[Z06] Antenna Shorten
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Antenna Shorten
The shorty antennas I have seen are about 8". I found an instructional article on how to shorten the stock unit. (Sorry lost the bookmark). I did save it as a .pdf if you want to email me.
Is there any potential damage that could be caused to the radio if the stock stick was cut down to 8"
Is there any potential damage that could be caused to the radio if the stock stick was cut down to 8"
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 6
From: Gulf of Mexico Florida West Coast
Why mess with it?
To replace a OE GM part will cost a bizzion dollars! Just get a shortly for like 16 bucks and save your stock. Your time and effort could be put to better use. Go clean those rims you silly!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Not a hard job, I just don't want it to cause damage to the receiver.
It's winter here, the car is stored, I'm looking for another thing to project the hell out of. Rims are polished and just waiting to get covered in brake dust
It's winter here, the car is stored, I'm looking for another thing to project the hell out of. Rims are polished and just waiting to get covered in brake dust
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,846
Likes: 5
From: Sandy Ego CA
Nothing to it, I shorted mine the second day I had my Z. just cut it to length, mine is around 8 to 9 " , put the antenna in a vice but wrap in plastic or leather so you don't scratch it, wrap the end ball in some plastic or leather, grab it with some vice grips and twist it till the ball come off, cut the antenna, file down the end until it fits back into the ball, a little dab of glue and your in business, if you scratched it some semi gloss black rattle can will fix you up. Can't see much difference in reception but like I said I did this the second day
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,251
Likes: 217
From: 2007 Nat'l Corvette Challenge 11.50 index Champ. New Jersey
I just cut mine down w/ a hack saw, never replaced the ball & NO reception problems. i just dabbed the raw end w/ some black touch up paint!
Ron
Ron
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,251
Likes: 217
From: 2007 Nat'l Corvette Challenge 11.50 index Champ. New Jersey
Originally Posted by bbullitt01
Anyone know why the fixed antenna on the Z06?
Weight savings?
Weight savings?
Ron
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Camp Pendleton CA
The antenna on your car is only a receiving antenna. IE: metal in the air. You can only damage a receiver/transmitter if you shorten the antenna past a length of the transmitting fregency. Then the full/half/quater wave lenght doesn't make it to the end and will be carried back down the antenna into the receiver in watts.
Bottomline you can cut your antenna any length and not harm your radio. You reception might start to suck, but your receiver will be OK.
Bottomline you can cut your antenna any length and not harm your radio. You reception might start to suck, but your receiver will be OK.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 16,106
Likes: 473
they set it up that way in case you happen to be cruising along a waterway in the florida intercoastal, then you can hook up some trolling rigs to catch marlin... 
must be for weight savings due to their simplicity. either that or the gm parts bin was overstocked...
i replaced mine recently with a shorty from midamerica. it was $23 shipped. looks great, reception is only slightly worse in the canyons, but i don't care since i'm usually listening to the sweet sound of titanium exhaust & 405 ponies!
i tried the make-your-own shorty antenna mod but botched it (couldn't get a clean cut, and made my initial cut with no room for error). it forced me to go buy one from a vendor, but i'm happy with my choice.
one vendor has some pretty sharp antenna's out of anodized aluminum. sorry but i don't remember the vendor name. i had ordered mine from midamerica before learning of the other brand/vendor. might order a red one just for kicks, they're also like $20 or so.
must be for weight savings due to their simplicity. either that or the gm parts bin was overstocked...
i replaced mine recently with a shorty from midamerica. it was $23 shipped. looks great, reception is only slightly worse in the canyons, but i don't care since i'm usually listening to the sweet sound of titanium exhaust & 405 ponies!
i tried the make-your-own shorty antenna mod but botched it (couldn't get a clean cut, and made my initial cut with no room for error). it forced me to go buy one from a vendor, but i'm happy with my choice.
one vendor has some pretty sharp antenna's out of anodized aluminum. sorry but i don't remember the vendor name. i had ordered mine from midamerica before learning of the other brand/vendor. might order a red one just for kicks, they're also like $20 or so.
Originally Posted by bbullitt01
Anyone know why the fixed antenna on the Z06?
Weight savings?
Weight savings?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 609
Likes: 36
From: Portland OR
They did the fixed antenna I believe because of the windshield in the Z06 is thinner. Does't the coupe have the antenna in the windshied?
So if that is the case it is kind of to save weight. Another option is to just take it off and use a vaccumn plug thingy on it... Looks pretty good and I don't think the FM reception is affected too much. Who listens to the radio anyways the sound quality is horrible I always have a CD in because of that!
So if that is the case it is kind of to save weight. Another option is to just take it off and use a vaccumn plug thingy on it... Looks pretty good and I don't think the FM reception is affected too much. Who listens to the radio anyways the sound quality is horrible I always have a CD in because of that!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
Originally Posted by SoldmyWS64AC5
They did the fixed antenna I believe because of the windshield in the Z06 is thinner. Does't the coupe have the antenna in the windshied?
I don't think the thickness of the Z06 windshield has anything to do with not having a windshield antenna. But I do know the coupe has the windshield antenna and the reception sucks compared to an external antenna.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 1
From: www.Z16.org Western NY
Originally Posted by Shylor
I don't think the thickness of the Z06 windshield has anything to do with not having a windshield antenna. But I do know the coupe has the windshield antenna and the reception sucks compared to an external antenna.
My coupe gets great reception with the antenna in the glass.
The cheap whip saves GM some $ and maybe a couple of #'s over the power one in the 'vert. To those that haven't been exposed to the hype on the web about the whip being to tall, they just think a shorty is a power antenna that is broke and wont go all the way up/down.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,626
Likes: 1
From: Fremont California
Originally Posted by Jamie Mancuso
To replace a OE GM part will cost a bizzion dollars! Just get a shortly for like 16 bucks and save your stock. Your time and effort could be put to better use. Go clean those rims you silly!
I bought a shorty at Mid-America for $17.99
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 928
Likes: 18
The deal with the antenna is that it is exactly 29" which is the fm wave length. If you shorten it you cut out part of the wave length which is no big deal if you are not interested in the quality of the sound.
The billet ones I did not like because they do not have any flex to them and if someone bumps into it than the mount will break or if a 150 mph wind hits it the fiberglass might get stressed back there.
The little rubber ducks that people talk about can be short because the extra length is wound around inside. I left the stock unit on there.
The billet ones I did not like because they do not have any flex to them and if someone bumps into it than the mount will break or if a 150 mph wind hits it the fiberglass might get stressed back there.
The little rubber ducks that people talk about can be short because the extra length is wound around inside. I left the stock unit on there.
Last edited by BLW BY; Jan 21, 2005 at 10:02 PM. Reason: spelling error