Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

Need help on converting to a power antennae!

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Old Apr 12, 2003 | 04:40 PM
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Default Need help on converting to a power antennae!

First of all wheres the best place to get one? I called a dealership and they said that they list one for a Camaro, but none of the Camaros came with power antennaes to my knowledge. So I had him look one up for a Firebird and he said that they list one for that too, but with one digit different. How is that possible? Whats different between the two and how come they listed one for a Camaro? Is the dealer the only place to get one? If not, is it the best place to get one? How much are yall guys getting quoted at for a brand new one? The next major thing that I need to know is how to wire it up? I know of a buddy who wired his up to where whenever he turns the key to power that it will come up. However, on the Firebirds, the antennae only comes up if the radio is in use. Thats how I want to do mine. What all has to be done to make it operate the same as a Firebird? Thanks
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Old Apr 12, 2003 | 07:05 PM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

I dont know where to get one from but i have an idea on how to get it to come up when the stereo is turned on.

You may be able to hook the power cord to the hot wire of your speaker, if that doesnt work just hook it to the power supply of the stereo, going to take alot of wire.
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Old Apr 12, 2003 | 08:52 PM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

Ive gotta buy one before I start to experiementing with it on how Im going to get it to come up only when the radio is in use. So I will first need help answering my first questions? Here they are again:
1. Where can I purchase one?
2. How come the dealer has a listing for both a Camaro and a Firebird?
3. Camaros didnt come equipped with power antennaes, is that correct?
4. How come they even have a listing for a Camaro if none of them came with it?
5. How come the part numbers for the Camaro and Firebird dont match?
6. To whoever has one on their Camaro, how much did you pay for it; or does anyone know how much they go for?
7. Is the dealer the only place to get it, if not, is a dealer the best place to get one?

Thanks alot
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Old Apr 12, 2003 | 11:02 PM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

OK, everybody stop. It is really not that hard. First of all, DO NOT hook it up to your speaker wires. You can get a power antenna at autozone I think. I know for a fact that you can get one at Circuit City, I work there. I am a certified car audio installer, yada yada. You can goto a Circuit City and have them put it in, should be $100 installed, $59.99 for the power antenna, and $40 to put it in. If you do it yourself here's a brief rundown:

1. There are 3 wires. One is constant(hot/all time power), one is switched(on with key), and one is ground.

2. Take out the spare tire/panel.


3. Remove your old antenna, the base should just unscrew off the car fender. Unplug the antenna wire coming off of it.


4. Take power antenna and test fit it into the fender, push the antenna up through the hole. The kit should come with a bunch of different bases to fit onto the fender, find the best one that fits/looks the best.


5. You are going to need to pull out your radio(just yank the dash bezel off and it is just 2 7mm screws), go ahead and find ground, constant, and switched. I can't remember if the camaro radio has a power antenna wire off of it, but I think it does, you can find a pin out somewher on these boards, can't remember off the top of my head, if you find it, use that as your switched.


6. Run your wires back to the antenna and hook up accordinly.


7. Screw in antenna and use the backstrap provided to screw to the base of the antenna and screw to the fenderwell.

8. Put tire back in, along with the panel and make sure it works!


Hope this helps!
<img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" />
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Old Apr 12, 2003 | 11:19 PM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

Im gonna get an antenna from a dealership, just for the fact that its a OEM GM part. However, I was wondering why they listed one for a Camaro? I mean they didnt come equipped with them, then how come they sell one for it? Then on top of that, they all list one for a Firebird and they have different part numbers? I dont mean to repeat myself, I just want to know why this is. To Coop: The instructions that you provided, is that the way the Firebirds are wired up? Cause it seems that the antenna will be up as long as the power of the car is on.
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Old Apr 13, 2003 | 08:43 AM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

I don't know why a power antenna is listed for the Camaro. They never had one from the factory. I have a manual override switch spliced into mine to control the raising of the antenna. For an excellent install write up with part numbers and pics go to the Appearance/Other section of http://www.blackcamaro.com
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Old Apr 13, 2003 | 05:28 PM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

To WayneSS01: The way you wired yours up, does it function just as the Firebirds do? If so, can you explain a bit more what you mean by you have a manual override switch? Thanks
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Old Apr 13, 2003 | 07:49 PM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

I spliced a Rocker switch into the power wire that plugs into the back of the head unit. It goes like this. Power wire from antenna to Rocker switch then to back of head unit. My car has the Monsoon with CD changer in the trunk.

Rocker switch Off - The antenna will not raise when the head unit is turned on.

Rocker switch On - The antenna will raise when the head unit is turned on or is already on.

The antenna will lower when the rocker switch is on and the head unit is turned off.

I have a write up on ls1.com in Sticky Thread of the Electronics Forum. But the one on blackcamaro.com is more thorough. GM suggests we wipe clean the mast with mineral spirits and then dry. They also say to never lube the mast.
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Old Apr 13, 2003 | 08:03 PM
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INSSANE's Avatar
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

OMG...
OEM antenna??? What's the difference??? It'll be more money and functions the same.

You're prolly a fan of the OEM window motors too even though they break all the time. But it is OEM and I like paying for crap.

Just go with the CC one...I was going to suggest CC or a stereo shop. They could probably do an override swithc cheap too.
Nick
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Old Apr 13, 2003 | 11:04 PM
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Default Re: Need help on converting to a power antennae!

The thing that really matters to me is that it functions the way that Firebirds do. When the car is on and the radio is off, I want the antenna to be down. When the car is on and the radio is on, I want the antenna to be up. When the car is off and the radio is on, I want the antenna to be up. When the car is off and the radio is off, I want the antenna to be down. I really dont have a preference on the brand of antennas, but since I get discounts at a local dealer of mine, Im gonna go with an OEM unit. All I was wanting to know is how come the dealer that I use has a listing for a Camaro when they dont even come equipped with them and then how to wire it up just as the Firebirds are or they way they function. I dont want to rig it up in any way, because I dont want to risk shorting anything or causing my car to be a fire hazard of some sort. Thanks
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