I have a 80 vette with the stock radio. I want to keep the original radio but am not happy with the reception. Any suggestions? Do they make a antenna booster that would work?

1980 claret/claret

I know that Eckler's offers a radio overhaul service to update/upgrade stock radios for Vettes. If you don't mind parting with about five Benjamins, this may be your answer.

http://www.ecklers.com

Hope that helps.

John

If you have the original radio, I assume it has the two knobs for volume and tuning. Back in those days and before digital tuning, you have to "trim the antenna" for best reception and performance, and this assumes nothing else is mechanically wrong with the radio.

To "trim the antenna", set the AM radio to a station at or near 1400 on the dial, then pull off the tuning knob. Under or next to the tuning shaft should be a small screw...that's the antenna trimming screw. With an appropriate screwdriver, turn the trimming screw until you get best reception on the radio. Put the knob back on and your antenna has been "trimmed"!

Try that and see if your radio doesn't work better.

Thank's for the info Gunslinger. That was the one thing I use to do back in the 70's on my other Vettes. Forgot all about it(getting old I guess) Will give it a shot this week-end.

I hope it works for you. Trimming the antenna is an old trick only us old timers ever knew about, much less remember.

Now I remember, but I had forgot. We used to use a plastic screwdriver. More accurate than a metal one, the plastic would not affect the trimming.

They say two thing go as we get older, our hearing, and I can't remember the other one.

I also have an 80 original radio AM/FM/CB. Mine was gone through a couple years ago by an old time shop here in Orlando for much less than shown in this thread. Still works perfect. Drop me an email if you need me to research the company name for you.


|UPDATED|4/30/2004 7:45:58 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Found the problem guy's. The radio wasn't grounded. Thank's for all your thoughts. Remember back in the 60's when we use to put reverberators in our sound system? Made it sound like a echo chamber.Now, those were the days..........