I ended up snaping the antenna off of my car, and before I just go out and buy a new mast, I was wondering what other options I had, maybe something to make it more sleek, or even like a wire along the back window. any links or pictures would help.

Thanks,

You can do what Fiero1Fan did and install it in the fender:

that wont affect the signal?

No idea how well it would work but I've heard people use the rear defrost grid as an antenna. That's of course if you don't need it or plan to use it.

I removed my antenna and pushed it up into the A-piller. Fits perfect and signal is great. I filled the hole in the fender and all is well. Highly recommended.

I got a shorter black rubber covered on at Autozone. I would like to find a better and smaller one but the issue we face is the recessed connection. Doing the hidden ones is a great idea but involves bodywork and painting to look right. I'll be watching this thread for ideas.

quote Originally posted by sportcoupe: I removed my antenna and pushed it up into the A-piller. Fits perfect and signal is great. I filled the hole in the fender and all is well. Highly recommended.

I did the same on my last build it worked better than the one before were I laid it down along the fender.

do any of those small 3" carbon ones work? or would it work to just lay it across the spar tire bay?something that involves the least taking apart of the body?

quote Originally posted by tox1cchicken: do any of those small 3" carbon ones work? or would it work to just lay it across the spar tire bay?something that involves the least taking apart of the body?

I have one of those for my MR2. The base of those flair out and prevent the connector from reaching the stub in the recessed hole in the fender. I thinking that I might get another one and see if I can trim it to fit in.

quote Originally posted by tox1cchicken: would it work to just lay it across the spar tire bay?something that involves the least taking apart of the body?

You will need to remove the fender to move the antenna. Then you will need to fill the hole in the fender.

quote Originally posted by sportcoupe: I removed my antenna and pushed it up into the A-piller. Fits perfect and signal is great. I filled the hole in the fender and all is well. Highly recommended.

I like this idea the best!
Seems to work good? Does it rattle at all?

were in an era where you can get internet on your cellphone, but yet you still need a long rod to get radio? isn't there a more compact option?

quote Originally posted by sportcoupe: I removed my antenna and pushed it up into the A-piller. Fits perfect and signal is great. I filled the hole in the fender and all is well. Highly recommended.

I was going to try sticking it under the fender next time I had a chance to mess with my car, but that sounds great. Thanks for the tip

For those asking if the antenna inside the A-piller rattles or gets good reception I can tell you it does not rattle at all (tight fit) and the radio reception is exactly the same as when it was fender mounted. You will have to partially remove the upper part of the fender to unbolt the antenna base from the spaceframe though. It's not hard and only takes a few mins.

what is the proper way to remove the fender. and how long will it take? I want to make sure I have enough time on a nice day to do that.

I have successfully used 2 simple ways to replace the mast antenna on my Fieros. The key is to remember that all the Fiero body panels are essentially ABS plastic (i.e. nonconductors).

1. Does you Fiero have a moon roof? Since the moonroof is in a installed in a metal frame and is not grounded you can use the metal installation ring as an antenna simply connecting the radio antenna wire to the metal installation ring. I usually run the wire up the post by the passeger seat. This works quite well, and is completely unobstructed from the grounded metal frame of the vehicle.

2. For Fieros without a moonroof, I have successfully used a rubber ducky style antenna by installing the antenna under a plastic panel (e.g. front hood), but my favorite is to put the antenna on the dash behind the instrument pod. This is incredibly simple and works well even with a little bit of signal obstruction from the chassis around the passenger compartment. Surprisingly, even though the antenna is in the open area behind the instrument pod, it's just out of sight enough that noone notices. (Note, this method also works on Fiero's that have a moonroof, it's just not as slick as using the moonroof installation ring.)

g2

what do you mean by the moonroof ring? where is this, and how can I do this?

quote Originally posted by tox1cchicken: what is the proper way to remove the fender. and how long will it take? I want to make sure I have enough time on a nice day to do that.

You can remove antenna, the 5 (I think) bolts along the top and 2 bolts behind the turn signal molding and the fender will come out enough to get the antenna base off. Push the antenna up into the A-piller and re-attach the base. Fill the hole in the fender with a plastic plug or other means.

ok, I think I see the bolts.

quote Originally posted by sportcoupe: I removed my antenna and pushed it up into the A-piller. Fits perfect and signal is great. I filled the hole in the fender and all is well. Highly recommended.

Which one is the A-piller and how did you do that??

quote Originally posted by Seanpaul: Which one is the A-piller and how did you do that??

The A-piller is the vertical (well sort of) column between the door glass and windshield. It supports the roof. There are 2 A-pillers (fordward) and 2 B-pillers (rear) that hold the roof. SUV's and vans even have a C-piller because their roofs are so big.

When you pull the fender back you will see a small empty space in the center of the A-piller. Antenna goes in that empty space. It is tight fit and does not rattle. I get the same radio reception that I did with the antenna in the traditional spot.

Ohh so you're saying from out side the car, there is an empty space in the uni-body accessible once the fender is removed?
is this accessible from above or below?

The space in the center of the A-piller is accessible from below once you pull the top of the fender back.

do you access it from above the car, or from under then fender area looking up?

man i wish someone had a pic of this..

If I get a chance to get around to doing this I'll take pics.

There's a picture earlier in this thread showing the antenna laid down over the tire. If you look to the left you will see the A-piller, just push the antenna up into that empty space in the frame and reconnect the antenna base. So easy even a caveman can do it.

quote Originally posted by tox1cchicken: were in an era where you can get internet on your cellphone, but yet you still need a long rod to get radio? isn't there a more compact option?

Antenna length is a function of frequency, and the 800-900MHz or 1.8-2.1GHz of cell phone radios is MUCH higher (and shorter wavelength) than the 108MHz max of FM radio. AM uses the body of the car if I'm not mistaken, either that or a coil antenna.

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Currently in the middle of my 88 + 3800NA swap

how do the new carbon 3" antennas work?

quote Originally posted by tox1cchicken: were in an era where you can get internet on your cellphone, but yet you still need a long rod to get radio? isn't there a more compact option?

yup because the internet does not change the laws of physics.

88mhz to 108mhz needs a longer antenna, that will never change. you can get a helical wound rubber shorty but they dont work anywhere near as good as a full length vertical whip.

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Get your copy of the Fiero 25th Anniv book at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/349809

Best RV, Camper, and Trailer dealer in West Michigan. http://www.cliffstrailersales.com and he's a fiero owner too!

y father has a new charger with one of those "short" antennas on it, and the radio works better than any car I've ever been in, is there more to that than the eye can see?

Okay, let's go for a different angle. Are there any large FM antennas that have better reception than factory ones?

I live in an area where a station I enjoy listening too is right on the border of coming in clearly. It would be great to extend it a bit.
I heard there are amplifiers, but I don't know if they help strengthen the signal, or they amplify signal and noise.

quote Originally posted by sportcoupe: So easy even a caveman can do it.

Oh man, I know some cavemen that are going to be pissed at you!

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Jim Martin
White '86 GT
California

quote Originally posted by IMSA GT: You can do what Fiero1Fan did and install it in the fender:

I did this on my car as well. It does affect my signal greatley but its a good looking mod for the car. it was also done on my formula which i now have no AM/FM in. Another option would be to run an aftermarket antenna to your back window. it deletes the antenna and you still have a very strong signal. I also rear a writeup somewhere about someone hooking there antenna into there rear window defroster and it seemed to work very well but you do lose the defroster.

That's why I recommend moving the antenna to the A-piller, you still get good radio reception and a shaved antenna. Best of both worlds.

ok, I just went to do this today, but as I went to remove the fender, I couldn't figure out how to get to all the bolts I needed, any help would be nice.

I just wen and did this today, I had to go with the over the wheel method, because the antenna kept getting stuck when I tried to put it in the pillar... it works great though.

does anyone here know anything about radio wiring?

can you make the rear defroster in to an antenna?

edit searched and it sounds like you just disconnect your defrost and connect one end of the antenna wire to one side of the glass and the other wire on the other end of the glass? that sound right?

[This message has been edited by hammer18 (edited 03-17-2011).]

I guess you need a defroster to try that. :P

yeah i have a defroster haha. i guess ill just have to try it and see what happens. its either that or i feed one side of the defroster and ground the other.