AM Radio Install Order

[Hardway]

I am currently in the middle of trying to install an auto seeking AM radio in to my 1971 240z.  I did not remove the radio from the car it was in and do not know the order in which everything came off.  I am trying to figure out if the metal plate goes in between the heater control panel and the plastic radio face plate or if it sits behind the heater control panel.  When I have the metal plate in between the control panel and face plate there are not enough threads on the shafts to screw the nuts on to.  Having the metal plate behind the heater panel does not seem to make much sense but I just don't know.  I Googled this several different ways and cannot find the answer and the FSM does not provide this much detail.  If anyone has recently remove the original radio from their car and remembers how everything went I would greatly appreciate any guidance you can provide.  Thank you!

[psdenno]

Forty years go isn't recently, but iI remember correctly on mine, it goes between the control panel and the face plate.  Is there a second set of nuts that can be turned down to allow the shafts to extend further through the face plate?  Mine is in a box in the garage and I'm away for the weekend.  I can check when I get home in a few days if you're still having problems.

Dennis

[CanTechZ]

I recently had the heater control panel and radio partially dis-assembled and I don't remember seeing the metal plate you mention.  If I just didn't see it, it was definitely not between the radio face plate and the front side of the control panel.  Can you post  a picture of the metal plate.  Like you said the 1970 FSM is not greatly detailed but on the picture on page BE-25 does not show it. Are sure that plate was not part of a previous after market install.

 

[CanTechZ]

I went out and had a closer look from behind the dash and I think that plate is actually installed on mine, on the inside. Here is a picture where I have marked what I think is the metal plate you are talking about.

[Hardway]

Thanks guys!  While I was waiting for this I moved forward with the install and based on the pictures I have done mine wrong.  I did figure out that the hat of the nuts go towards the radio.  I will see if I have the energy to take it back a part and fix it later today.

[hr369]

When i expanded that picture it looked to me that i was looking thru the dash benzel and the metal plate was in front of the benzel next to the faceplate. 

Why would they make the cut-outs for the screws if it was installed on the back side? Do you have a metal backing plate like this or do I have the wrong one?

My eyesight isn't the greatest. I'de really like to know for sure how it goes also.

 

Edited November 13, 2016 by hr369

[Namerow]

This photo, taken while I was removing the radio from my 70 Z, should solve the mystery...

[Galaxybj]

Interesting.  I do not have a metal plate in either of my 71's (2/71 and 5/71) that have the original radio.

[hr369]

Thanks, photo archived in my library. I see now that the screws go in deep so the plate needs those bottom corners notched.  Not good news for Hardway though. He's gotta pull it all out again.

Galaxybj, you could probably make one of of a thick(ish) plastic piece. These metal plates are very thin metal.

[Hardway]

17 hours ago, hr369 said:

Thanks, photo archived in my library. I see now that the screws go in deep so the plate needs those bottom corners notched.  Not good news for Hardway though. He's gotta pull it all out again.

I actually got lucky and was able to pull the panel out a little bit and very carefully maneuver the plate in to position.  Everything looks and functions as it should except the small light in the radio is not coming on now.  When I bench tested it the light worked but now it doesn't.  Oh well, if I pull it again I will replace it.  Here is a picture of what success looks like!  Thank you again for everyone's help.

[hr369]

Which little light you talking about? The little green light or the illumination at night?

If it's the night illumination it's a bulb in a socket type and might be difficult to find.   On the later hitachi's

I was able to find the old style illumination bulbs that hitachi used and for the green light, these type of led's work great.

If you can't find that style bulb, you might have to retrofit it for another bulb or LED.

You just hot glue the led into the little tube where the bulb went. Hardest part is getting the right sized led that fits inside the tube.

Assuming your radio has a green light and not the red.  Hard to tell from that pic.

Edited November 15, 2016 by hr369

[Hardway]

Unfortunately it is the illumination bulb that is out.  The green LED that lights up when a station is tuned in still works.  Good to know the LEDs above can be used to replace the original LED.  In the grand scheme of things I am not too worried about the illumination bulb being out.  One day I will everything out to redo one of the heater control cables and I will either tackle the bulb then or if I am tired of AM only I may try to find a Datsun AM/FM radio to go in its place.