Not a new idea - inspired by photos of Skitime's car, mostly. FWIW:

For a "cleaner," more symmetrical look, I deleted the antenna from my 1986 gold Fiero SE. Since I had to remove the RF fender (to repair "guardrail rash" ) anyway, thought it a good time to give this a try.

Unscrewed antenna mast from the base, removed the fender (which just bolts on, save a couple of big annoying aluminum rivets at the bottom). Snipped the shielded aerial wire off at the antenna base fitting (bolts on with 3 screws), and took the antenna base fitting off the car.

For a functional antenna, I fished about 36" of lightweight, plastic-insulated wire up into the RHS "A" pillar, and connected it to the center of the shielded aerial wire. The top of the wire ends up approximately at the roof level (assuming it didn't kink back!), and I had daubed a little RTV onto the end of the wire so it wouldn't ground out. Also, used small vacuum line on the wire to protect it where it passes over the frame on its way to the "A" pillar.

To my delight, the radio reception seems to be as good with the wire antenna, as it was with the original antenna! For now, the fender is a Bondo "plaster disaster," waiting to be sanded (and filled and sanded, etc., etc.), and painted, but installed it on the car temporarily... the "antennaless look" really appeals to me!

Why not just do it like skitime did? A whole lot easier.

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Ray · Email Me · Fierosite.com · Fiero Chat! ·

Id also recommend cleaning off the inside around the hole too, rough it up with sandpaper and put a piece of glass cloth soaked in resin so it wont just pop back out.

Thought Skitime mounted the OE antenna under the fender? Nothing wrong with that. Just wanted to put it up as high as practical, for best reception. Next hilly road trip, we'll see how it does.

Addendum: As a matter of fact, rogergarrison, I did exactly as you suggested...after filling the hole the first time, and then having a neat little plug of the filler pop right out of the hole !

[This message has been edited by StuGood (edited 08-16-2002).]

i used a sticky inside window antenna on my back window... was $60 from tweeter.com when i removed my antenna a few years ago..

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: Id also recommend cleaning off the inside around the hole too, rough it up with sandpaper and put a piece of glass cloth soaked in resin so it wont just pop back out.

That's how I did mine too... work's really well too!
You can see it in my sig.
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Under Construction.... Still!!

SmoothFieroGT@Yahoo.com

[This message has been edited by Smoooooth GT (edited 08-16-2002).]

I removed mine completely a year ago. I have a cd changer and don't listen to the radio much anyways. I still get all my favorite Toronto stations. Looks hella better in my opinion!

i used the rear glass defroster grid myself which brings to mind I need to do that to the vette too since the antenna on its broke.

Good work. Lets see some pics. Just for comparision here is a link to my design. Reception works great too.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/018980.html

[This message has been edited by skitime (edited 08-17-2002).]

I put a Zendar hidden antenna in the center of the roof panel (no sunroof0 of mine while the headliner was out.

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John DuRette
85 SE

-rogergarrison

How did you connect your antenna to the rear defroster? pics? I am looking for a way to delete the antenna and was considering skitime's method, but the rear defroster idea sounds pretty cool.

Thanks

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killerb15:
Think if you eliminate all other connections to defroster, all you have to do is connect the center of the aerial cable to the defroster wire in the back glass.

Skitime:
Didn't ignore your post requesting pictures... I don't have digital camera, so have to wait until film is used up/developed/scanned.

UPDATE: Had fender off again. Decided to run an additional wire forward, under the fender, connected to the shield in the aerial wire, to form a hidden "dipole" type antenna -basically creating a set of "rabbit ears."

This moved improved reception; not an audible change, but the radio picked up and stopped on a particular weak station when in "seek" mode - a station that it used to pass by, even with the mast antenna.

ya, you have to disconnect it as a 'defroster' never used it in 5 years anyway. just connect the 'center' wire to one of the grid connectors and the surrounding outside wire to a chassis ground.
In saying center wire and outside wire, Im referring to the antenna cable.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 09-05-2002).]

Hey guys, I thought Bondo was a "no-no" on the flexible body panels. Given that the hole is reinforced and backed-up with 'glass, is plastic body filler OK or is the urethane bumper repair stuff better?

So... I guess a rear-defroster-antenna cannot also be a rear window defroster. Damn, cuz it gets pretty foggy in a car during winter up here in Canada unless you have a defogger.

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I live in Ohio, not as cold as Canada, but I never had my windows fog up except the front and I drive my car year round. The engine gets the glass almost to hot too touch. But that could possiblly be because of the shape of rebody since i dont have a normal Fiero decklid.

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