Corvette Radio Convector, Am/fm, 1968-76 on 2040-parts.com

Here's a nice used GM 7311901 radio convector as installed on 1968-76 Corvettes with base AM/FM radio.  These radios were 2-piece units consisting of the main radio chassis and a remote convector.  The convector is a heat sink with Delco DS-501 transistor and interconnecting cable.  It mounted under the passenger side dash away from the radio.

The convector served as the final speaker drive amplifier and without it you get no audio output from the speaker.  I don't know how many times I've seen folks selling used original Corvette radios providing ONLY the main radio chassis without the convector and not knowing they only had 'half' of the radio!

The DS-501 is a germanium transistor made by GM/Delco under their original technology license from Bell Labs.  The part has been LONG GM discontinued and it was susceptible to failure from electrical overstress.  Replacements ARE available from aftermaket sources but they're NOT cheap!  The last time I looked for one, the going price was around $50...

This one has been bench tested and that requires a few more words.  There are basically three ways to test a transistor.  The first is to check it for gross functionality (has it been blown up; open or short circuit?).  The second adds checking for active response (does it switch from non-conductive to conductive mode as it should?).

The third method puts the transistor on a curve tracer and exercises the part across its entire active dynamic range.  My bench test was the type two test; it is functionally intact and does it switch modes as it should...

But, there's a Catch-22 with this part.  Whoever removed it from the donor car, simply cut the interconnect wires.  Therefore, the existing three wires are 'short' and the convector lacks its terminating interconnect cable.  So, you're essentially getting a function heat sink and DS-501 transistor.

For the date enthusiast, you can see the date code on the DS-501.  It's silk screened "7040" which is interpreted as the 40th week of 1970.  So, this convector came from a 1971 Corvette...

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