Quote:
Originally Posted by north
You could order both a Stereo radio and 8 track in a 69 Firebird. The 8 track is identical in all 69 Pontiacs and the stereo radio is functionally identical (differences are only length of pushbutton and control shafts etc) to other 69 Pontiacs (all have separate multiplex amplifier). However 69 Firebirds equipped with either a 8 track player or a stereo radio (or both) came with a Chevrolet style 4 speaker cross balanced system rather than the typical 2 or 3 speaker front rear balanced Pontiac set up.
So what is unique is the wiring harness that connects the radio to the 8 track and to the speaker harness. These are available for less than $100 from most of the guys who offer radio resto services like Joe Viera in California or Howard Foulds in New Jersey. (the actual speaker harness is also repro'd)
The correct 4 speaker system included two unique sized small speakers in the lower kick panels (speakers, grille covers and wiring harnesses are all available repro but not from any Pontiac vendors, you can buy them from Camaro Central I believe) with two normal 6x9 rear speakers either in the package tray for coupes and topwell for verts. Note that the normal front dash mount speaker was not used in these applications so the factory just taped in a black piece of cardboard to cover the grille on the top of the dash.
This is not a cheap project btw, the front and rear repro speakers, the grilles and or speaker housings, the speaker harness and the 8 track to radio harness turn into several hundred dollars before considering the cost of the stereo and 8 track purchase and refurbishment.
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Thanks for the info. I bought a 4 speaker harness, dash harness, front kick panels and the speakers out of a 69 with stacked gauges years ago. The Delco speakers I bought NOS are close enough, but I'll have to modify the front ones a bit to make them work.
Can you take a picture of the bracket under the 8 track? I bought the repro one from the Parts Place, which I really didn't want to do, but they were the only vendor to make the bracket.
My plan with the radio/multiplexer/8 track is to replace all the electrolytic caps first and then fire it up to see what does and doesn't work. There are some special Delco caps that I can't source that have 3 caps inside, so I'll have to kluge in single caps if it turns out to be bad.
The 8 track is a very cool slice of technology. I had one in my first car, which was a 69 Chevelle. I only had two tapes: Yes - Fragile, Jethro Tull - Aqualung. I remember hearing the spots where a song will slowly fade out, switch tracks and then fade back in. When I'd hear the song on a record, I'd subconsciously be waiting for it to fade out. I can't wait until it's installed and I can play them again.
I can't find my book with the option costs, but I believe the AM/FM stereo radio was over $250. In 69 money, without that you could have had a much faster engine. It all adds up, but the 69 AM/FM stereo radio is a very cool and rare option.
If anyone can post a picture of the 8-track bracket to a 4-speed console I'd really appreciate it.