how was the original radio set up in blazer? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cstanley · 12-11-2006, 03:19 PM

i'm trying to do some investigation here. i worked the new blazer over the weekend. i pulled the am/fm radio to try to get it working. it looks like the original for '72, but it had " '76 chevy van" marked on top. i knew it wasn't original, b/c the SPID listed an AM as original. anyway, no big deal to me, as it looks like the same radio that would be '72 correct.

traced wire, replaced fuses, and viola! AM sparked to life. i can't get fm to work, though. on to my questions...

there is a factory speaker (works) just above the radio, but there isn't any punched openings in the top of the dash...just smooth.

were blazer speakers originally mounted elsewhere? why do they have this different dash? moisture protection? i thought i had seen a speaker on a blazer mounted below the dash once. is that correct?

even though there aren't any openings for the sound to come through, it still sounds plenty good, just reverbing through the metal dash top.

anyone know? sorry, no pics. i'm at work.

Huck · 12-11-2006, 05:31 PM

Blazers came with speakers mounted in dash (with holes) and under dash when the dash was holeless. Can't tell you why just like some came with single wall tops while others came with double wall tops. ??? The factory original truck am/fm had the antenna wire plug in on the passenger side just behind the heat sinks. Vans plugged in from the bottom. There is a sliding switch on the upper right side of the radio--just behind the front panel that controls the current to the am or the fm. You can try using some tuner cleaner here and just keep switching the radio from am to fm---sometimes that works. Good luck

bouncytruck · 12-11-2006, 05:45 PM

By "under the dash," Huck means it was mounted below the heater controls, facing out and exposed. I've never seen one in a truck, just pictures on this board.

When are you going to post some pictures of the rig?????????

cstanley · 12-11-2006, 06:54 PM

i'll try to do it when i get home. weather was really nasty this weekend, so i didn't get the camera out. today is nice, though.
i'm still workin' on follow-through...

Big Block · 12-11-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bouncytruck

By "under the dash," Huck means it was mounted below the heater controls, facing out and exposed. I've never seen one in a truck, just pictures on this board.

When are you going to post some pictures of the rig?????????

Had a 71 2wd Jimmy with the original speaker mounted under heater controls, sold the Jimmy to a freind, I may still have the speaker. I'll look and post pictures if I can find it.

cstanley · 12-11-2006, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huck

Blazers came with speakers mounted in dash (with holes) and under dash when the dash was holeless. Can't tell you why just like some came with single wall tops while others came with double wall tops. ??? The factory original truck am/fm had the antenna wire plug in on the passenger side just behind the heat sinks. Vans plugged in from the bottom. There is a sliding switch on the upper right side of the radio--just behind the front panel that controls the current to the am or the fm. You can try using some tuner cleaner here and just keep switching the radio from am to fm---sometimes that works. Good luck

is "tuner cleaner" something i pick up a radio shack?

i remember seeing the slider mechanism when i had the case open, and it looked a bit dirty...

also, any idea if that speaker could have really been installed where it currently resides (above radio, in normal location?) even though it doesn't have an opening? as i said, it still sounds fine, but maybe someone moved the speaker? why? using correct mounting hardware?

Big Block · 12-11-2006, 07:30 PM

Do you see two holes drilled in the lower edge of the dash under the heater control? It might have been moved to get it out of the way.

cstanley · 12-11-2006, 10:04 PM

nope, no holes...just the ones for the heater control. oh well, there's no tellin'. thanks for all the help, though.

**zeusflash** · 12-11-2006, 10:31 PM

On my 71 Blazer the speaker brackets for the under dash speaker were held by the same screws that hold the heater/ac controls in place.

72freak · 12-12-2006, 08:03 AM

It might not of had a radio and came with a radio delete

Huck · 12-12-2006, 07:42 PM

Never thought of that!

cstanley · 12-13-2006, 02:38 AM

seems strange...they tooled for a different dash to exclude the speaker, but left the radio hole?

i'm thinking it was mounted low below the heater, but can't figure out why it would have been moved. the SPID, which i believe to be original, lists the am radio.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 12-13-2006, 02:44 PM

The Blazers that I have seen have all had the dash without the radio grill in it.
Since the hardtop was an option, it seems to make sense to mount the speaker under the dash.

My son's all original 72 CST Blazer came with an AM radio which is listed on the glovebox door options listing. The speaker is mounted below the dash and is attached by two brackets with the mounting screws screwed into the heater control.

Here is a picture of the speaker as mounted, (sorry about the quality of the pic).

Jim

cstanley · 12-13-2006, 03:23 PM

oh, that is very helpful! perhaps i should move mine back down...

does that speaker have a mesh grill, or is that a metal plate?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 12-14-2006, 05:06 AM

The speaker cover is metal with small holes in it.

Jim

Big Block · 12-15-2006, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

The speaker cover is metal with small holes in it.

Jim

That is the same set up that was in my old 71 Jimmy. I will look for it this week end, I think I still have it.

12-11-2006, 03:19 PM	#1
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	how was the original radio set up in blazer? i'm trying to do some investigation here. i worked the new blazer over the weekend. i pulled the am/fm radio to try to get it working. it looks like the original for '72, but it had " '76 chevy van" marked on top. i knew it wasn't original, b/c the SPID listed an AM as original. anyway, no big deal to me, as it looks like the same radio that would be '72 correct. traced wire, replaced fuses, and viola! AM sparked to life. i can't get fm to work, though. on to my questions... there is a factory speaker (works) just above the radio, but there isn't any punched openings in the top of the dash...just smooth. were blazer speakers originally mounted elsewhere? why do they have this different dash? moisture protection? i thought i had seen a speaker on a blazer mounted below the dash once. is that correct? even though there aren't any openings for the sound to come through, it still sounds plenty good, just reverbing through the metal dash top. anyone know? sorry, no pics. i'm at work. __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

12-11-2006, 05:31 PM	#2
Huck Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 3,261	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? Blazers came with speakers mounted in dash (with holes) and under dash when the dash was holeless. Can't tell you why just like some came with single wall tops while others came with double wall tops. ??? The factory original truck am/fm had the antenna wire plug in on the passenger side just behind the heat sinks. Vans plugged in from the bottom. There is a sliding switch on the upper right side of the radio--just behind the front panel that controls the current to the am or the fm. You can try using some tuner cleaner here and just keep switching the radio from am to fm---sometimes that works. Good luck

12-11-2006, 05:45 PM	#3
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? By "under the dash," Huck means it was mounted below the heater controls, facing out and exposed. I've never seen one in a truck, just pictures on this board. When are you going to post some pictures of the rig????????? __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L Last edited by bouncytruck; 12-11-2006 at 05:46 PM.

12-11-2006, 06:54 PM	#4
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? i'll try to do it when i get home. weather was really nasty this weekend, so i didn't get the camera out. today is nice, though. i'm still workin' on follow-through... __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

12-11-2006, 07:30 PM	#7
Big Block Big Block Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, N.C. Posts: 1,649	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? Do you see two holes drilled in the lower edge of the dash under the heater control? It might have been moved to get it out of the way.

12-11-2006, 10:04 PM	#8
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? nope, no holes...just the ones for the heater control. oh well, there's no tellin'. thanks for all the help, though. __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

12-11-2006, 10:31 PM	#9
zeusflash Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Post Falls,Idaho Posts: 691	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? On my 71 Blazer the speaker brackets for the under dash speaker were held by the same screws that hold the heater/ac controls in place. __________________ '69 3/4 ton 427 CST Pickup '71 CST Blazer '72 GMC 3/4 4x4

12-12-2006, 08:03 AM	#10
72freak Rottenwood Garage Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 4,321	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? It might not of had a radio and came with a radio delete

12-12-2006, 07:42 PM	#11
Huck Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 3,261	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? Never thought of that!

12-13-2006, 02:38 AM	#12
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? seems strange...they tooled for a different dash to exclude the speaker, but left the radio hole? i'm thinking it was mounted low below the heater, but can't figure out why it would have been moved. the SPID, which i believe to be original, lists the am radio. __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/ Last edited by cstanley; 12-13-2006 at 02:39 AM.

12-13-2006, 02:44 PM	#13
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? The Blazers that I have seen have all had the dash without the radio grill in it. Since the hardtop was an option, it seems to make sense to mount the speaker under the dash. My son's all original 72 CST Blazer came with an AM radio which is listed on the glovebox door options listing. The speaker is mounted below the dash and is attached by two brackets with the mounting screws screwed into the heater control. Here is a picture of the speaker as mounted, (sorry about the quality of the pic). Jim Attached Images

12-13-2006, 03:23 PM	#14
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? oh, that is very helpful! perhaps i should move mine back down... does that speaker have a mesh grill, or is that a metal plate? __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/ Last edited by cstanley; 12-13-2006 at 03:24 PM.

12-14-2006, 05:06 AM	#15
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: how was the original radio set up in blazer? The speaker cover is metal with small holes in it. Jim

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