AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Here is my simple install of a Stereo type 1/8” input lack into my stock 67-72 AM Radio. This allows for the use of any low signal output to be played right through the radio without sacrificing the AM portion of the radio. Such devices like an MP3, Ipod, or portable CD player, or in my case my adroid phone with Pandora app. You won’t need any separate switch. The stereo jack used will give priority to any device plugged into it. And when the device is remove from the jack your AM radio will function as it normally would.
This is a pretty basic install and with a few basic tools and a careful approach nearly anyone should be able to do this for about $20 including the 3’ patch cable.

You’ll need to visit your local radio shack and obtain a pack of small resistors 1k or 2k ohms and an 1/8” Stereo Phone jack (Closed circuit) If you don’t have one already grab a 3’ or so patch cable. (This is a standard headphone type end)

Below is a diagram I found very useful that I found out on an antique radio forum. Basically you’ll need to remove the top cover of the radio and locate the blue wire from the volume potentiometer to the circuit board. You’ll be installing the input inline between the board and the pot in this circuit.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/SAM_3096.jpg

First I assembled and soldered my input jack. If you are installing the jack in a ground metal opening then there is no need for a ground wire and the #1 terminal need not be used. The two resistors get soldered together at the #5 and #2 Terminal and then one lead gets attached. The #3 and #4 terminal get “jumped” and than a second lead will be attached. For the leads I used some old thin speaker wire off an other radio I had.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-09-58_158.jpg


I than removed the chrome face of the radio and located and drilled a 15/64 hole all the way to one side. (I wanted to be sure the AM dial needle would not hit my stereo jack inside the radio once completed) Be sure to carefully de-burr the inside and outside edges of the new hole.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-34-47_614.jpg

The terminal lugs on the back of the stereo jack are very close to the edge and once installed could ground out on the inside edge of the faceplate. So I slightly bent the terminals inward with a needle nose pliers and put a few small scraps of heat shrink tubing in different spots. Im sure electrical tape would work fine too. I than carefully installed and tightened the stereo jack into the faceplate.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-39-38_415.jpg

Once I fished the leads into the case and re-installed the faceplate I was ready to connect the leads.
I “de-soldered” the blue lead at the circuit board. The lead without the resistors was than soldered in its place. The lead with the resistors is than soldered to the blue lead going to the potentiometer.

And that’s it! I used a small wire tie to keep all the leads away from the dial and put the top cover back on. Check out the picture below of my Android playing music through my radio.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-10-20_514.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-51-03_788.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-52-05_519.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-53-41_454.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...-55-38_327.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/SAM_3095.jpg

Just so everyone is aware. Im in no way any kind of electronics wiz. I used all this info that I found on the net and combined it to set up a 67-72 Delco AM radio as shown above. I plan to install this in my truck and don’t forsee it will damage anything but do this conversion at your own risk.

Below are a few links to other people who have posted thier "succesful" conversions and from where all my info has come from

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...p?f=6&t=166720


http://www.spridgetguru.com/TA0041.html

http://autoxer.skiblack.com/nallm/mp3jackinamfm.htm

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

very cool! recommending for an FAQ!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

awesome

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Great job, I did a similar conversion on the stock BOSE radio in my 2003 GMC Duramax a few years ago using the same stereo jack.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

I forgot to mention. If you make the wires longer there is no reason you cant install the input jack somewhere on the dash or even in the glovebox out of site. (Just if it is not installed in grounded metal you must add a ground wire to the #1 terminal.)

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Very very slick. I am now on the hunt for a stock AM radio and will be selling my ken harrison piece of junk!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Nice!
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Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

great.. no i can do it my self

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Does it work the same for a factory am/fm radios?
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Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Will it work the same for a am/fm radio?:chevy:
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Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

I would think it would as they were mono as well. If you open the cover and it has three leads into the potentiometer I'd say your good to go. Ive only done this one, but Ive heard it relativly easy to do to a "stereo" radio as well. Never tried....Yet.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Do you only use "one" speaker with this mod or did you add something for multiple speakers?

Curious......

Smitty

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

It uses the stock speaker and stock radio....just lets you connect an ipod, mp3 player, or cd player to the radio.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Thanks

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Will a 3 terminal 1/8" input jack work instead of a 5 terminal? Can't find a 5 terminal, and from my understanding you are just taking the left and right speaker side and putting them into one as you are just hooking up the one original speaker.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Perfect! That is just what I want! To be able to keep the factory radio and have an easy way to run my iPod through it! I know I can do that! I'll have to buy a new speaker to go along with the input install!

Very Cool!!!
:metal:

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Very cool!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

To save people looking up parts, here are the part #'s from radio shack.

The resistors in picture are 1k ohm 1/4 watt. part # 271-1321 package of 5 for $1.19

1/8" stereo panel mount phone jack with 5 terminals. part # 274-0246 for $2.69

Original replacement speaker 4" x 10" delco style special rectangular $49.95
Phone # US 1-877-780-2861 or outside US 1-763-780-2861 here is website http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

I jumped the gun and ordered 2k ohm resistors 1/2 watt before I knew what was exactly in the picture can some one tell me if this matters???

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

very cool, just posted somthing kinda on the same page as this but i really like what you have done!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

This is too awesome! I am going to do this this weekend.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

This is very cool. I think I will do this as well.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

It will not matter, they may be a little larger. That rating only has to do with how much power before the smoke comes out of the resistor...

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Just got my parts for this upcoming small project. Resistors and 1/8 jack were a whopping $3.88

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

I am about to try this myself.. How have the others done implementing this? Anything to watch out for? I assume the radio still works if the aux jack is unplugged?
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Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Sweet!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Radio comes on as soon as you unplug it, and I did mine in 1 1/2 hours, i found it was a very easy job!!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Im glad so many are interested in this mod. With all the great help I recieved here, I feel I gave a little back!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Will this same concept work for a USB port?

and you are correct...I'm not normally allowed near electronics... :)

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

No that won't work; USB = serial data connection; transmit / receive, 5VDC & ground.

The AUX jack is just an analog +/- connection.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Very nice!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Did my mod and thought that I'd mention a few things.
- The directions were very well done.
- The resistors allow you to connect both stereo channels to one mono channel without risking damage to the MP3 player. The recommended 2K value can be different, but too large will attenuate the signal and lower the volume. The package size of the resistors doesn't matter as there is very little current. 1/4 watt are easy to work with. They could be incorporated into the wiring if you use larger resistors with leads that are too big to fit into the small terminals on the connector.
- There is no way to drive two speakers in stereo with this mod as the radio is mono and only has one amplifier channel.
- Someone asked about a 3pin connector. the 5 pin includes a switch that allows you to use am radio or aux input. If you use a 3pin connector, you would have to disconnect the am radio. Simply wire the audio pins of the connector to the blue wire. The resistors should still be used.
- The mod MAY work with a non-working radio. it depends upon what is wrong with the radio - meaning the tuning circuit or the amplifier. If you here static but can not receive stations, the mod should work.

If I think of anything else, I'll update this post. Thanks again for the detailed instructions.
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Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

subscribed! Now to find a radio...

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

nice.. I need to do this.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Also subscribed for future use. Great write up!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Just did this mod. So happy I did. Only thing I did different was I cut the blue wire in half and soldered the other wires to them, rather than resoldering to circuit board. Thank you for this write up.
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Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Just finished the mod on my radio.

If I can do it, any body can. haha

Now can this be done on an 80's model am-fm cass. radio for a 86.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

So can this be done with an AC Delco radio with stereo capability or no? My 1981 C10 has an AM/FM AC Delco that supposedly came out of a Corvette that fits perfectly into the factory slot. My 68 c10 has an LMC type retro-fit radio that I might want to try also.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Finally got around to doing this today. Works pretty good, but the little Radio Shack jack doesn't seem to grab onto the plug very tightly and it can be a little touchy. Once I get it plugged in well, it sounds fine. I does prove that my 43 year old speaker 'aint what it used to be. If I go into the EQ settings on my iPhone and use the Bass Reducer it helps a lot and I'm able to get more volume without it breaking up. The area where I'm currently living has no music stations on AM so this is a great thing to have when I'm out running errands in my truck!

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

This is a very cool mod and should go into the cheap mod thread. Total cost $4.38 plus tax at Radio Shack! I made the mistake of drilling my hole a little far over then had to use a rotary tool to take away some material to get my 3.5 mm (1/8") receptacle inserted. Also, my soldering gun tip was loose which explained why it wouldn't get hot! Once I got that fixed and I plugged my phone into the jack, it worked great! I am amazed that even I could do it! Geezus my radio was filthy inside, so it took longer to clean it all up than it did to do the soldering! BTW, I used liquid electrical tape to protect all exposed areas.

Re: AUX input jack for 67-72 AM radio
 

Did anyone else's radio die after doing this mod? I'm sure I installed it correctly and it did work fine for awhile, but now my radio is stone dead. The radio started making interference noise, then it worked intermittently (but not well) and then died. I have an extra AM radio I'll dig up and put in my truck, but I think I'll leave well enough alone and won't do this mod again.