Radio Replacement / Power Antenna

[gambit]

Hey guys, new Vette owner and glad to join the club. Thanks for the help on the heater fan issue!

I wondered if the Antenna was supposed to be apower one and work with the radio on and off switch? Seems like it should be. I also am going to replace the old dial type radio with a DIN type stereo. Can anybody offer any suggestions as to how this can be done? Im sure many have done so already. Is there much chop work? Does anybody know of a wood dash panel kit that is already cut for the DIN style or will I have to cut that as well?

Its a 1981

 

[TJay]

I really can't say on the 81, but on my 79 the antenna goes up when my key is in the on position, and as expected down when off. Now for your radio bezel, you can do 2 things. One buy a new one for the newer radios, or you can use a dremel and cut the one you have now. I think most save the original bezel/radio and buy new ones. I still have the original in my cars, and run a new system in my glove box, or under my seat pending the year. My 71 - 72 & 76 have no glove box, so it's under the seat using a remote control

 

[jdp6000]

Welcome to Corvette Action Center. You can replace the radio with just about anything. My suggestion is to adapt the existing harness to fit the new radio. I wouldn't cut the plug right off. Its nice to have it there as original. If your car originally came with a power antenna there should be a relay under one of the storage compartment trays in the back. You'll see the big antenna wire there....wires will run to the existing radio. If it didn't you can adapt for a power antenna most new after market ones have the relay on the power antenna motor. Getting the power antenna unit in is pretty tough...you may have to drop the drivers side muffler.

Jim

 

[srs244]

one of the original leads that make up the plug(s) that go in the original radio should be for the power antenna if so equipped. i'm not certain, but i would think that by 79 all antenna applications were power. there are several harness kits that are available that will adapt the original 12 (if you had a 4 speaker stereo set up as opposed to 2 speaker set up) harness radio terminal end plugs to a modern DIN or other radio if that's the way you chose to go. i would certain use one and leave the harness as in tact as possible. i believe that the power antenna worked off the radio on/off function, not the ignition, hence the antenna hot lead to the rear of the radio. if someone changed out the power antenna along the way (and used an after market one, no matter how good a one it is or was), chances are that the antenna cable has also be changed out as the original had an unusual fitting that was unique to it and not universal to other antennas if i remember correctly. and it is a bear to get to if you have a stock under car exhaust system as it is very tight in the rear fender cavities with the mufflers mounted.

by the way, welcome to CAC, it's a great place with great folks who are very unselfish when it comes to helping out.

steve

 

[91-Vetteman]

Radio & Power Antenna Replacement

Hi and welcome to the forum. I have had my 81 for about 3 years and last year's winter project was to replace the radio and install a power antenna, it had a fixed antenna in place. I bought a modern Corvette radio which fit into the existing bezel and wired the antenna to work off of the power side, radio off - antenna down, radio on - antenna up. Good luck !! John
PS - where in VA are you from ??

 

[gambit]

Norfolk!

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! Any other tips you have for my restore? Im gonna do carpet and seats, put that heat sheild under the carpets. stereo and speakers and a wood dash kit for starters.

 

[bill81vette]

welcome to CAC!!!
I to have an'81 and my antenna goes up and down with the key going on and off as well as rhe radio going on and off....but bubba replaced the original with an after market and butchered the wiring!!! ad
be sure to check out the l-81 registry and register your '81 and post some pics when you get a chance!!!!

 

[jdp6000]

Just something to keep in mind. The Delco antenna out of a 1994 to 1996 Cadillac is identical except for the length its about 1/4 to short. The crome trim ring out of a 1997 Mercury Sable is a perfect fit for the C3. I went this route. I found all the aftermarket antenna's to be junk.

Jim

 

[srs244]

Just something to keep in mind. The Delco antenna out of a 1994 to 1996 Cadillac is identical except for the length its about 1/4 to short. The crome trim ring out of a 1997 Mercury Sable is a perfect fit for the C3. I went this route. I found all the aftermarket antenna's to be junk.

Jim

jim,
that's very helpful information! thanks for posting it.

steve

 

[gambit]

Update On Power Antenna

I was looking under the car a week ago and noticed that it is a power antenna under the drivers side rear wheel well. It looks like there is enough room to get in there and replace it if needed, hate to do that though.

Today when I was replacing teh old stock non working speakers, I saw a large plug behind the drivers side rear speaker when I took it out, it had several wires going to it and it was unplugged. I said hummmmmm lets plug this up and see where it went. I could hear the power antenna motor turning when I plugged it up. (keep in mind the key was not even in the switch) I walked out, turned the key, turned the stereo and nothing it just kept on running, but didnt go up or down, its been up since I bought it. I tried a gentle push to help get it started nothing, i tried a gentle pull to help get it started, nothing. What do you think could be the issue with it?
1. it shouldt run alllll the time, even with the key not in the switch.
2. it should go up and down, but it doesnt.

I guess I know why they unplugged it now hehehe. Some neighborhood kids already slightly bent the antenna at the tip, Id love to get this fixed before they strike again.

 

[mkapp7879]

Typical broken nylon leader in the mast. The top mast section has a long nylon tail on it that rolls up on a spool. Usually break from drying out, becoming like an uncooked spaghetti noodle. The running when you plugged it in is normal, antenna trying to go back down when the radio or ignition is turned off. There are limit switches in the motor that tell it when to shut off. The leader is replaceable but it doesn't help matters if your mast is bent, too. Most of the Corvette parts places now sell an "original style" power antenna for late79-82s that actually appears correct. Mike Edit: if it's just the very tip, just the smallest mast section, that is bent then it is fixable. The small mast section is part of the nylon leader.

 

[srs244]

i haven't attacked mine yet, so i can't tell you if the case can be opened to repair it, but it needs to be if you are to remove all the bits and pieces of the spline (the nylon tail) that is probably broken up inside it. once that is done, it's usually just a matter of feeding the replacement mast (with new spline attached) down into the antenna body to get it to re-spool and function once again. there are many after market "exact" replacements, but if memory serves me correctly they almost all do not have the factory antenna cable fitting and it must be changed out. personally i like the idea of trying to secure a cadillac interchange item if it is the same as it should be easier to obtain (only 10 or so years old vs. 30+ years old) and it might even prove to be a bit more reliable from a technological stand point, but that's just a guess on my part.

 

[mkapp7879]

srs242, I'd suggest keeping and rebuilding your 78 antenna if possible. 78-e79 were the only years to use this aluminum case unit with the rather crude style trimmed out hole in the fender. I've seen those plastic hole inserts go for over $100 on ebay! The later GM "replacements" use the chrome bezel on the fender that never looks good on the 78 because of the angle of the fender. Late79 up had a flat spot to accomodate the bezel. The 79-82 plastic housing antenna is easy to fix once you drill out the 4 rivets. Probably easier than the 78s. Open it up, pull the top mast section down through the other mast sections(after removing the tip), insert the new mast section with the nylon leader up from below, hook the hook to the spool and close it back up again. Replace the rivets with small screws and nuts. Bench test it through a few ups and downs and it will reset itself. The 78 is similar except uses a pinchwheel to feed the nylon leader up and down, you clip off the metal hook. And you need to remove the innards to get at the broken leader in the "spool". But again, run it up and down a few times and it will reset itself. Hardest part for me has been removing the tip as some are crimped on instead of screwed on. Will give a tip on that if needed. Mike

 

[jdp6000]

Before I replaced mine. I did open it up. The nylon spline was broken. The problem was I couldn't find a replacement for the spline. New ones were all different in size. I kept mine. If anyone does find a spline that fits let use know. I can tell you my firends own several scrap yards and I must have ripped apart 50 antennas looking for a match...no luck.

The problem with aftermarket is they are "universal". They all require a bracket. Boy do they look cheap too....

I have an 82 Vette so my spot for the antenna is perfectly flat. Thats why I needed the trime ring off the 1997 Mercury Sable. It was longer and able to make up for the shortness of the 94-96 Delco antenna.

Interesting that the 1978 fender is on an angle. The 94-96 Cadillac Delco antenna is built for an angle install. Its why I couldn't use the Cadillac trim rings on mine....I don't have an angle. Do you have access to a "help yourself scrap yard"???

Jim

 

[jdp6000]

I bought this http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=29285&dept_id=1425

Didn't work. I couldn't get the old one out.

Here is probably what you need. http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=46526&dept_id=1104

Jim

 

[mkapp7879]

I bought this http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=29285&dept%5Fid=1425

Didn't work. I couldn't get the old one out.

Jim

That should work. Did you try to remove the mast section from the bottom after removing the tip? It won't pull up from the top like newer ones do. Mike

 

[jdp6000]

Mike, For what ever reason it was jammed in there. I ended up taking the antenna out and dismantling it. Still no luck. So i just replaced the entire thing.

Jim

 

[Bills money pit]

Just something to keep in mind. The Delco antenna out of a 1994 to 1996 Cadillac is identical except for the length its about 1/4 to short. The crome trim ring out of a 1997 Mercury Sable is a perfect fit for the C3. I went this route. I found all the aftermarket antenna's to be junk.

Jim

What about the wiring to the orginal lead?

 

[jdp6000]

I can't remember if the plug was the same. I think it was. The reason I seem to think this is because the relay is in the rear storage compartment and the wiring runs to it. The body shop put the antenna in while they had the rear bumper off.


I read somewhere that the 80 or 81 or both had a slight slop where the antenna comes out. On the 82 its perfectly flush so the Sable trim ring worked for me. It won't work on a sloped install.

Jim

 

[Mr. Chuck]

My 81 came with pwr antenna, which works off the radio on/off knob. The original unit had the nylon cord that moves the mast up & down, but brakes often, especially if you live where summers are hot (nylon dries out faster), even if the car is in doors at night. I replaced the mast part several times over the years. Finally just left it up, after it broke the last time and cut the pwr wire to halt the motor that will run forever, since the limit switch is never engaged. Last Oct 2005, got tired of the limited station / tuning ability and replaced antenna assy with one from Mid-Americam Motor Works. If you go this route and the new antenna has built-in control relay like theirs, you will have to modify wiring at the relay (to by-pass the OEM relay) and the wiring going to the antenna. The OEM relay is located in the jack compartment (rear deck area) behind the passenger seat. I have the shop manual for the 81 if you need wiring information, I can e-mail you wiring diagram.