The older Delco radios need 10 ohm speakers. I'm advised that installation of speakers with less ohms cause the radio to see the speakers as a short and damage the radio. At some point they apparently changed to speakers with lesser ohms.

Does anyone know when this occurred? I'm having a problem with my 80s vintage El Camino. I keep "losing" radios and I'm wondering if I should have speakers with more ohms.

From what I remember of those radios, the standard speakers used to be 8 ohms. Later ones have switched to 4 ohms.

Using a 4 ohm speaker may cause problems with overdriving the power amp at high volume, but its not equivalent to a short circuit. Do you run at really high volume levels with your vintage radio?

One simple solution to protect the radio is to add another 4 ohm speaker in series with the ones you have. If the current ones are dash or in-door speakers, add a second set in series up under the dash pointed down. Two 4 ohm speakers in series (positive of one speaker connected to negative of the other) will get you 8 ohms. It would be probably best for sound quality if the two speakers are matched in size and type.

Bruce

The problem is occurring in my '86 El Camino.

I've "lost" two radios now. I replaced the two original dash speakers with some cheapies from Walmart. I couldn't justify big dollar speakers for an occasional driver that usually only plays oldies.

I'm not a high volume listener so it wouldn't appear to be from that. My thought was maybe the speakers were causing the problem.