Factory Power Antenna??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Factory Power Antenna??
Hello, I have a 82 with a power antenna but not for sure if it's original or not?? The antenna nut sticks up about a 1/4" on top of a black plastic spacer... I bought a nut from Corvette Central but looks different from what I have?? Does anyone ahave a factory picture of what one should look like??
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,374
Likes: 224
From: Beecher Illinois
A CORRECT 82 antenna should look something like this
Altho this is an AM/FM/CB unit.
SOME late 82s may have the Delco "minimast" unit which incorporates the same motor but a smaller diameter mast tube.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...r-antenna.html
Is this the bezel you got from CC?
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
Altho this is an AM/FM/CB unit.SOME late 82s may have the Delco "minimast" unit which incorporates the same motor but a smaller diameter mast tube.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...r-antenna.html
Is this the bezel you got from CC?
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
A CORRECT 82 antenna should look something like this Altho this is an AM/FM/CB unit.
SOME late 82s may have the Delco "minimast" unit which incorporates the same motor but a smaller diameter mast tube.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...r-antenna.html
Is this the bezel you got from CC?
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
Altho this is an AM/FM/CB unit.SOME late 82s may have the Delco "minimast" unit which incorporates the same motor but a smaller diameter mast tube.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...r-antenna.html
Is this the bezel you got from CC?
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,374
Likes: 224
From: Beecher Illinois
The bezel is correct.
The difference in the AM/FM and AM/FM/CB antenna visually is simply the added co-ax connector and the grey thing on the mast.
If your antenna doesn't look similar to that pictured(but with just one co-ax connector and no grey thing) you probably have one of the aftermarket things.
The difference in the AM/FM and AM/FM/CB antenna visually is simply the added co-ax connector and the grey thing on the mast.
If your antenna doesn't look similar to that pictured(but with just one co-ax connector and no grey thing) you probably have one of the aftermarket things.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Well my question is if the car originally came with a power antenna or if it was added??? If it came with one and the original one went bad then everything is there to switch back to original. But if not then it may not work. I bought a N.O.S. power antenna for a 82 Vette off ebay and would like to change it out. Does this make sense?? Kinda tired..
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
The nut you described, sounds like the one that GM use to put in with the service replacement power antennas. It's about a quarter inch tall, with a black plastic gasket on the bottom, and has a very slight tapper from the top to bottom.
The flat nut with the 4 slots in the top and the black plastic tube down the middle, shown in KapsSA link, is the OEM style nut originally used on 79-82 power antennas. 78's used a black plastic bezel, that pressed into the top of the power antenna tube. When installed, the plastic 78 bezel, sat flush with the rear body.
The odds that your 82 came with a power antenna, are pretty good. Over 15,500 82's came with a power antenna.
Does your antenna go up and down when the radio is turned on and off? The factory antenna operated this way, not by a separate switch or with the ignition switch. The factory power antenna has a relay that operates the antenna, mounted in the storage compartment, behind the passenger seat.
The flat nut with the 4 slots in the top and the black plastic tube down the middle, shown in KapsSA link, is the OEM style nut originally used on 79-82 power antennas. 78's used a black plastic bezel, that pressed into the top of the power antenna tube. When installed, the plastic 78 bezel, sat flush with the rear body.
The odds that your 82 came with a power antenna, are pretty good. Over 15,500 82's came with a power antenna.
Does your antenna go up and down when the radio is turned on and off? The factory antenna operated this way, not by a separate switch or with the ignition switch. The factory power antenna has a relay that operates the antenna, mounted in the storage compartment, behind the passenger seat.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/ser...buildsheet.asp
I'm missing something here. Why make an eBay purchase if the existing antenna is working?
Last edited by Easy Mike; Jan 28, 2012 at 10:38 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
The power antenna was optional. Do you have any original documentation with your car? Order copy, window sticker, etc? If so, the optional antenna would be listed if it was ordered. If you have no documentation, contact the National Corvette Museum and see if you can obtain a copy of the build order for your 82.
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/ser...buildsheet.asp
I'm missing something here. Why make an eBay purchase if the existing antenna is working?
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/ser...buildsheet.asp
I'm missing something here. Why make an eBay purchase if the existing antenna is working?
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
The nut you described, sounds like the one that GM use to put in with the service replacement power antennas. It's about a quarter inch tall, with a black plastic gasket on the bottom, and has a very slight tapper from the top to bottom.
The flat nut with the 4 slots in the top and the black plastic tube down the middle, shown in KapsSA link, is the OEM style nut originally used on 79-82 power antennas. 78's used a black plastic bezel, that pressed into the top of the power antenna tube. When installed, the plastic 78 bezel, sat flush with the rear body.
The odds that your 82 came with a power antenna, are pretty good. Over 15,500 82's came with a power antenna.
Does your antenna go up and down when the radio is turned on and off? The factory antenna operated this way, not by a separate switch or with the ignition switch. The factory power antenna has a relay that operates the antenna, mounted in the storage compartment, behind the passenger seat.
The flat nut with the 4 slots in the top and the black plastic tube down the middle, shown in KapsSA link, is the OEM style nut originally used on 79-82 power antennas. 78's used a black plastic bezel, that pressed into the top of the power antenna tube. When installed, the plastic 78 bezel, sat flush with the rear body.
The odds that your 82 came with a power antenna, are pretty good. Over 15,500 82's came with a power antenna.
Does your antenna go up and down when the radio is turned on and off? The factory antenna operated this way, not by a separate switch or with the ignition switch. The factory power antenna has a relay that operates the antenna, mounted in the storage compartment, behind the passenger seat.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,374
Likes: 224
From: Beecher Illinois
If that CORRECT CC bezel doesn't fit your antenna, you have an aftermarket antenna in place, as do thousands of other Vette owners.
What color wires do you see at the antenna under the car?
Factory or GM replacement would be green/gray/white.
Like mentioned, see if you have the antenna relay in the storage compartment. Look for the green/gray/white wires plue orange, yellow(possibly pink instead), and black.
Aftermarket antenna requires it's own wires all the way to the radio, BUT, some guys cut and splice into the factory wires, so be prepared for a hack job.
edit....does your new bezel fit your new NOS antenna?
What color wires do you see at the antenna under the car?
Factory or GM replacement would be green/gray/white.
Like mentioned, see if you have the antenna relay in the storage compartment. Look for the green/gray/white wires plue orange, yellow(possibly pink instead), and black.
Aftermarket antenna requires it's own wires all the way to the radio, BUT, some guys cut and splice into the factory wires, so be prepared for a hack job.
edit....does your new bezel fit your new NOS antenna?
Last edited by KapsSA; Jan 28, 2012 at 04:44 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Why not wait until your AIM arrives? It has diagrams showing the installation, relay, etc.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
