by clipping a temp wire onto where the antenna lead in wire connected to the circuit board and the radio worked flawlessly. So finally figured out to re-solder the connection on the chassis antenna plug and the radio was cured. It could be something like that with your radio, and might explain why it played all day in the repair shop without problem (not moving/vibrating in a car) but goes out when installed in your midyear. Just a thought! Again good luck with your project.

[John C.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

I'll look at that today Donald. Today it will either work, or it's coming back out. I'll check everything mentioned here on the forum and just to be sure it's not a poor reception issue due to being in the garage, I'll back it out and see if the reception improves.
I'll report back tonight.
Thanks again for the help and suggestions guys !
JC

[John C.]

Re: 65 radio issues, I'm at wits end !

Radio update. I pulled it out for the 3rd and final time. I was either going to replace it with a newer updated digital version or try and find another OEM radio that DID work. Jerry talked me into shipping it back to him one more time just to check and see if maybe there was another part inside the unit that decided to fail right after the restoration. Well, he was right, that's exactly what happened. He repaired the failed part, sent it back to me and as of now, it's in the car and working fine. The original antenna cable also works fine and per Jerry, the L.I. cable was incorrect as it didn't have the required built-in capacitor that was present in the factory cable. An unbelievable amount of frustration and work due to one little biddy failed part and 2 incorrect cables. Dang.

Another thanks to Jerry !!!!!
JC