Wiring Up Factory Radio

[icejawa]

Hey everyone,

I'm in the process of wiring up an original radio I bought to put in my 71 Mach. Should I be hearing any static or anything from the speakers if I have it all hooked up without the antenna? I need to order one of those antennas that sticks under the dash, the previous owner had the fender mounted antenna hole patched and left the original antenna cut inside the fender. Also did my car only come with an in dash speaker? The Marti Report says I only had the AM radio

 

[Don C]

Yes, without an antenna you will get static. You will likely need to adjust the antenna trimmer to match the new antenna, it's a small screw next to the antenna connection.

And yes, only the in dash speaker came with an AM radio.

 

[icejawa]

Thanks Don C, I'm not getting even any static. Good to hear I don't have to wire in speakers, the dash speaker works when I tested it in a different car. I guess I'll have to see when I get an antenna if the radio will put out any sound at all

 

[73pony]

You can just bench test the radio with a speaker, power, and hooking up the under dash antenna. That way you can make any adjustment to the antenna trimmer while on the bench and know everything is working as should prior to install so you only have to do it once. I know I don’t like doing thing twice or more.