[makilaak]

Hi!
How should I connect my 8 track to the stereo radio?

The shop manual is not clear to me:
1. Light blue should go to the amplifier (stereo module)? Right? Shall that connect to dark blue wire which was for rear speaker?
2. Dark blue from 8 track then to rear speaker?
3. Dark green to front speaker. Clear.
4. Yellow is power +12V and gray for instrument lamp circuit.
5. How about yellow/black - that would need +12V as well? Where should that connect to?
6. How about brown, green/black and black/white? Where should they go?

Thanks - any help appreciated!

[gtohurstjudge]

You should not be having to figure this out......obviously you do not have
the factory harness that goes from the radio to the 8 track where you just plug and play. You need to buy a harness.....I suspect perhaps a repro wiring manufacturer
might offer one. If not probably somebody has one they can sell you. Keep in mind
that if your car has a console, if you screw the 8 track bracket to the top of the console without the metal bracket under the console like the factory did it, then
the case of the 8 track unit will not be grounded and it will not operate. You really don't need the bracket under the console, but you have to run a ground wire to the case of the 8 track unit for it to get a ground so it will operate.

[makilaak]

Actually I have a harness made by M&H. I am just not sure if that wiring is correct and I don't want to burn my toys. The color of the wires differ and of course there are no instructions how to attach them.
I have the grounding in place.

[north]

A few questions...

Is your radio a correct 2 pce stereo? Is your 8 track a factory Pontiac 69 T400 8 track? What application was your 8 track harness specified for? (there are several different ones even in 69)

[makilaak]

Yes, '69 stereo module came with the radio, round connector. 92BT411 8 track. Harness should be for this application.
Possibly the wiring is just ok, but I hesitate to try without certainty....
Repro connector in attachment.

[johnta1]

Sounds like the extra wires are for the verba-phonic/amplifier switch and/or fader switch?

Do you have that?

The yellow/black should get it's own power from the harness or radio.
(no extra 12 volt connection to it)

I would say the tape connector should match colors with the harness?
(dark blue to dark blue, etc)

[makilaak]

No, I don't have any of those extras.

Those colors are mystery to me as well...

[north]

The second schematic you posted (harness into 8 track) looks right for a two pce stereo application for the harness 8 track end. I don't recall exactly what the wires in the plug coming from the player are but I know it's normal they don't match and there are some that don't connect to anything in the harness. This is because the 8 track player can be used in other models like Chevy that had a more complex speaker set up.

Before you try it insure that the radio, multiplex and 8 track are all grounded (in stock application they all ground with the anchoring bolts but make sure your 8 track is bolted to the bracket under the console, if you don't have one then add a ground wire). Also make sure you have grounded front and rear 8-10 ohm speakers (not 4 ohm).

The wires in the harness are easy to understand. Basically the power (yellow) from the fuse box goes first to the 8 track and if no tape is fully inserted a switch in the player sends the power to the radio instead. The lighting power from the dimmer switch (grey) simply loops in the radio end of the harness to permenantly send power for the radio light regardless if the 8 track is on or not.

The other wires simply route the front and rear speaker wires through the player and back to the radio so they can receive sound signal from either unit.

Unlike 8 track with mono radio applications when you have a stereo radio and 8 track the fader on the radio is used to balance speakers when using the radio and the fader on the 8 track is used to balance speakers when it's being played (with mono radio you don't have a fader on the radio so the 8 track player controls balance even when using radio.

Start the test with no 8 track inserted. If it works front and rear (try the reading balance fader) then fully insert an 8 track and try the fader, track button etc on the player). If you don't get sound front and rear right away in with application power down asap as you can blow diodes pretty quick.

[makilaak]

Very good advise! Thank you very much!

[johnta1]

Does your harness look like this harness?

The light blue comes from amp to the light blue plug on harness.
The dark blue from harness goes to rear speaker.

Added a pic of the verbaphonic setup.

[JKGTO]

Pic of the various harnesses to hook up the 8-track, radio, and fader. Sorry not the best quality pic. I also have the 69 Delco radio service manual. PM me if you need a better pic or more help with the wiring. Jim

[makilaak]

I was brave and hooked up the harness I had. I put the light blue to amplifier and dark blue to rear speaker. The wires without connector I put to the original radio connector.
And all worked!!! Just like that! Thanks you guys!

[johnta1]

COOL!

Now for some Golden Earrings tune.