Original Stereo in 1973

[moore37064]

looking at upgrading the original dash speaker on my 1973 to a stereo dash speaker I found @ NPD.. I'm a newbie to working on it, and wanted tips on replacing the speaker. Any suggestions or publication references would be great.

I see joined in November but this is your first post so welcome to the site!

Probably the easiest way to get to the dash speaker to replace it is to remove the dash pad assembly. It's easier than you would think. Go to the link below and follow steps 1 through 4. Then you should easily get to the speaker to replace it. Probably any new speaker will sound better than your old original. Good luck.

http://www.7173mustangs.com/thread-how-to-replace-your-71-73-dash-pad?highlight=dash+pad

Thanks! looks pretty simple - I'll give it a shot..

Bought a '73 convertible last summer - she's covered up in the garage for the winter, but I thought I'd go ahead and replace this speaker and possibly the poor instrument panel lights (a common malady with 71s-73s I believe) with LEDs before driving weather.. She is in excellent shape, with just some minor restoration, including new paint and top. The Marti report shows it came originally with an AM radio, but a previous owner put a Philco AM/FM Stereo in it. Stereo needs work (one channel is shot), but i want to keep it all looking original, so I found this place who will replace the electronics: http://www.turnswitch.com/radio1.htm - that's next on my wish list..

 

[73vertproject]

Hi Moore -

Welcome to the site. Very nice looking convertible you've got there. If you get a chance, post a short intro in the Introductions section so we can give you a proper welcome and maybe get a couple more glimpses of your 'Stang.

Doc

 

[Tnfastbk]

We made our own dual front speaker

 

[whitesoc]

We made our own dual front speaker

Nice job Roy....what size did you use?

 

[hyena429]

Mine has original door speakers still..Was ordered with am/fm unit...Some one put a tape deck but left the old speakers that are all dried out and sound like hell..lol

 

[Tnfastbk]

We made our own dual front speaker

Nice job Roy....what size did you use?

5 1/4

 

[f117rt]

Anyone have a spare set of AM Radio knobs?

I found and bought an original AM radio but it had no Knobs!

they are supposed to look like this:

 

[71BossPrototype]

Please give me the link to these "plentiful" am 8tracks. I've had my car for 2 years....think i've caught 2 for sale

Actually, if you aren't a stickler for absolute correctness, there are tons of Ford am/fm/8track indash units on ebay, that are considered 1974-up units, but were also dealer installed in the 1973 Mustangs. Many are even still NOS on eBay, and sell for under $100. These are the ones that have a little am pushbutton on the left and fm on the right of the tuning bar. It seems like nobody wants these, since they were not factory installed in 71-73 cars.

I just checked and there are a few listed right now. Check the dimensions, and I think these are direct bolt in replacements with no mod necessary, except for the plugs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/74-75-76-79-Ford-Gran-Torino-Ranchero-Am-FM-8-track-stereo-Radio-/180827746022?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2a1a2c6ee6#ht_792wt_932

http://www.ebay.com/itm/75-Ford-in-dash-AM-FM-8-track-stereo-1975-mounting-bracket-/130651524623?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item1e6b700e0f#ht_500wt_949

You will also find these sound way better than the old 71-73 units, as the electronics seemed to have made a major leap forward in these units, and the stereo quality of the unit is excellent too. Just my opinion. I have an NOS one that carries a D3AZ part number stamped into the chassis, but I'm sure it was never factory, and was dealer only at that time.

 

[sm3570]

Actually the options were AM, AM/FM Stereo, or AM/FM Stereo-Sonic Tape System (8-track).

Also remember that a popular way of doing things at this time was getting "dealer installed" options. For example, my '73 Grande', according to my Marti Report, was ordered with an AM radio. However, it has an "original" AM/FM 8-track. The owner history is pretty good, but can't confirm, although likely, that the original owner had the dealer install the upgraded radio. But it did NOT include the door speakers.

Separately, I'm going to install the door speakers - Already have the grills. Question...Does anyone know the original speaker size for the door speakers?

I'm adding my first pictures also...She's an 87,000 mi. ALL original, except, paint (1 yr old), tires/wheels (brand new), exhaust, brakes and new electronic ignition.

SNL62, what paint manufacturer/code is that? It's very similar to the blue I want.

 

[71steed]

Hey, I have a 1973 Fastback in need of an original stereo head. The original one was removed by my brother and I'm looking to restore it with a replica of some sort. I just need to know which radio was specifically in this model mustang so I can try and keep it looking original.

Thanks y'all.

First way you can tell if your car came with am/fm or am/ 8 track would be the wire looms going from the door jams to the doors. The hole is 2" diameter. If the car has these, it came with either unit. If not, it was just am, most common. The 73 am/fm's did not say philco on them, those are from other fords. If you want to upgrade to am/fm and be factory correct, you have to remove your doors to be able to drill the 2" holes into them and the jams. Impossible to do with car doors mounted.

Another trick to making the car sound better is to use the dash speaker, either single or dual cone, and wire the dash to both grounds from left and right. Using only the ground wires ( the black ones) you will have a "3" channel unit, the only music coming from the dash speaker will be the "separation" between the left and right. Sounds cool.

 

[rpmcarter]

Please give me the link to these "plentiful" am 8tracks. I've had my car for 2 years....think i've caught 2 for sale

Actually, if you aren't a stickler for absolute correctness, there are tons of Ford am/fm/8track indash units on ebay, that are considered 1974-up units, but were also dealer installed in the 1973 Mustangs. Many are even still NOS on eBay, and sell for under $100. These are the ones that have a little am pushbutton on the left and fm on the right of the tuning bar. It seems like nobody wants these, since they were not factory installed in 71-73 cars.

I just checked and there are a few listed right now. Check the dimensions, and I think these are direct bolt in replacements with no mod necessary, except for the plugs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/74-75-76-79-Ford-Gran-Torino-Ranchero-Am-FM-8-track-stereo-Radio-/180827746022?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2a1a2c6ee6#ht_792wt_932

http://www.ebay.com/itm/75-Ford-in-dash-AM-FM-8-track-stereo-1975-mounting-bracket-/130651524623?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item1e6b700e0f#ht_500wt_949

You will also find these sound way better than the old 71-73 units, as the electronics seemed to have made a major leap forward in these units, and the stereo quality of the unit is excellent too. Just my opinion. I have an NOS one that carries a D3AZ part number stamped into the chassis, but I'm sure it was never factory, and was dealer only at that time.

Thanks for the clarification. I misunderstood your post I thought you were saying parts/radios for our cars were available or plentiful.

I wouldnt be interested at all in those units or I could mod up everything and go to Car Toys and get an up to date system. I guess you would classify me as a "stickler" for absolute correctness. I stand firm that its near impossible to locate 71 am 8 tracks.

 

[71BossPrototype]

RPMCARTER: You may have some options. Below are some links to current auctions. The 72 and 73 am-8tracks are identical to the 71 except for the door that says "Mustang". If you buy a good 72 or 73, you can easily swap the front piece with a 71. Then if you find a "dead" or "rough" 71 swap meet unit, you're in business. Otherwise, depending upon how deep your pockets are, there is a really perfect looking one below, but woo-hoo, check that price !

http://www.ebay.com/itm/71-72-73-Mustang-AM-Radio-8-Track-Stereo-Player-/150695171520?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item231621d5c0#ht_500wt_715

http://www.ebay.com/itm/71-72-73-Mustang-AM-Radio-8-Track-Stereo-Player-/370558461042?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item5647016472#ht_500wt_715

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reconditioned-1971-Ford-Mustang-Factory-AM-8-Track-Radio-/350497115722?pt=Car_Audio_Video&vxp=mtr&hash=item519b418e4a#ht_500wt_715

 

[rpmcarter]

RPMCARTER: You may have some options. Below are some links to current auctions. The 72 and 73 am-8tracks are identical to the 71 except for the door that says "Mustang". If you buy a good 72 or 73, you can easily swap the front piece with a 71. Then if you find a "dead" or "rough" 71 swap meet unit, you're in business. Otherwise, depending upon how deep your pockets are, there is a really perfect looking one below, but woo-hoo, check that price !

http://www.ebay.com/itm/71-72-73-Mustang-AM-Radio-8-Track-Stereo-Player-/150695171520?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item231621d5c0#ht_500wt_715

http://www.ebay.com/itm/71-72-73-Mustang-AM-Radio-8-Track-Stereo-Player-/370558461042?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item5647016472#ht_500wt_715

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reconditioned-1971-Ford-Mustang-Factory-AM-8-Track-Radio-/350497115722?pt=Car_Audio_Video&vxp=mtr&hash=item519b418e4a#ht_500wt_715

Yeah.... deep pockets for a "good one". Does look nice!! If it's the same guy I bought my radio from for the convertible, he comes off as a really nice guy until you do business with him. Radio was good but he shows most of his radios as "complete" and shows the knobs on it. I ask every possible question to ensure what I saw was what I would get.

when the unit arrived no bracket which he showed in the ad, no knobs which he shows in the ad His response "you didnt SPECIFICALLY say knobs or bracket" wanted to charge me another 150.00 for the knobs and 50 for the bracket.

i learned a great lesson in ebay legal speak.