Decided to replace my original non functioning auto power antenna on my 78. Put in a standard telescoping unit. Connected a ground from the frame to the outer cable shield. The radio works great, can get better reception. But when I step on the brake static drowns everything out. This never happened until the change. Tried disconnecting the ground and it made no difference. I do have LED taillights/brakes although the problem has only started with the new antenna. Some of you electronic gurus hopefully has an answer and fix, thanks

 

Does your antenna retract corrrectly? I made the mistake of buying an "inexpensive" aftermarket antenna for my '79. The car came with a replacement Pioneer radio/CD player. These things are not "plug and play" . Shortly after I bought the car, the antenna stopped working, staying in the down position. The guy who installed the Pioneer did his own thing in regards to antenna wiring (we found the blue/white wire stuffed underneath the Pioneer), so I had to have my mechanic basically rewire the car which was well beyond my abilities. He had to make repeated calls to Pioneer and I got the vendor to send us a replacement unit. I picked the car up yesterday and it worked OK at the shop and I tested it a couple times on the way home. When I got home and turned the car off, the antenna failed to retract. My advice to everyone and the author of this post is to purchase a true reproduction that matches the Corvette wiring. If it doesn't work you probably have a wiring problem or an "out of box failure". I've spent well beyond the money I saved on the "bargain" unit I purchased from a well-known vendor and it's still not right. I think my mechanic is about to shoot himself. I may join him. I not sure this helps

 

If you wire up the antenna per the generic instructions you'll be in trouble. The 1978 power antenna used a relay located at the back of the center console. If you have the stock radio and wire to the relay you'll be fine, if you wire to the radio you'll have issues.

Willcox