The problem with installing the quartz lock 82-83 radios in the 81 is that the
speaker wiring is completely different.You will need to run new wires to each
speaker because the quartz radio speakers ground to each other instead of the
analog radios in the 81's simple set up. The best thing to do is consult a
wiring diagram for each radio.That is what I did when I made this
conversion.Good luck.
-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Benjamin <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Feb 1, 2004 5:58 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: 80's Imperials
The AM-FM-CB radio was one of the 3 "optional at no extra cost" radios
offered in 1981. They also offered an AM-FM stereo with cassette, and an
AM-FM Stereo with 8 track-"your choice no extra cost!". \
Unfortunately, the cassette player type radio in 81 was the old fashioned
analog tune type, not a quartz lock phase lock digital tune type like modern
folks enjoy. This was a big disappointment, and a mistake that was
corrected in 1982.
So, what you want to find is an original radio out of an 82 or 83 EFI coupe,
called the "quartz lock with cassette player". These are superb radios.
By the way, I use my AM-FM-Stereo with CB on all our trips, as we often tour
with other old car groups and the CB is very useful to us. Unfortunately,
the special antenna that was required for this model radio was long gone
from my car, so I am reduced to using an aftermarket CB antenna on my car
when I want to use the CB. If you are going to remove this setup from your
car in order to put a cassette player in it, let us know, you'll find a lot
of takers for your antenna, if it is the original!
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: <MARKJREALTOR@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 2:31 PM
Subject: Re: IML: 80's Imperials
> Upon my first reading the email I was going to write that I must truly be
> crazy for loving the 80's Imperials but now I see there are many others as
well.
> I absolutely love these cars, and just got back from picking an 81 up in
> Nebraska that I bought off ebay. I also had an 82 once before back in 85
which I
> loved, so I am excited to have one once again. I heard from a cadillac
> collector one time that the 81-83 Imperial was said to be the only car
that would
> become a classic out of the 80's and I believe that to be true.
>
> I just drove this car from Nebraska to San Francisco stopping off in
Denver
> and Salt Lake City, and then down home to Long Beach(south of LA) and had
no
> trouble whatsoever. The car is in bad need of a paint job, it is
currently
> very dull grey, and I know it won't be original but I am going to paint it
a
> "candyapple red", it may match the red crystlas in the tires. I actually
had a
> dream a while back that I had one in that color so I guess I am going to
be
> making a dream come true at least. I think with those sleek lines and
front and
> back it will look fantastic that color. The interior is near perfect,
just
> needs some new leather in the drivers seat which is getting done first. I
am
> just so glad to actually have a start to my Imperial collection. It will
be nice
> to be able to show up at a show with a car now rather than just looking.
I
> still want a 74 and 61 Crown 4-door. On the one I just bought, does
anyone
> have any advice on changing out the am/fm/CB to a stereo like I had in my
other
> one that instead had a casette? The CB was probably a cool idea at the
time,
> but not as practical today.
>
> By the way- did anyone else notice that the nice 74 on ebay sold for
$6850.00
> yesterday?
> Quite a high price for that car.
>
> Thanks to everyone for all your inspiration!
>
> Mark
> 81 Imperial
> 65 T-Bird
> 89 Town Car
> 01 Excursion
>
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