Greetings from BC Canada HELP A Damsel in Distress

[Vette Gal]

I have a 82 Vette Collector's Edition and just joined your forum so forgive me if I am not in the correct site.
My car is all original and in A+ condition, we started showing her in Car Shows and have won a few trophies
already.
I just have one little problem with the Baby, the power antenna is shot... I ordered a power antenna from Mid
America and when I took the car in to my Vette specialist he said they were a pain to put in..can someone out there help me....why such a problem with the installation on the 82 CE...do I have to rip out carpeting to get at the wiring? That I don't wish to do!
Any and ALL help would be greatly appreciated. Please
explain in layman's term as I am a blonde. Thanks so
much to all who reply.

 

[XLR8]

Hi Vette Gal and welcome to the !!

Although we're pretty informal here about what goes in what forum, I'd be more concerned that your responses would be limited if this thread stays in the new member forum.

For that reason, I'm going to move it to the C3 section so that it will receive more attention.

Good luck with your issue!
Jane Ann

 

[White75]

You should be able to loosen a few interior panels and pull the carpet back a little bit to reach the antenna. On my 75 I can pull back a corner of the carpet and reach it. However, I don't have the big expanse of back glass. Hope someone else can help you out with specifics to the 82. I will be the first to recommend getting the AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual) which is basically the instruction book on how GM built your vette. They can be found on eBay or any respectable Corvette parts supplier.
Good Luck!

 

[Hib Halverson]

(snip)
I just have one little problem with the Baby, the power antenna is shot... I ordered a power antenna from Mid
America and when I took the car in to my Vette specialist he said they were a pain to put in..can someone out there help me....why such a problem with the installation on the 82 CE...do I have to rip out carpeting to get at the wiring? That I don't wish to do!

Welcome to the CAC "VetteGal".

If your Vette "specialist" says it's a "pain" to replace, take his/her word for it and assume that it will be a difficult job for a DIY. I believe, the antenna replacement is not acomiplished from inside the car. It's up, inside the left rear fender. My guess is it's accessed either throught he tail light holes (ie: you remove the lights) or by removing the tire, removing any "inner fender" hardware.

While my Wife and I own an 82CE, we've never replaced the antenna assy so that's why I'm guessing at some of this.

The Factory Service Manual for the 82 Vette will have details of the procedure. You can obtain an FSM from vendors such as Corvette Central.

 

[TJay]

I had to replace the antenna on one of our vettes, I removed the rear tire and inner wheel fender to get at it. From inside the car it would very hard to reach and install the hardware with one hand because of the limited space.
Good Luck & Welcome to CAC

 

[7t9shark]

Hi Vette Gal,

I have a '79 with a power antenna and, yes it is a pain to get at, because it is outside under the fender between the muffler and fender well. I have never done it, but I can tell you that you have to do it from under the car. That means putting it up on a hoist or ramps.

I can't get to my Vette to verify it, because it's tucked away real good in the shed. However, I have an assembly manual and promise to look it over tomorrow and get back to you with more details. (it's almost midnight and -16C in Minneapolis right now!)

Cheers,

A.J.

 

[mkapp7879]

I've removed MANY power antennas on 78/79 Vettes, same as on your 82.
Helps to remove the driver side muffler. I like to disconnect the rear Y pipe at the cat convertor and remove it as an assembly, both mufflers and the Y. But for the "slimline" antenna not absolutely necessary.
Only one bolt holds the antenna on to a bracket at the bottom. The top is held on by the chrome bezel at the top of the fender. If it's "correct" it will be round with slots around the perimeter. A long nose pliers works well to remove it. It shouldn't be real tight because it's on the paint surface with no gasket.
The co/ax cable screws into the antenna mast, unscrew that from underneath.
Behind the driver side rear speaker there may or not be a connector for the 3 wires that power the up and down. If no connector you need to follow it to the relay, which in 82s I believe is in the jack compartment under the tray. Not sure on this cause in my 78/79s the relay is under the center console all the way to the rear. Not sure if it's worth the effort if no connector as you can just cut and resplice the 3 wires(don't call me Bubba).
The rubber grommet in the inner fender can be sliced lengthwise after pulling it out to get the wires back in if necessary.

PS, send me your original power antenna and I can probably fix it!

 

[82ColEd]

I've removed MANY power antennas on 78/79 Vettes, same as on your 82.
Helps to remove the driver side muffler. I like to disconnect the rear Y pipe at the cat convertor and remove it as an assembly, both mufflers and the Y. But for the "slimline" antenna not absolutely necessary.
Only one bolt holds the antenna on to a bracket at the bottom. The top is held on by the chrome bezel at the top of the fender. If it's "correct" it will be round with slots around the perimeter. A long nose pliers works well to remove it. It shouldn't be real tight because it's on the paint surface with no gasket.
The co/ax cable screws into the antenna mast, unscrew that from underneath.
Behind the driver side rear speaker there may or not be a connector for the 3 wires that power the up and down. If no connector you need to follow it to the relay, which in 82s I believe is in the jack compartment under the tray. Not sure on this cause in my 78/79s the relay is under the center console all the way to the rear. Not sure if it's worth the effort if no connector as you can just cut and resplice the 3 wires(don't call me Bubba).
The rubber grommet in the inner fender can be sliced lengthwise after pulling it out to get the wires back in if necessary.

PS, send me your original power antenna and I can probably fix it!

What he said..

Vette Gal,
Welcome to another 82CE here. Nice car, but i am biased.

Would you mind registering your car at the 82 CE Registry as well, please? We're trying to round up any and all CE we can.. Thanks in Advance!


Good luck with the repair of the antenna..


-Stefan

 

[6880 Mike]

...Helps to remove the driver side muffler....

Yep. The muffler is in the way. PITA. Your mechanic was being honest.

Welcome!

 

[Vette Gal]

What he said..

Vette Gal,
Welcome to another 82CE here. Nice car, but i am biased.

Would you mind registering your car at the 82 CE Registry as well, please? We're trying to round up any and all CE we can.. Thanks in Advance!


Good luck with the repair of the antenna..


-Stefan

Hi Stefan,,thanks for the welcome, we registered on the
82CE Registry a long time ago and it is outdated, and I can't seem to find a spot on the site where we can update our info, i.e, email address, change of address
and since it has been awhile I don't even have my
sign in name or password..:duh...........let me know please
how I can update our address and such. tks Vette Gal

 

[Yoda]

Vette Gal & Welcome to the Corvette Action Center Community..

Does you Antenna make any noise at all, like maybe you hear the motor but the mast doesn't move? or is it completely noiseless (dead)?

I would think you or your mech. have checked the fuze and the connections at the radio and relay

It is not uncommon for the plastic belt inside the antenna mast to break, and cause the antenna not to operate. Usually you will hear the motor run when the radio is turned on

As said above by others, the antenna motor and assy. is located on the driverside rear mounted to the fender. Access is from underneath and the muffler is RIGHT IN THE WAY.. Once the muffler is out of the way, replacement of the assy is pretty easy

Bud

 

[tgauld1]

I've removed MANY power antennas on 78/79 Vettes, same as on your 82.
Helps to remove the driver side muffler. I like to disconnect the rear Y pipe at the cat convertor and remove it as an assembly, both mufflers and the Y. But for the "slimline" antenna not absolutely necessary.
Only one bolt holds the antenna on to a bracket at the bottom. The top is held on by the chrome bezel at the top of the fender. If it's "correct" it will be round with slots around the perimeter. A long nose pliers works well to remove it. It shouldn't be real tight because it's on the paint surface with no gasket.
The co/ax cable screws into the antenna mast, unscrew that from underneath.
Behind the driver side rear speaker there may or not be a connector for the 3 wires that power the up and down. If no connector you need to follow it to the relay, which in 82s I believe is in the jack compartment under the tray. Not sure on this cause in my 78/79s the relay is under the center console all the way to the rear. Not sure if it's worth the effort if no connector as you can just cut and resplice the 3 wires(don't call me Bubba).
The rubber grommet in the inner fender can be sliced lengthwise after pulling it out to get the wires back in if necessary.

PS, send me your original power antenna and I can probably fix it!

mkapp my 1980 has an antenna problem. My antenna got hit with a football so it is slightly bent preventing it from going all the way down (plus the reception sucks now). Do you think you know how to fix that? I appreciate any help or advice that you can give me!

Troy

 

[Vette Gal]

That's exactly what happened to the antenna

Vette Gal & Welcome to the Corvette Action Center Community..

Does you Antenna make any noise at all, like maybe you hear the motor but the mast doesn't move? or is it completely noiseless (dead)?

I would think you or your mech. have checked the fuze and the connections at the radio and relay

It is not uncommon for the plastic belt inside the antenna mast to break, and cause the antenna not to operate. Usually you will hear the motor run when the radio is turned on

As said above by others, the antenna motor and assy. is located on the driverside rear mounted to the fender. Access is from underneath and the muffler is RIGHT IN THE WAY.. Once the muffler is out of the way, replacement of the assy is pretty easy

Bud

Exactly, what you describe is just the way my antenna
died..........you could hear the motor running but the mast wouldn't go up and down, so I just cut the wire which makes the antenna go up and down, and now I have to leave the antenna up all the time...it still provides reception, but it would be so much better .
if I could push the mast down manually. which it won't do....from the posts folks are providing it looks like I have a JOB ahead of myself, oh woe is me..... I am most worried about the body of the car while removing the old antenna and replacing it with the new one...I don't want the body of the back fender to get scratched or marked in anyway since there is no type of seal between the antenna and the body...........does this make any sense?
A simple thing like replacing an antenna appears to be a major job, which I didn't think would happen:cry
thanks for taking the time to reply...Vette Gal

 

[mkapp7879]

mkapp my 1980 has an antenna problem. My antenna got hit with a football so it is slightly bent preventing it from going all the way down (plus the reception sucks now). Do you think you know how to fix that? I appreciate any help or advice that you can give me!

Troy

How SLIGHTLY bent? At all creased? I've successfullt tweeked a couple of masts straight again but not if it's more than just bowed.
It's a matter of taking it apart down to the individual mast sections and carefully rolling them out. New mast sections are pretty much impossible to find.
I did once transferr mast sections from a later model to a 78/early79 antenna, but I needed to shorten one of them. At the time it was a matter of happening to have the late model antenna and it happened to fit the earlier one. It wasn't something I knew to find.
I do have an original antenna out of a low mile 81 that I needed to replace the nylon leader on. I've been hanging on to it til I replace the harness on it as it's been cut. I'd sell it for $80 shipped as is, you'd just need to reattach the wires. I think there's about 6" of wire there now.
Or send me yours if the mast isn't creased, I'll see what I can do with it. I'd just want shipping $.



Vette Gal, if your mechanic thinks it's such a BIG job, find a better one!
It CAN be accessed without removing the muffler. Or even try just removing the rear most clamps on both the muffler hangers and letting them hang down.

 

[mkapp7879]

I am most worried about the body of the car while removing the old antenna and replacing it with the new one...I don't want the body of the back fender to get scratched or marked in anyway since there is no type of seal between the antenna and the body..........
+

Try removing the chrome bezel. I think you'll be surprised to find it's not real tight.
Once that's off, nobody even needs to be near your paint anymore.

 

[tgauld1]

How SLIGHTLY bent? At all creased? I've successfullt tweeked a couple of masts straight again but not if it's more than just bowed.
It's a matter of taking it apart down to the individual mast sections and carefully rolling them out. New mast sections are pretty much impossible to find.
I did once transferr mast sections from a later model to a 78/early79 antenna, but I needed to shorten one of them. At the time it was a matter of happening to have the late model antenna and it happened to fit the earlier one. It wasn't something I knew to find.
I do have an original antenna out of a low mile 81 that I needed to replace the nylon leader on. I've been hanging on to it til I replace the harness on it as it's been cut. I'd sell it for $80 shipped as is, you'd just need to reattach the wires. I think there's about 6" of wire there now.
Or send me yours if the mast isn't creased, I'll see what I can do with it. I'd just want shipping $.



Vette Gal, if your mechanic thinks it's such a BIG job, find a better one!
It CAN be accessed without removing the muffler. Or even try just removing the rear most clamps on both the muffler hangers and letting them hang down.

I'll take my antenna off this weekend and take some pictures so you can see if it is fixable.

 

[82ColEd]

Hi Stefan,,thanks for the welcome, we registered on the
82CE Registry a long time ago and it is outdated, and I can't seem to find a spot on the site where we can update our info, i.e, email address, change of address
and since it has been awhile I don't even have my
sign in name or password..:duh...........let me know please
how I can update our address and such. tks Vette Gal

Sent you a PM, as to not sidetrack this any further..

Now back to your scheduled Antenna Thread..

 

[jdp6000]

Its not that tough of a job if you have an original antenna. The problem today is everything sold is Universal and aftermarket. You need to add spacers that come with the antenna to adjust height. You will also need to use the universal mounting bracket. Unless Mid America has come up with an exact match.

As for the inside the car. You need to move the rear driverside speaker. Its easy. Then pull the carpet back to find the electrical connector.

I was lucky. I have a friend that owns a scap yard. Trial and error. I used the Delco antenna froma 1994 Cadillac...its identical but a bit shorter in the length. To compensate I used the trim ring from a late 90's Mercury Mystique...its longer and sold crome.

Jim