Relocating Antenna to under the Fender (Page 3/4)
PaulJK JAN 14, 09:15 PM

quote
Originally posted by Leviathan:

Its time that it moves itself underneath the fender.




From my experience, this was a bad idea. You're putting the antennae behind metal which shields radio reception. I tried it while i was in Los Angeles (many strong stations/signals) and noticed a definite loss of reception. My preference was to move the antenna to the rear quarter where it looked better (to me). You can also get a Dakota Digital electronic antenna and hide it in the roof under the headliner - worked well in my other car. Dakota Digital stuff is over-priced but works.

http://www.dakotadigital.co...mode=prod/prd105.htm
couldahadaV8 JAN 15, 02:15 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:
In the 60s, GM used wires embedded in the windshield glass for radio antennas. They sort of worked. I'll bet they would have worked better for FM, had it been in common usage at the time.



The '60's??? Porsche was still using it on their 2007 911's. Reception was certainly not as good as an external antenna.
slicknick JAN 25, 09:10 AM
For the record, my parent's '79 Cutlass had the windshield antenna.

Anyhow, how about under the center of the hood? There's not a lot of metal there.
Raydar JAN 25, 12:26 PM

quote
Originally posted by Leviathan:

...Spectrum analyzers...



I'm quite familiar with them. Not something that average persons (or even a lot of 2 way radio shops) have on hand.
Obviously you have some background.

THANK YOU for sharing the info about the receiver. That's pure gold.
Not that I have a lot of need for a spectrum analyzer these days, but it's nice to know that it's out there. Good show!

I'm curious what you do for a living or hobbies. Sounds like you've had more than a basic introduction to RF.


quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

I remember that as well, but I think it was bit later... maybe the 70's. Anyway, it was back when we were young and fearless.



I was thinking that my dad's '68 Bel Air had a windshield antenna. Came out about the same time as hide-a-way wipers. We were impressed with how well it didn't work. (Remember... This was on the AM band, back then.)
I was curious... Craigslist shows a few '68s with no antenna on the fender, so I have to believe that I'm remembering correctly.
Anyway...
Matthew_Fiero JUL 18, 10:14 AM
Since I have my roof panel off I would like to run a wire up and remove the antenna. Should I just remove the base from the car and jam the antenna itself in a pillar or run a standard 14 gauge wire or coathanger that is also somehow connected to the antenna base?
Dennis LaGrua JUL 18, 10:36 AM
Years back a Fiero owner named John White wrote an article on hiding the antenna. He owned a GT with a sun roof. He ran a wire up and used the sunroof frame as the antenna and said it worked well..

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KennyG JUL 18, 03:09 PM
I put a cheap "hidden windshield" antenna on the cowl under back edge of the front hood. It was easy to route the cable back into the car in the same path as the original. It works fine and was really simple.
pmbrunelle JUL 18, 06:56 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:
I just put a wire along the edge of windshield and connected to antenna base.
Hides the antenna w/o killing signal. Did that because kids break off antennas.



I used an insulated wire + ring terminal hidden beneath the A-pillar plastic of a Saturn S-Series.

FM reception was somewhat worse than with the stock whip antenna, but still quite usable in a suburban area with transmitters about 10 miles away.

I don't remember there being too much of a blind spot behind the car, which I was expecting with the antenna hidden behind the A-pillar.
theogre JUL 18, 07:30 PM
I strip some wire to make loop to hook the screw in the base. 20-22 AWG
then w/ P-side door open push the wire from back of fender to hook the screw.
Then put something to keep the loop on the base while I bend the wire as pushed under Windshield trim.

If careful can bend & push the wire at bottom to totally hide from view to "jump over" the A pillar.

I don't even have a nut on the base, just bit of tension to hold & make contact. that's after 20+ years ago.

Wire size doesn't matter much. Does need insulated wire because might touch the frame @ some point.

In the gap along the glass puts a small space between frame & wire so wire isn't shielded so gets most channels that OE antennas get.

You may not want it under the roof panel. The panel is F-glass but paint on it may reduce/block the signal. Have the wire right on the frame won't help too.
CSM842M4 JUL 19, 09:00 PM
Just my $0.02 here - I made a bracket out of flat steel that mounts in the location of the stock bracket, folds down into the cavity between the fender and space frame, then points the antenna forward and over the arch of the wheel well. I pre-curved a replacement mast, covered it with Tygon fuel hose and mounted it to the bracket. Haven't tried it with the radio yet, but the physical installation is pretty clean. Used plenty of pasteboard boxes as templates to get everything so that I was happy with it.