Nojodas67

Ok, I just got done installing the housing, radio and the gauges. I think it came out great. The housing Randy makes is a first class piece, looks very nice and it's very well made. Thanks Randy.

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Now I just have to tidy everything up under the dash and tie up some wires. All gauges work great too.

Picture below is the sloppy setup installed by the previous owner. The new center console in above pics is from a 2001 Dakota pickup, slight modification and now fits great. It has a 12V outlet inside too.
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Nojodas67

Oh...in case anyone is interested, I found the gauges on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/331111860589...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

scottyr33

Just a quick shot out to Randy!!!! He made me a faceplate so i could mount my stereo inside of my glove box. He was great to work with and very reasonably priced. I finally had the chance to mount my stereo and I could be happier! I will try to post pics later.
THANKS AGAIN RANDY

W70442

Nojodas67,
Thank you for the kind words. Was happy to help. I'm proud to contribute to such a nice car. Look's like you've got it all buttoned up. Looks great!
Thanks again,
Randy

W70442

Hey Scotty,


Glad to hear it fits your car well. I'm hoping you meant to say that you "couldn't" be happier.
Please do post up some pics of it installed. You know how the guys around here are about pics....


I uploaded a couple pics of the two versions I did installed in my car. One is like the one I did for scotty and one is the one I did for my car. I wanted to be able to still store my registration and 8 track tape etc in there. Instead of the face plate going straight up, it bends back to form a shelf.
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Thanks again,
Randy

Louise72

Hey guys.
LOVE how these look!
Is there a potential for issues regarding the heater output?
When I say issues, blocking or things getting too hot within this box?

W70442

Since I'm the person that made it, I was hoping someone else would chime in with an opinion or personal experience about this as I didn't want to sound biased. But since they haven't, I will say that I had my cd player in my glove box for years without any problem with the radio over heating. That was with it just sitting on a piece of foam. Since I made that plate for scottyr33, I made a version of one for myself where the face plate actually folds over the top of the stereo to make a shelf so I could still keep my registration etc in there. This would seem to further increase the chance of heat build up but I am happy to report that it has been in there for a couple months now with no issues. Granted, I don't drive mine daily but I haven't had any problems with it overheating.
If there were an issue, like somewhere it gets really hot like Texas or Arizona, you could simply install a small dc operated fan in the glove box or mount it on the back side of the box to move air/heat out. I'd run the power separately from a keyed source and be sure to use a quality fan so as not to induce electrical noise into the stereo circuit.

RetroRanger

hey Randy do you have the wire pin out for the 8 track players (71-72 cutlass) I would like to test mine on the bench but the wiring scheme seems somewhat eclectic

W70442

Hi,
Yeah, they stuck the front speaker wire in between the power and ground!? I guess it makes sense not to have power and ground next to each other. Anyway, here ya go....get comfortable. Let me know if you have any questions.

I've had pretty good luck getting the ones I've come across going but I'm not a service repair shop.

I will be glad to share what I know though.

*****************BENCH TESTING***************

If your plugs are still intact, this will be easy.

(When referring to male or female plugs, I mean the plastic part. Not the electrical connector.)

The three wires in the three pin female plug, a couple ground wires and the dark blue wire w/red stripe are all you need to hook up in order to bench test the player. It can be played by itself with out the radio involved.

In the three pin plug on the 8 track, the yellow wire is 12vdc, the black wire is ground and the center light blue wire is the front speaker wire.

The dark blue wire w/red stripe (male plug) is the rear speaker wire.

You’ll need to run a ground wire from the battery/power supply to the 8 track player’s chassis and the speaker or speakers.
Unless you are using a fused or circuit breaker equipped power supply, ALWAYS put a 10 amp fuse inline with the power or ground wire when bench testing. I've gotten players that have had the contacts on the main rotary switch fried because it had a dead short and they apparently didn't have it fused.

****************Installationin the car*************

The 8 track gets installed in line with or in between the car and the radio. To install the 8 track, unplug the male three pin plug from the radio and plug that into the three pin female plug on the 8 track. Then plug the three pin male plug from the 8 track into the radio. If your radio is a stereo unit or has the rear seat speaker option, plug the wire coming from the side of your radio(dark blue wire w/female plug) into the dark blue w/red stripe wire (male plug) from the 8 track. Then plug the dark blue w/white stripe wire (female plug) from the 8 track into the male plug from the rear seat speaker.

***************SERVICINGTHE UNIT*************

1. Clean the heads with a_lint free_cloth saturated with alcohol.

2. Clean and relube the track changing cam. (The wheel or round thing with spikes sticking out of it that turns when you push the "program" button). You can rotate it by hand by pushing the solenoid plunger in by hand and releasing it. On the wheel that rotates when you release the solenoid, clean and lube the surface that the cam follower/head changing arm rides on. On some 8 tracks, the cam follower is on the top side of the wheel and in other years it is on the bottom of the wheel. Clean and relube the surface that has the steps/different levels.

3. Before you do this step, note the orientation of the clear plastic "tape stripper" that is located on the top side of the player where the capstan shaft(tape drive shaft) is held between the two brass bushings. It goes in either way but only one way is correct. Hopefully, it’s in correctly now. I believe the little wing should be sticking out to the right as you look at it from the front. Turn player up side down and remove the 3 screws from the flat triangular shaped plate that holds the flywheel in place. Remove the flywheel and clean the shaft with alcohol. Again, that clear plastic tape stripper piece goes in a certain way. Pay close attention to how it’s sitting before you take the flywheel out.

4. Once the flywheel is out, remove the tape stripper and clean it with alcohol. This is the clear half tube shaped plastic piece that fits around the drive shaft. Also remove any bits of old tape stuck down in the capstan shaft hole and clean the brass bushings with alcohol.

5. Look at the capstan shaft on the flywheel and you'll see the area on the shaft on which the tape has been riding. Lubricate ONLY the area of the shaft BELOW the area on which the tape rides and the flywheel itself with #20 machine oil (3in1 oil). Do NOT apply oil to the shaft above the area on which the tape rides. Reinstall flywheel and install the drive belts. Reinstall the plate over the flywheel. If you put any oil on the upper brass bushing, it could run down the shaft and cause the tape become contaminated and slip.

6. Hook the player up to a battery(power source) and speakers on the bench. Use a 10 amp fuse inline with the power source or use a power supply with a circuit breaker.

7. There are 2 adjustments for the heads, azimuth and channel cross talk.

8. The channel cross talk adjustment screw is on top of the program selecting cam(the wheel that turns when changing tracks). Turning the screw moves the heads up and down to center them on the track.The Azimuth adjusting screw is accessed through a hole in the chassis on the right hand side of the player even(front to rear) with the heads. Turning this screw changes the angle at which the heads are positioned.

9. Play a known good tape and turn the channel crosstalk screw in both directions until you feel it is centered on the song/track it was playing before you turned the screw. As you turn it, the sound will get weaker, stop and turn back the other direction until the sound is at it’s loudest. You’ll go back and forth across the sweet spot several times till you’re happy it’s at it’s loudest. If you turn it too far, you’ll start to hear songs from another channel/track.

10. Once you have the channel crosstalk adjusted, turn the azimuth adjusting screw(through the right side of the player) in both directions listening for the maximum output (best sound). I’ve found that the best indicator is when you hear the symbols or high pitched sounds come in their best. Same deal as before, go back and forth till it sounds best to you.

11. Now the tedious part. Find a known good tape that has the time for each track printed on the label. Using a stop watch or clock with a second hand, play a track(doesn't matter which one) and time it. Compare the actual playing time to what is printed on the label. If it's off by more than 20 seconds over a 10 minute track, you can adjust the motor speed. The adjustment for the motor speed is different depending on what year player you have. The early players had a hole in the side of the motor casing itself. You have to remove the outer metal shield that surrounds the motor and then remove the piece of tape covering the hole on the motor. Remember which way the opening of the shield went and put it back the same way when it's time. The shield is there to reduce motor hum and the orientation of the opening between the two ends of the shield makes a difference. Once you get the tape covering the hole in the motor off, use a flashlight and slowly turn the shaft of the motor until you see a tiny phillips head screw appear inside the motor. Turning this screw is how you adjust the speed on this style/year of player. Make small adjustments. The later ones have an adjustment screw or pot on a circuit board on the under side of the player. It usually has "motor speed" or something similar printed on the board next to it. I adjust the speed and re-time it until I getit to within about 10 seconds per 10 minutes. The factory spec was 20 secondsover a 10 minute period.

I can perform this service for you for $89 + return shipping. Radio repair shops will want anywhere from $300 - $400 for this service. Please keep in mind, as mentioned above, I am not a repair shop and don’t have access to new replacement parts so I can not guarantee that I will be able to get a player working if it doesn’t currently work. I have had pretty good luck with them but my service is mainly for those players that work but need to be refurbished.

Randy
w70442@hotmail.com

RetroRanger

Wow great info thank you.


i will get after my stuff as time permits and post back w results,

I took apart an old home 8 track apart a while back and found the post the head rides on to change tracks was gummed up after a good cleaning it was back in working order, prior to that it played but would either change tracks as it warmed up or would only play either track 1 or 4.

appreciate the info/

Cincinnati Rick

Hi Randy,
Well, I'm ready to start on the stereo system and I think I want to go with a glove box mounted unit. I'm leaning towards the type shown here. Can you tell me how the housing and stereo mount in the glove box?

Gerald Nickels

Pics from my 70 Cutlass 8 track

droptopron

That's neat

jpc647

these are really nice.

subscribing for future.

70wcar

I want one like this.... just got to pick a radio! Well, and finish the quarters, doors, paint, trans, reassembly. OK, I'll be back! LOL

Gerald Nickels

I have some 8 tracks with out case but they do make a case repo that works out great. I can cut one for you any time.
Gerald

70cutty

Randy, do you still make these? please email me at olds.cutlass@yahoo.com.

oldsmobiledave

I used one in my 1970 Cutlass W-31. Very happy with the product.


This W-31 was not ordered with the factory gauge package. My experience with the factory tach is that it is so far from accurate that it is not worth having and thus the Sun tach. I could have installed the factory gauge pod but really prefer to have modern accurate gauges. These housings allow an owner to install whatever they want and still give it a factory look.

Cincinnati Rick

I've installed 2 of them and get compliments all the time. Randy can make just about anything you want and is a nice guy to deal with.

70cutty

I have one already and I always get compliments on it. Randy does top notch work and he is a pleasure to deal with.
I need another one for another project.

grmchne78

Is there a website to shop these? I want atleast one...

W70442

Hi Harvey,
I don't have a web site. You can reach me at w70442@hotmail.Com if you would like one.
Be glad to help if I can,
Randy

grmchne78

Randy is great to deal with and the product is fantastic. He is making me a custom matching insert for a home built console too. Thanks Randy!

1971 cutlasssupreme

Gerald Nickels, I want to copy your 8 track facad with modern radio behind. Can you IM with info. Do you still have an 8 track front that can be modified for this?

LeftLAneBrain

Email sent. Thank you for building these. Love the idea of a double din in a 72 cutlass with console, if it's possible.

Macadoo

Are these still being offered? I'm interested in a three gauge / single din (din on top) for a '71 Supreme.

W70442

Yep. Still at it. Please email me at w70442@hotmail.com and let me know exactly how you would like it built IE stereo, stereo and gauges, if gauges-how many and what size, what type of wood grain if any etc and your shipping address and I'll get you a total.
Merry Christmas,
Randy

Macadoo

Sounds good, man.

redrumtwo

HI, I just saw your under dash housings.
I like the one with the three gauges and single DIN radio with the Burl wood face.
I also would consider just the single DIN version in Burl wood.
Could you please send me some info on these?
My email to use is redrumtwo@hotmail.com
Thanks, Ken.

JCMC64

Ttt

Are you still making these? Thx.

W70442

Yep. Still at it.

Email me at w70442@hotmail.com and let me know what kind you would like.

Randy

Bandit4142

I can't tell you how happy it makes me that you are still producing these! My '70 Olds has one of your mounts for 3 gauges and now I want to go a different route. I'll email you shortly when I make up my mind what I want! Thank you Randy.

Scott Hyde

These are great quality and fit great! If you are thinking of buying one of these don't hesitate!

4speed455

Hey Scott that does look nice. What gauges are those? I like how they match the design of the factory ones.

Scott Hyde

They are custom from SpeedHut if you reference order 128268 and ask for an artwork proof they should make you some.

W70442

It's almost Christmas! Order now to get your housing in time to go under the tree.