I am parting out a 70 Cutlass with a factory looking AM/FM radio. The radio has a thick cord with a large round plug that attaches to a second unit under the dash.

It it some kind of reverb unit?

Does it need to be plugged in (and working) to test the radio?

Thanks
Carmak

 

Yes that is part of the Stereo for 1970 together they are worth more than apart. be careful how you test it as they used 10ohm speakers, new speakers can kill it. They were also grounded through the front speaker and the chassis I beleive. Hopefully the experts will chime in for you. The wire lead from the extra part behind the glove box goes to the rear speaker and the leads on the stereo itself goes to the front speaker IRC

 

The 70 a-body AM/FM stereo unit was 2 pieces (as was the 69 which looked different). The 71-2 unit looks like the 70 once installed (same face plate), but they managed to fit everything into one chassis. The second piece on the older units is essentially the separate gear and second amp for the stereo functionality. There as a 68-69 AM/FM mono that had the same appearance as the 69 stereo unit, but it also was only one piece.

 

Thanks guys.

I got it out tonight. Have not tested it but the case if fairly rusty so my hopes are not up.

The second unit has a wire going to it. Does it need it's own power?

Thanks.
Carmak

 

The single blue wire running from it is the rear speaker wire. There is also a bundle of wires (wrapped or in a black covering) running to it connected with what looks like a plug from an old vacuum tube (if you're old enough to remember those). The power (and everything else) is run through that to/from the main unit.

 

Carmak, hi. Longshot question, but do you still have the amplifier available, or are you interested in parting out the set? I'm delving into the possibility of putting in a 197? stereo into my wagon, but it is missing the amplifier. Thanking you in advance, Howie