Holy antennas batman! My antenna is just starting to act up by not going all the way down. Sometimes it do, sometimes it don't. I'll try the clean and oil job.

Has anyone replaced the whole shoot'n match before? Who has the best replacements? I've seen some universals advertised for the corvette. I will probably go a shorty antenna but will want to replace before I sell, in about 25 years.

 

Don't know how much work it would be or if an 03 coupe windshield would fit but our 03 AE removable roof coupe has the antenna on the inside top of the windshield. Of course you would need to fill the hole in the body too. Has anybody tried this mod?

 

Don't worry, many of us have been there before. I'm on my 3rd antenna

Here's a How To I posted a while ago

How To Replace a Defective Telescopic Antenna

Now this is a simple mod and the OEM assembly with motor is $130+. You'll know you have the problem because the antenna won't fully retract



Parts:
Adjustable wrench
GM OEM Power Antenna Replacement ($13 E Bay).




Make sure the antenna is fully retracted and that the radio is off

Remove the antenna mounting nut located on the base of the mast on the outside of the car. If the mast is bent it may be necessary to cut off the old mast). If you can't all of the plastic cable out as one piece, (sometimes the plastic gets really hard and breaks into pieces then falls down into the motor), you can just pull the motor after you have pulled the mast out and get all of the pieces out. To do that you'll need to take out the outer right turn signal housing.




Turn on the radio and pull out the old mast and serrated cable completely out of the antenna motor. (Note which way the serrations on the cable are facing)

Feed the serrated cable of the new mast into the antenna hole and stop when resistance is felt. (about 12”). Make sure the cable is fed in with the teeth the same way the old cable came out.



Turn the radio off to lower the antenna until the serrated cable catches.. You may have to cycle the antenna a few times until the cable catches the gear mechanism and retracts into the antenna motor.



Replace and tighten the antenna nut into the mast base.



Turn on and make sure that the mast fully extends without binding. Clean the surface of the antenna to remove any adhesive etc.

10 minute job.



If you encounter a stuck mast here’s advice from the mast vendor:

You see the new "Retaining Sleeve" (silver, 2 inches or so, with slots) on the shaft of the new antenna mast, the original one is most likely a little corroded/frozen into the shaft of your antenna No problem : You are in need of what I refer to as the "snap and tap" technique of mast removal

Turn radio on and let cycle to as much extension as is currently possible

Take hold of the thickest metal mast section (closest to fender) with you thumb and forefinger about 2-3 inches above the top of the antenna shaft hole

Push the thickest mast section into the shaft (as much as it will go within that 2-3 inches)

Hold tightly with thumb and forefinger and Snap your Wrist upward.....you will here the mast bottom "tap" the bottom of the frozen in place retaining sleeve (what this is all about) Repeat this over and over again In-Snap-Tap-Repeat Short Firm Bursts of Energy Focusing the energy blow to the point of the tap This will free the retaining sleeve little by little till it comes out completely

 

How bout a fixed antenna like the one West Coast Corvettes sells?

Not sure if this will work on your Vette.
I did put it on my 2000 FRC. real classy!


[url]http://westcoastcorvette.com/p-746-corvette-antenna-12-inch-c5.jpeg[url]

 

good post DeeGee thanks

 

not to jack the thread, but my 98 does not have an antenna, is that standard for that year?

 

Thanks for the post. I was thinkng of replacing the whole shoot'n match with a stubby. Work on the motor and clean it up. Then maybe replace back again later. I like having the retrackable ant as I load one or two golf bags in the back. It is a squease sometimes and I'd hate to bump the ant. Again thanks for the post.

 

All targa coupes had only the antenna in the windshield, all convertibles have power masts and all FRC's including the Z06 have a fixed mast on the rear fender. Model year had nothing to do with it.

 

Care to explain that a bit more? I was considering removing my antenna if I do a flared rear fender setup on my '01 'vert, and I'm curious as to what alternatives I can do. I've seen a few of those 'mount to the body' antennas, but not exactly sure how good that would work on a 'vette.

(BTW, sorry for the thread hijack.)

 

Thanks for the info

 

Flaagan,

If your going to put flared fenders on your Vette why not install the removalable roof coupe (targa top) windshield and antenna wiring so it will be located at the top inside of your windshield. No holes in your fenders.

 

I'll have to ask around and see how much that'd cost, if it's not too much (seeing as I'll need a HUD-supporting windshield) that may just be the way to go.