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| Relocating Antenna to under the Fender (Page 1/4) |
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Leviathan
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JAN 10, 10:59 AM
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* Reserved for future use
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Leviathan
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JAN 10, 11:11 AM
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I was working on my 88 GT the other day and the ugliness of the antenna started getting on my nerves. Its time that it moves itself underneath the fender. Im almost done with the relocation, but I need some help finding out some information about the stock antenna system.
To be able to get to the frame underneath the quarter panel without taking the entire quarter panel off, you have to remove the antenna from the Antenna Base that mounts onto the frame. I removed the original antenna with a wrench, but sheared the bolt on the Antenna Base. This sounds like its a very common problem. I bought a new antenna that uses an M6-1.0mm thread - Is this the same as the original antenna?
On the Fiero Store, i could buy a new antenna base for $30, make a bracket to hold the antenna base sideways and mount my new antenna on the antenna base. I dont like this idea because the only location with enough space is so low on the car, you would most likely have remove the quarter panel and wheel well cover. I felt like i could come up with a better design with a better location that requires less work for cheaper.
http://www.fierostore.com/P...Detail.aspx?s=61602U
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...040710-2-048858.html
After deciding to not use the stock antenna base, i ran into the problem of connecting the existing coax antenna cable to my new antenna mount. I went to my local car audio store to see if they had any connectors to would fit the coax cable, but i wasnt able to find anything that would work. It seems that this magical unicorn connection between the coax antenna cable and the antenna base does not use standard connectors. Finally, I was able to make my own connector by cutting up two standard coax cable connectors that can be found at a car audio store and combining them. Does anyone know if there is any premade connectors that fits the coax cable that plugs into the antenna base?
Also, if a man was to remove the antenna, but leave the antenna base installed on the car, does the bolt on the antenna base stick out of the body work? Since that bolt sheared off, im not able to tell.
Relocating this antenna has been such an ordeal with breaking parts and finding the right connectors, im wondering if there is a kit that already exists or if a kit needs to be made. Ill post some pictures showing where i plan on relocating the antenna and the special connector that i made. I hear that an antenna mounted on both sides of the car gives the best reception. I may do this in the future as well, which would require an additional custom wiring harness.
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Question 1: What is the thread of the bolt that protrudes out of the antenna block mounted on the frame that the antenna screws on to?
Question 2: Is there a premade connector that fits the coax cable that plugs into the antenna base?
Question 3: Does the bolt on the antenna base stick above the body work when the stock antenna is removed?
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tshark
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JAN 10, 11:16 AM
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... [This message has been edited by tshark (edited 09-08-2018).]
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Gall757
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JAN 10, 11:20 AM
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At a show a few years ago I spoke with a Fiero owner who used the defroster trace on the rear window as his radio antenna.....he said it worked perfectly.
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David Hambleton
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JAN 10, 11:51 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Gall757:
At a show a few years ago I spoke with a Fiero owner who used the defroster trace on the rear window as his radio antenna.....he said it worked perfectly. |
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That's an interesting idea. Does the ground side of the coaxial antenna cable need to be grounded near the window?
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Leviathan
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JAN 10, 11:54 AM
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Leviathan
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JAN 10, 12:00 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by tshark:
This may be of help. There is also a hidden antenna on ebay. I used one in a previous Fiero.
I don't have answers to your questions. |
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Tshark, thanks for the link! I saw that as i was doing some research. Thats a really slick way of hiding the antenna. Unfortunately, im too lazy to do that work... Thats an awesome job they did.
Ill try to figure out why the photos didnt post correctly... If you click on the error messages, it will take you to the photos in PhotoBucket. Also, i should have this project finished by tomorrow and i will show my mounting bracket and antenna placement.
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Patrick
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JAN 10, 02:49 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Leviathan:
Ill try to figure out why the photos didnt post correctly... If you click on the error messages, it will take you to the photos in PhotoBucket.
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The preferred method of posting images here is PIP... and the images will never disappear from the posts/threads.
I didn't hide my antenna, but I started out with the same problem as you (as discussed in this thread - Antenna replacement). Might be something in there that could be helpful to you.
| quote | Originally posted by Alibi:
You don't have to remove the cable (from the car), it just plugs into the base. It is stubborn so spray it with some penetrant first and then twist it off, don't yank or else you might pull the end apart.
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
I picked up a Formula last year that had the stud broken off the antenna base. With everything else I've been doing with this car, fixing this issue was low on my list of priorities... so I've suffered for the last year with very limited radio reception (no antenna).
I finally decided to fix this, and I was very happy to read the above post and realize that the coax cable did NOT need to be removed from inside the car. 
Sure enough, the coax cable just sort of twisted/pulled off the base. Did the opposite to attach it to a good base from one of my parts cars. I've got a zillion radio stations to listen to now!
I love this forum. Special thanks to Alibi for the info quoted above. 
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Leviathan
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JAN 10, 04:51 PM
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Thanks Patrick, ill try to correct my images using PIP sometime in the next day.
Thankfully i tried to pull the coax cable out of the antenna base before i decided just to cut the coax cable at the antenna base. You are right, you dont have to pull the entire cable through the frame right in front of the door.
I just need to pick up a few parts to finish the relocation. Im very pleased that all you really need to do is loosen the quarter panel enough to pull it away from the frame to be able to have enough access to mount the antenna. Ive seen way to many forums were they have taken the entire quarter panel and wheel well cover off.
I reserved the first post so that i can go back and post a tutorial along with a wiring diagram, etc.
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Raydar
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JAN 10, 10:10 PM
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I don't know if this was mentioned elsewhere, but you should put a piece of plastic tubing over the antenna. If the metal mast touches the spaceframe it will likely kill the signal.
Also, having the antenna in close proximity to the spaceframe will tend to shadow the signal, and make the antenna very directional. (Sounds like you already know that.)
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