<VV> Delco Radios

Sat Oct 29 10:36:54 EDT 2005

Almost related, I took a class at work this week from a co-worker who 
started in 1983 at Delco radio.    He has schematics of chips they were 
making them, AM radio, 8 transistors, x number of capacitors etc.  I think 
them most transistors was in the high 20s and that was in a diesel engine 
controller or cruise control.  Boy were they behind the times, I was 
working for Intel in a factory where we were making 8K EPROMs (I think we 
were also running some 16Ks).

Dennis

At 08:31 PM 10/28/2005, Frank DuVal wrote:

>>
>>
>>>Interestingly, the radios didn't go fully solid-state until some time
>>>later, although the oldest Corvair radios I have seen already had
>>>transistor output amplifiers.
>>>
>>
>>Delco started producing hybrid radios in 1960 AFAIR (the 12v tubes, 
>>12DZ6,12AD6,12EA6, 12DV6 could not produce the necessary output power but 
>>allowed a radio to be built without a vibrator), and went all-transistor 
>>for most lines in 1963, the same model year most lines dumped generators 
>>and went to alternators. Just more things the Corvair did not get until 
>>after the rest of GM or did not get at all..
>>
>>  And while we're at it, why do
>>
>>
>>>And while we're at it, why do the V8 guys get a cute little window for 
>>>adjusting point gap/dwell with the
>>>engine running and we have to take the cap off and diddle with screws and
>>>feeler gauges?
>>>
>
>Ahhh, the old "Space Charged" tubes. They worked with only 12 volts on the 
>plates instead of several hundred like home radios with transformers (or 
>doublers) or 150 volts like the "All American Five" with 12BE6, 50C5, 
>etc., or 90 volts like those portables with the 1 volt filament tubes 
>(1L5, 3Q5). These Space Charged tubes helped fill the gap between high B+ 
>available with a vibrator/ transformer and all solid state radios. From my 
>working on cars and radios it appears to me the Space Charged tube radios 
>appeared in the 1958 model year for GM. I know the 1957 Buick and 
>Chevrolet radios I have seen have been vibrator models. The good old 
>DS-501 germanium power transistor is from the late fifties and it allowed 
>solid state output. No more 6V6 oops,  12V6  push pull.
>
>Well, Ford didn't put alternators on most of their lines until 1965 model 
>year. I can not think of any GM line later than the Corvair for alternator 
>conversion. I guess they wanted to use up all those larger generator 
>pulleys that were made
>On window distributors, didn't these first appear on the 1955 Chevrolet 
>small block (265)? I know 1957 is the year Buick went to the window 
>distributor and of course was a redesign of the nail head engine from 322 
>cu.in. to 364. My 1957 Olds has a window distributor, but do not know if 
>it was first year for distributor. It was first year for Olds 371 cu in. 
>The Corvair distributor in 1960 does not match any other GM 6 cyl AFAIK 
>(flame on). The 235/216 Chevy stove bolt six was very different. That 
>distributor had the vacuum  advance rotate the body of the distributor. 
>Rev the gas, watch plug wires move. I think the change for Corvair 
>distributor in 1962 was based on the need for another distributor for the 
>new 194/230/250/292 block that came out in the Chevy II in 1962 and full 
>sized Chevys in 1963. Maybe the existing 60-61 distributor did not adapt 
>itself to the new block design. Oh, also the block was used for the 153 cu 
>in 4 cylinder that was available until 1970 in a Chev
>y II/Nova. Hmmm, this distributor style is also used with the 4 cylinder 
>tempest, that 1/2 of a 389 V-8 design according to Motors manual, 1970. 
>Was this used in the 1961 model year? I need more literature.
>
>Unitized points did not come along until much later for the V-8's. My 1970 
>Buick 455 has separate holes for points and condenser. A unitized set will 
>fit, but not necessary.
>The window distributor is also known as Delco-Remy external 
>adjustment  type. It is an inch wider than the Corvair later style because 
>it has two more towers, 8 cylinders vs 6 cylinders, in addition to the 
>window bump. I have a Subaru 360 2 cylinder with a very small distributor cap.
>
>Frank DuVal
>
>
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