Electric Antennas
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Electric Antennas
I am going to install an electric antenna on my 70. Just wondering if anyone has done this and is there anything special that needs to be done such as reinforcing the antenna mount etc....
Thanks
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
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From: Sewell NJ
Re: Electric Antennas (Eddie 70)
An antenna works with a ground plane. This isn't a problem with metal cars because the body acts as the ground plane. On our cars there is a metal piece under the rear fender that acts as the ground plane. This piece must be grounded to the frame. You will probably have to drill out the hole a little on the ground plane to fit the larger antenna base of the electric antennas. If you don't want to modify the original ground plane you can get a thin piece of aluminum and cut it to the same size and shape as the original. Mount the antenna through the ground plane and tighten up the retaining nut on top of the fender. Not too tight or you'll crack the fiberglass. Once you've done this you will have to fabricate a support for the bottom of the antenna to prevent it from moving around. You can do this with some pipe strapping that you can get from a hardware store if the antenna kit doesn't supply it. Once that's done all you need to do is run the antenna wire, a hot and ground electrical line and a remote control line to the unit. It's not a bad job but you're working in cramped areas so set aside plenty of time. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 888
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From: Angola IN
CI 5-6-7-8-9 Veteran
Cruise-In 7 Car Show Winner
Re: Electric Antennas (Eddie 70)
Eddie:
I bought mine from Mid America. If fit fine, and works fine without mods. You won't need the ground plate that was being used by your original ant. This one will mount up at the top through the body, and has a strap to bolt to the frame right below the hole. No need to drill the frame, there is a bolt hole right here you will need it.
Run the wiring back with the other wires along the DS door well. I hooked mine up to a toggle switch instead of the radio, that way if I am listening to CD's the antena will stay down.
Reception is great, better than most if not all antenas on cars I have owned in the past.
If you need help, give me a shout.
Frank
I bought mine from Mid America. If fit fine, and works fine without mods. You won't need the ground plate that was being used by your original ant. This one will mount up at the top through the body, and has a strap to bolt to the frame right below the hole. No need to drill the frame, there is a bolt hole right here you will need it.
Run the wiring back with the other wires along the DS door well. I hooked mine up to a toggle switch instead of the radio, that way if I am listening to CD's the antena will stay down.
Reception is great, better than most if not all antenas on cars I have owned in the past.
If you need help, give me a shout.
Frank
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Got it working. But, I wired as in the instructions and it goes up with the key and down when the key goes off. Nice and quiet too. Not at all lik the one in my wifes Acura. That thing is loud.
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
Got it working. But, I wired as in the instructions and it goes up with the key and down when the key goes off. Nice and quiet too. Not at all lik the one in my wifes Acura. That thing is loud.
Where did you get the antenna Eddie?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
From the corvette forum C3 Parts Section. Someone posted it about a year or so ago. Are you thinking of adding one?
Senior Member since 1492
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
From the corvette forum C3 Parts Section. Someone posted it about a year or so ago. Are you thinking of adding one?
But I don't want one that'll sound like a drawbridge opening & closing. 
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
When this one hits the upper limit it goes click click. Turn the key off and it is quietly going down and then the lower limit, click click. The whole motor is contained in a rubber type surround. I was actually nicely surprised by it after listening to the one in my wife car.
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Verdad Gallardo
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Jughead
But I don't want one that'll sound like a drawbridge opening & closing. mine sounds like the one in my infiniti....you hear it but nothing to get any attention...and i don't think you can it when the car is running....
mine came with the car so i don't know anything about it but it fits real nice so i don't think it was a generic one....
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
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From: Lake Norman NC
i installed a switch on my antenna so i can fully control it going up...so if it won't automatically go up when i turn the key..only when i want to listen to FM, I'll hit the switch and it goes.. IMO, i just can't stand the look of an antenna up on a sports car.. 