Cargo shade removal

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Dec 13, 2006 | 08:52 PM

C485tomg

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 15

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From: Murrieta Ca

Cargo shade removal

I am trying to replace the antenna in my 85 coupe. The FSM gives directions that say to remove the cargo shade, but I can't seem to get it out and I don't want to break it. Any ideas?

Dec 13, 2006 | 09:16 PM

Mr Mojo

Elite Torch Red Member

Joined: Sep 1999

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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo

Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator

CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet

CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ

St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07

Imagine it's a giant toilet paper roll. Remove it the same way you would remove the toilet paper roller. It's spring loaded on both ends.

I used a long thin screwdriver to pop the end in while pushing against the opposite side.

Dec 13, 2006 | 09:17 PM

williammackean

Race Director

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 10,878

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St. Jude Donor '07

I tried for an hour to remove it when I replaced the antenna. Never did get it out.

The good news is: You don't need it out. It just maked fishing the cable thru the grommet a little more difficult. Just detatch everything in the area and find the cable fitting above the wheel well. Detatch and fish it backwards. You can see where it comes thru above the rear wheel as it continues to the antenna in the underbody.

Removing the rear wheel is a help, too!

Sand the ground points to a nice shine. Grease them afterwards to prevent rust.

Good luck!

Dec 13, 2006 | 10:28 PM

C485tomg

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 15

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From: Murrieta Ca

Okay-I have the shade out and the rear wheel off, the inner fenderwell out but I can't get the ant. cable to seperate(it does seperate,right?). Also it looks impossible to get to the large nuts against thr body without the rear valance removed. It didn't sound this difficult in the manual-am I missing something here?

Dec 13, 2006 | 10:36 PM

williammackean

Race Director

Joined: Sep 2005

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St. Jude Donor '07

I didn't touch anything on the rear end.

I went in from underneath. There should be two nuts under there...

Here, these are the instructions I used:

http://content.madirect.com/pdf/601246.pdf

Dec 14, 2006 | 07:15 AM

Sam Lam

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 2,118

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From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club

Quote:

Originally Posted by C485tomg

It didn't sound this difficult in the manual-am I missing something here?

I replaced the antenna on my 89 a few years back and it took me 6 hours to get the motor unit out. The most difficult items were breaking the electrical and antenna connections as these were difficult to find and separate. I did not remove the rear shade on my car. Don't give up and you will finally get there

Dec 14, 2006 | 07:51 AM

AGENT 86

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 20,304

Likes: 240

From: Summerland B.C. Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by C485tomg

That coaxial cable connection is a bitch, but it does come apart. Maybe 2 pairs of pliers and a twisting, pulling motion will free it up. I stuck my arm up through all the crap to get to the big plastic nut.
Good luck

Dec 14, 2006 | 08:12 AM

newbecorvetteguy

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 2,018

Likes: 1

From: OR

That factory cable connector has barbs on one end that catch inside the lip of the other end. There are no tricks that I found. It just comes appart hard. If I were to do one again, I'd just start out buying a new connector at radio shack before starting and just cut the old one out. In fact, if I were doing a straight accross swap or even repairing the existing motor, I'd just cut all the wires under the car and install good weather proof connectors and leave the interior alone. I spent the majority of time trying to get that factory antenna wire plug appart when I did mine.