Electrical: Lark Radio install

[LeoH]

I'm trying to install a radio into my 60 Lark, and I have a bracket that was supposed to hold it in place, but I can't easily see where it attaches to the radio, much less where under the dash it's supposed to secure to. Maybe I'm missing a brace/bracket under the dash? I have a radio that came from a 60 Lark, the radio that came with this Lark (not installed) and a radio that is supposed to fit in a Lark, but I can't easily determine where the bracket attaches on the radio much less under the dash, and the Body Parts catalog doesn't even show this bracket, much less how the radio rests in the dash. Has anyone removed/installed one recently that can help?

[LeoH]

So, of the 3 radios, the least nicest looking one (of course) fits tightest, but still, not securely in the opening, with only the pressure of the ears around the knobs holding the unit secure to the faceplate around the knurled nuts around the instrument knobs. ( I think that's how you'd describe it) :


Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, from a 60 Lark. No bracket mounting. The last 2 pics show the difference in width of the threading on the knobs though the ears appear to be interchangeable. Is there some mounting trick to even out the threading, as that looks like there is. Finally, radio that fits does not say Studebaker on it, were there units from the factory that didn't say Studebaker on them?

[RadioRoy]

In your first picture in your first post: the top and bottom radios should fit your car. The middle radio is for a later car. I have not taken my glove box out of my 60 to look for mounting locations.

[T.J lavallee]

There is a channeled bracket about 1" wide which bolts (Looking under dash) to the right hand side of the radio slipping into a raised cut out in the lip of the sheet metal then a bolt turned up into the radio from the underside of the lip. The other end bolts to the upper panel below the windshield. At least this is how mine is mounted on my 59' Lark. I would imagine yours is the same. Hope this helps.

[StudeRich]

In Post #1 Picture #1 the one in the middle is the style/shape used on '62 to '66 Dashes, and will not work correctly on '59-'61 without Mods to the Mounting Faceplate and the rear support strap. It is fully Transistorized the others are Tube Type.

Yes they are all Studebaker Radios.

[LeoH]

There is a channeled bracket about 1" wide which bolts (Looking under dash) to the right hand side of the radio slipping into a raised cut out in the lip of the sheet metal then a bolt turned up into the radio from the underside of the lip. The other end bolts to the upper panel below the windshield. At least this is how mine is mounted on my 59' Lark. I would imagine yours is the same. Hope this helps.

Ah! Remembering what the C sliding bracket looked like in the body parts catalog, I get it now. I was expecting that that bracket screwed in to things on top and bottom, HOWEVER, if it is only screwed into the radio, but just rests on top of that brace like "foot", I see how that would work to stabilize the radio in there! I just assumed, with that weight, it would be fastened on both ends!

[graylark]

Leo, Studebaker International sells an installation kit for the 1960 Lark radio that has the back brace included. Their part number of the is kit 1550662. It is on page #54 of their catalog #2014. Your dash cut out resembles my 61 Lark. The front of the radio on mine is as you say it is held in place by sandwiching the dash metal between the aluminum trim plate and the brackets on the threaded control shafts. The rear brace is held on a stud on the right side of the radio and onto the lower ledge of the dash. Believe it or not the radio is pretty solid when all is said and done. I think the manual tuning radio you have is the only one that will fit the right side is right smack up against the glove box and that transformer sticking out the side looks like a problem for a fit.

[LeoH]

In Post #1 Picture #1 the one in the middle is the style/shape used on '62 to '66 Dashes, and will not work correctly on '59-'61 without Mods to the Mounting Faceplate and the rear support strap. It is fully Transistorized the others are Tube Type.

Yes they are all Studebaker Radios.

Thank you. It didn't seem like it, someone gave it to me somewhere along the way, "in case".

[LeoH]

I see the install kit you're describing. I'll call to see if I can just get that bracket as the speaker's shot, unknown if the radio works and the antenna is just there to plug up the hole in the fender. Ignition noise suppression is irrelevant. Thanks though for that description and comment. Off now to fool with the manual internal telescoping antenna to see how that mounts on the kick panel.

[LeoH]

The radio in this car sits completely above the glove box, I was surprised to see with the radio with all the externals, they really fit fine on both sides, it was just snug up against the section of defroster hose running across the back of the radio.

[LeoH]

Sorry to bother you, could you try to get a photo of that bracket sometime today or tomorrow? To confirm. If not, that's ok, it would be a hassle; today I'm well aware of the position needed to photograph that!

[graylark]

Sorry to bother you, could you try to get a photo of that bracket sometime today or tomorrow? To confirm. If not, that's ok, it would be a hassle; today I'm well aware of the position needed to photograph that!

Here goes I never posted a photo before. Hope this works. This is right side of 61 Lark radio, dash has same cutout as 60 Lark.

[LeoH]

Thanks Graylark, that helps a lot. Definitely not what is under my dash. On this car, the back of the radio is much further from the back inside of the dash, as yours appears. I'm thinking I can get away with fashioning something from the hardware store to get the job done, since I have no support running under the side of the radio where the stud sets.

I'm thinking, just finding a small L bracket for a cabinet and securing it in the left side of the radio then onto the top of the dash brace. Run a small screw up into the dash brace as well.

[LeoH]

Well, it's crude, but it should do the job. I slipped a piece of bicycle inner tube on the bracket that rests on the dash bracket below the radio. Kudos to those of you who photo document as you go through a project. I intended to show the radio resting in its place, but I went right to Step 3 and installed the glove box. Given how ornery that is, I didn't go back to take a photo in place. Bracket. Dash before. Dash After.

Given how hard it was drilling in to the radio case, that puppy's not going anywhere. Yes, I looked first before drilling and there was only open space on the other side of the case where I drilled.
Now, the fricken antenna...that's not been a cakewalk either.

[RadioRoy]

You didn't get any chips or filings inside the radio when you drilled, did you? That would be a deal killer.