Radio delete?

[@wot]

I am doing some work on my 70 Nova and started to think it was radio delete. I have the top half of the trim broadcast sheet, and there is no code for the am/fm that is in the car. Also, it is clear that someone did some amateur wiring when installing the radio. What is baffling is the fact that I have a correctly date coded windshield with the antenna in the glass. Also appears to have a a factory speaker. How can one be sure of the original build?

[GeorgeLyons]

Ck build sheet, strangely enough some GM cars could be ordered with an antenna only and no radio. I can find the code if I look long enough. Anyone else ever see this ? I saw a few when I worked at chevy dealership '71-'73.

[Mr70]

Wouldn't you get an Antenna concealed in the windshield as std. equipment regardless if ordered a radio or not?
I wouldn't use that as an indicator of the cars radio heritage.
That was a newly designed windshield begining in 1970.

[John Brown]

When I ordered a new Chevy pick up in 1976, I already had a stereo radio to put in it. I ordered the truck with out a radio, but had to order a RPO package that included the windshield antenna, otherwise the truck would have come without the antenna in the windshield. Dont know if it was that way in 70, but that's how it was in 76.

By the way, windshield antennas SUCK ! At least on AM radio, and that was about all there was in this part of the country in 1970.

[@wot]

Gm did have a code, U74, that specified an antenna , but no radio.

[Allen]

I would think that all windshields were the same (with the antenna). That way, if a radio had to be installed by the dealer, they wouldn't have to change a windshield or drill a hole in a fender to put on an external antenna.

Check out your dash bezel...... does it say "tuning" and "volume" in the plastic below the radio area? If not, then the bezel was a radio-delete part and was cut/trimmed. If it has those letters molded in, then it came with a radio if it's the original bezel.

[Nova Research Project]

@wot;

The best you would see on a Fisher Body build sheet for a Nova is U76 and I am not even sure if you would see that. I have yet to see U76 on a Fisher Body build sheet.

Radios were not included on the Fisher Body build sheets. Auxilary speakers (U80) were included on the Fisher Body build sheet since Fisher had to do work to install the speakers and the griles. Fisher Body would install the windshield. GM installed the radios.

I have I asked to get a copy of you buildsheet?
thanks,
Greg

[@wot]

Nova Research Project :

Thanks for the information. I am in the process of restoring the dash, and it seems like one giant puzzle. What is obvious is the telltale signs of post GM eletrical handiwork under the dash. I believe my car was built with an antenna in the windshield, a dash with the grille for a speaker, the speaker and no radio. So this the way I am going to finish it, using the original wiring harness. I really appreciate the combined knowledge that constantly surfaces on this site. Amazing!

[Steve Shauger]

I found a 72 Z28 survivor with 13K miles that was ordered without a radio. I believe a radio was optional on most cars, and therefore if not ordered it is a misnomer to call it radio delete.
Anyway, this car has no antenna in the orig windshield and a plate covering the radio void.

[Keith Tedford]

Cars that came with radios also came with various static suppression equipment such as the ground straps off the back of the engine to the firewall. Some even came with spiral, star shaped pieces that fit inside the front wheel dust caps.