First....this is NOT an ad....



But Ive had a few TA and Bird folks ask how hard it was to change from their broken power antenna to a std Camaro fixed antenna.



I was approached by "Baron Von Doolgas" to swap out his antenna...on his 1998 Formula.

Having never done it I thought it would be a good thing to know..in the past all I could tell people was that thy need ed to get a Camaro antenna and install it....not allot of help...



Total time for this project...30min...We did this swap at 6am...Marines like to wake up early



Tools:

10mm wrench and a drill motor and bit ~1/4 in...



The Complete Material List Total Cost ~25 bucks:

From GM Parts Direct
[EDIT.... THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE NUMBERS LISTED BELOW THEY WORKED FOR ME
BUT SEEMED TO HAVE CHANGED ... EDIT BitViper 11/20/2009]
Fixed mast--10425536 - The base that the new antenna mounts to.

Bezel-------10298264 / 10253391 - Not really required you can reuse your original..its the black rubber thingie

Bracket-----10282649 -- We didn't use this part

Attach bolt-11515756

https://ls1tech.com/forums/10813723-post18.html <== Link to thread with the correct numbers 08/23/2011


This is what we started with:





1. Open your rear door and remove the rear quarter panel covering the spare:





2. Remove the spare tire to expose the antenna motor:



3. Next using a crescent wrench loosen the top of the antenna base



4. next disconnect the electrical power wires an dteh antenna cable from the motor base and remove the nut at the base of the motor





A shot of the old electric base and the replacement base





5. We next trial fitted the new base in the car and marked the new base where the mounting whole on the original mounting bracket was..then unassembled it and drilled a hole for the attachment bolt. Our whole is the smaller one above the elongated one..I guess if you buy the bracket you can omit the drilling of the hole



6. Next reassemble the antenna back in the car..install the bolt and tighten. You can use a few washers to make sure that its completely vertical but we thought it wasn't necessary



7. Cap the electrical wires reconnect the antenna connection wire..

8. Replace the spare an d the plastic quarter panel stuff...



Done...I wont post that image directly cuz I don't wann get dinged by the mods....they got enough work...ignore the antenna we used..it could be any Camaro antenna

The final results

 

Wouldn't trade power antenna for anything.

 

antenna? whats that?????

 

I totally agree..but when they break..youve either got to pony up $$$ to fix it or replace it with somthing..

The cheapest fix would be to buy the complete Camaro system including the steel antenna then cut that to make a shorty antenna prolly only cost around 30 bucks..cheaper if you can find a donor Camaro jfor parts

Ive always wondered why GM jdidnt put the antenna in our big assed windshields in the first place

 

Wow... Can't believe no one has said "thanks."



Thanks for the write-up... I'm going to be faced with these decisions soon.

 

Good job man. Looks like I don't have to walk everyone thru this anymore. It's really a very simple straight forward install. I just think some get the idea it's more involved since your takin out the electric antenna.

I hated my electric antenna & it broke in the up position. I wouldn't switch back now for anything.

 

 

Step 9: Swap a BVA on that bad boy!

Awesome write-up, and I'm glad I don't have to deal with a power antenna. I actually considered the swap to a power antenna, but realized that a lot of well-used TAs had antennas that wouldn't retract or extend anymore.

 

THX!

 

Attach bolt-11515756

Thats the bolt sticking out of the bezel
(rubber thing) that you screw the new antenna onto?

 

Fixed mast--10425536 - The base that the new antenna mounts to.

This is wrong. It's for the stock camaro antenna. And now I wasted $13 + shipping, because I have a useless antenna that was dropped off at my door.

 

Isn't that what this write-up is for - switching to a stock Camaro antenna?

 

Thanks for the write up! I actually went thru this 2 days ago in my Fornula. I actually just pulled the antenna up and let it stay up on its own until i get a Camaro Antenna

 

That's what I plan to do when I get mine repainted is to shave that sum bitch !! Look s good BTW.....

 

Well yes, but I was using this guide to install a BitViper. The parts/numbers he listed are mixed up so now I have a camaro antenna instead of what I need :/

 

bumping this, cause this is what Ive been looking for

 

So my numbers are wrong?

Can you shoot me the correct one's...I got these off the parts I ordered for the conversion..Id hate to be sending out wrong information

TXH

 

This is incorrect. 10425536 is the Camaro whip antenna. (Ugh!)

Correct from what I can tell.

Part can not be found.

Correct.

 

I love my power antenna... I know installing a power antenna in a Camaro is a bitch, but installing a fixed antenna in both Camaro or TA is easy... Almost TOO easy...

When my factory power antenna bit the dust, I installed an aftermarket chrome tipped stainless steel mast Metra antenna ($40) while reusing OEM parts so I could swap in a stock one in a matter of seconds... Looks great and also goes with my rims.

 

I have my BitViper waiting to be installed, but I need to know which parts to order so I can install it.