Common Mistakes


The items mentioned below include some of the most commonly seen mistakes when original audio parts are swapped. While some are "detail" items that would not be acceptable in a show car, other items will not physically or electrically, fit or function correctly despite popular belief. Please read these carefully.


This page should be considered UNDER CONSTRUCTION


1965 Chevelle radios look nearly identical to 1964 full-size radios. They are NOT the same.

Make sure there is a dash bracket mount protruding on the right side of the radio, if there isn't, the radio is a 1964 full-size Chevy radio. Also, not only will it not fit the dash correctly, the the dial numbers are light green unlike the Chevelle's bright white numbers.
No picture available at this time



1966 & 1967 radios look identical. They are NOT the same.

The design of the PUSHBUTTONS changed in 1967. While both have ribbed tips, the contours are different.


1966 Models with straight and flat appearance pusbutton tips


1967 Models with rounded contour appearance pushbuttons tips.



1966 & 1967 AM/FM radios are NOT the same.

The quickest way to determine whether a radio is a '66 Chevelle AM/FM or a '67 Chevelle AM/FM is to look at the slide bar (am/fm switch).

 
1966 AM/FM (pointed tip)     1967 AM/FM (smooth tip)



Chevelle vs. non-Chevelle radio mounting designs

The mid to late '60s Chevrolet Delco radios can easily be confused with other model lines. For example, many people mistake Impala radios with Chevelle radios. They do NOT interchange. Check out these profiles to help spot the differences:


The 1966 and 1967 Chevelle radios protrude outward towards the pushbuttons unlike similar looking radios. The 1968 Chevelle radios do not slope outward at the bottom or top unlike other radios.



1969 & 1970 non-stereo radios look nearly identical. They are NOT the same.

All radios were wired different beginning in the 1970 model year. The dial lights inside the radio were completely independent of the radio's on/off switch unlike 1969 and earlier units. An extra terminal for the dial light as well as a different style of harness connector debuted in the 1970 model year.


This 1969 AM radio shows the type of connectors used. (4) spade-type connectors and NO dial lamp connector (despite the fact "lamp" is printed on the case, there is a blank spot where the connector would be).


This 1970 AM radio shows the type of connectors used. There were (5) small blade-type connectors used. One of these is the independent dial lamp connector. The blank spot is where the extra 6th connector for a rear speaker output would go (this 6th connector applies only to 1972 mono radios with built-in faders).
This applies to the FM-mono radios as well.



Be aware of the "great color change" of 1971--applies to 1970, 1971 and 1972 radios.

This is by far, one of the most commonly made mistakes. People assume these radios are completely interchangeable because the basic design did not change.

1970 was the last year a "green/green" color scheme was used on dash instrumentation and radio dials. When the dash lights are on, 1970 vehicle equipment illuminates green. The radios were manufactured to match the dashes. ALL 1970 radios have pale green numbering/lettering and the dials light-up green in the dark. To quickly tell whether you have a "green tint" 1969 unit or a 1970 unit, use the harness connector description found above.

Beginning in the 1971 model year, ALL dash instrumentation was printed in white, and illuminates pale blue when the dash lights are on. The radios followed the same rules! 1971 and later radios have white numbering/lettering and light-up pale blue in the dark. This is noticeable in the dash and even more noticable at night if an incorrect radio is installed.

The "tint-bands" found on radios and lettering/numbering are tell-tale of the model year. "Green/green" for '69 & '70, and "blue/white" for '71 & 72. **Please note that some 1969 AM units my have a white "tint-band", the numbers are still painted in green though. ALL 1969 AM/FM and AM/FM-stereo units have a white "tint-band", but the numbers on those are also green in color.





1970-1972 Inner radio control knbos fit specific dashes.

All 1970-1972 Super Sport and Monte Carlo dashes (regardless of whether the guage package was ordered) require the deeper "saucer style" inner radio knobs to correctly fit the radio in the dash.

All 1970-1972 vehicles equipped with the standard sweep dash require the "cupped style" inner radio knobs.





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