Old car radios...capacitors?

I think they're capacitors...they look like ignition condensers to me.

Sorry, no pics...but someone who knows about vintage AM radios will know what I'm talking about (I hope...).

I bought this vintage aftermarket AM radio that appears to be made in the early-mid 60s, complete as new, in box, never installed, with speaker...minus instructions...the only thing different with this from OTHER radio/stereo installs I've done is that there are two capacitors/condensers that were in the little sealed package with other necessary bits. WHERE DO THESE THINGS GO? I assume they are for the purpose of filtering out alternator noise...and common sense tells me they ground to the radio chassis...but the wires hook to _______ ?

Years ago, when I could find these at flea-markets or in the trunk of someone's car and not worry about frying vintage transistors...I would've just grounded one to the radio chassis, with the wire going to the + input, the other to the speaker chassis and the wire going to the + side of that as well...but my memory isn't what it used to be, and I don't want to fry this thing.

 

one capacitor goes on the coil, centre wire goes to ignition side of coil, bracket then screws to coil mounting for the earth.
other cap. goes on alternator main wire ( the fat one ) and the bracket screws to earth on the alt. mounting bolt.
yes they are for cutting out static or noise

 

Thanks

 

Another trick to cutting ignition noise down is to install a choke coil in the supply line.
Goes between source and radio.

Available at Radio Shack.

 

440roadrunner, ever deal with an AM radio in a glass body?

Steel frame inside the glass, metal hood and side panels.

MSD ignition box about a foot away from where the radio goes.
Spiral wound Accel suppression wires.

Thinking of an antenna on the sail panel of my 32 roadster.
(Between rear of cockpit and deck lid.)

The radio would be enclosed in a steel box except for the front panel.

 

A type of noise supression capacitor that is more effective for most applications is called a "coaxial" capacitor. It has a metal case, a lead on each end and a tab on the case for mounting and grounding. It is connected in SERIES with the alternator output lead, the heater fan lead, coil input right at the coil, electric wiper motor input lead, electric fuel pump input lead and any other noise generating device.
Do NOT put one in the regulator lead of a 3 wire alternator or the distributor lead of the coil.
These caps can be had at most radio parts supply places. They are rated in amps and should be matched to the circuit to be installed in. 40 amp alternator, 50 amp cap. etc etc.

 

Maybe you're thinking of a "choke", which is an inductor, not a capacitor...or possibly it's a filter network that includes both a choke and capacitor