I really want to add a power antenna to my car but I can't spend a small fortune so I'm looking at universal antennas. For a universal antenna can I use a factory power antenna base with a universal antenna? Anyone running a universal power antenna, what's the best one to get that will fit?

 

Well, thats a tricky one. I have an 87 Trans Am and it had a power antenna that broke, so I bought a universal one that said it would fit and guess what? It did not. I'm not a 100% sure if the Camaros are like the Firebirds in the fenders, but the base of the mast has to be around 1ft long. Since the motor unit sits about halfway down the wheel well. The base of the mast of the universal unit was about 3-4in short. So I left it off. I actually think it looks better without the antenna. I bought an interior antenna that sticks to the top of my windshield instead...

 

i got one of those universal power antennas from the autoparts store, and yes it didnt fit in the front fender, so what i did was fill the hole and made it in the rear. Its where the tool box is and the tool box fit in there as well so it worked.

 

Alright so how does the factory antenna actually mount to the car? It looks like the shaft the antenna retracts into has threads in the inside of it and you just set the bezel in place and screw the nut into the shaft of the antenna assembly and then use the bracket to mount the antenna to the car?

 

The problem isn't the antenna gadget itself, but the length of the part where the antenna sinks into...
here is a regular, universal kit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/POWER...89503560QQrdZ1
and here is the one specific to our cars
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corve...94845459QQrdZ1
if you look at the above one for our cars, you'll notice that the antenna housing itself is about 1ft long as oppose to only 6-7in of the universal...

 

So the universal one is to short?

 

where did you pick up the one for the windsheild?

 

Yup, pretty much

 

I bought it at the autoparts store. I can't remember if it was Autozone or Advance Auto Parts. I tried finding a pic on the internet, but I was not able, it looks something like this, it just attatches with suction cups across the top of the windshield...
http://cgi.ebay.com/SCANNER-ANTENNA-...em140093619752

 

Alright. Are 4th gen antennas too short as well? Do they mount to the car in the same way as the third gen antennas (bezel and then the nut that screws into the antenna shaft)? I think 4th gen antennas changed in 98 but I'm not totally sure.

 

I'm not sure, I haven't seen a 4th Gen antenna. But I'd recommend the windshield antenna if possible. Simply for asthetics. Because they both work great...Check this out..., here is my Trans Am (antennaless) in between 2 other Firebirds that still have their antennas. Like I sad, purely looks...

 

I know it looks better antenna less but I don't have money to have a big hole in my fender filled in and repainted. With the power antenna you can barely see it so it's the next best thing.

 

I know what you mean, I still have the hole and it hasn't been covered up . So there is about an inch hole in my fender. Most people don't even notice it. Hopefully I'll have $ to fill it in. Like I said before, the only reason its there is because I bought a universal power antenna and it did not fit. I also severely damaged the previous antenna so I couldn't put it back. So I just left it there, open...

 

I'm going to go check out the universal antenna I saw in Auto Zone and see how tall it is. I seem to remember it being pretty tall and thin. If its returnable I think I'll go ahead and pick it up and try it. When I made another power antenna thread last year someone mentioned getting an antenna from AZ and it fit. I never even thought about fitment problems, my concern was the bezel being able to cover the paint void left by the stocker.

 

If my car never had a power antenna...but I want to add one, can I just nab a GM one that was meant to fit? Or will my car be missing the parts needed to install it. I hate having to get a wrench and take off my antenna every time I want to cover my car....

Justin

 

i need to fix my power antenna too.
i'm a little confused on what part is "to short". i hate buying wrong parts!
besides a "gm" part (which are $$$$), is there a universal one that will work?

 

You can also get a factory Windshield antenna. From 82-86 some of the exported cars got the antenna mounted in the windshield. Since the windshields for our cars are all identical I have considered doing this...

John

 

Got a part number? Or do I have to go deal with the geniuses over at the dealership? haha. That sounds like a good idea. Im not all about welding the hole shut and repainting though. Im sure I could come up with something decent to dress that area up in the mean time though...



J.

 

Well I went ahead and bought the antenna Auto Zone carries and it looks like it'll work. It's just over a foot long and it looks like one of the bases will work. The model number is AW-PW22 and most Auto Zones will have it in stock. Here's the picture off AZ's web site:



That relay box may have to be relocated but the main part looks like it'll end up being right where the fender sticks out the most.

 

That might work. The only potential problem is the top of that motor hitting the bottom of a first sheetmetal plate in the fender. I believe thats where I ran into problems...
This is sort of what you can expect...

 

THe problem is that GM is also selling a "Universal" antenna for our cars now. I am not sure what needs to be done to install it, but its not the same as the one I bought 4 years ago.

John

 

When I called House of Camaro to see if they had any factory antennas he basically said that an aftermarket universal antenna is just as good as the one GM will charge an arm and a leg for because it's still made in Taiwan.

Its raining today but I'm still going to see if I can get the fender well out in the garage and see if I can get this in.

 

Well guys it looks like our only option for a power antenna is to find a stocker. This one won't fit either. There are two holes in the inner fender that the antenna has to go through and the motor on this antenna hits. Making the holes bigger would definately work but that would be a big chore since the fender would need to come off which means the hood hinge and ground effect need to be out of the way. I'm just going to box this one back up and return it and buy some more of those damn plastic push pins that hold the plastic on since I had to cut off every one of them.

 

What did you end up doing with the hole? Did you put the stocker back in or left it open? I still have my "universal" power antenna that I'm trying to get rid of. Anyone want a "universal" power antenna for a non F-body?

 

I re-painted the faded stock bezel and put the stocker back on.

 

Sounds cool. Good luck finding one that fits. And if you do, let us know!

 

I may have found one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MakeTrack=true. I e-mailed the seller and asked for some measurements. He told me the entire thing is about 14" long and the retracted mast tip to the black plastic body was 8.5"-9". Unless my measurement is wrong there's about 5" from the bottom hole in the fender to the top so this should fit. I'm trying to see if the guy can send me pictures of the 5 mounting bases. Since he's somewhat local maybe I can go check it out before I buy it.

Oh, and is there any easy way to get those plastic push pins out? I shouldn't have out them back in but I did so if I do pick up that antenna I'll need to get them back out and I just bought them so I don't want to cut them off again if I don't have to. I also almost screwed up my paint really bad trying to cut them off.

 

To remove the push pins, I take a pair of wire cutters, and use them to pry the center section out... Don't cut them off... It works great

JOhn

 

 

Alright I'll try that when I try this again. I tried pulling them out the first time but the metal on the fender just bent. I'm probably going to wait a little while longer on this and buy a couple small things I want first and then save up my money for some sub-frame connectors.

 

SFC on a V-6? What kind of power are you running from that thing?

 

It's mostly stock but I like to take turns as fast as possible and I'd like the car to stay in one piece and I don't like how much the body twists so I'm going to put an end to it. Plus when I have money a nice LS1 will be going under the hood so they'll be needed then too. I'm slowly working on upgrading everything else I'll need/want when I do the LS1 swap. Appearance is pretty much done and the suspension is almost done. I was going to wait on the brakes and take those from the donor car but I've had enough of these shitty 3rd gen brakes so after SFCs I'll be saving for some nice brakes for the front and a 4 wheel disk prop valve to adjust those rear disks and I'll worry about upgrading the rear when I have a donor car to take the entire rear end from.

 

Sounds pretty cool. I myself would love an LS1. But, depending how much I get back with taxes, I might get an LT1. But I don't know yet. I should get SFC too, but I'll probably start on my suspension. A good 4th Gen rear would be nice too. Disc breaks already included. I hope I get a nice fat check!