Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete
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Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:39:40 PM
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NELS GT
Posts: 510
Joined: 6/5/2007
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Hey guys, NELS GT here. I'm going to walk you through how I created my custom antenna delete on my 07 GT. This delete beats all of the aftermarket "antenna" little chrome stubs. It's barely noticable, and looks factory. It's made using your existing antenna mounting plastic component, bondo, primer, and finally, paint the color of your car (torch red). I appologize that some of the photos are blurry, and crappy looking. A lot of the work I did on this was at night, so the flash made it look like crap, and a few photos are taken without flash that should've had flash turned on. Additionally, I'm sorry if this tutorial isn't very thorough, I may come back later and clean it up a bit. But please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about the process. This was a relatively inexpensive mod, and had great results. However, it's easy to screw up if you don't have enough patience! After I shopped around for antenna deletes, I found nothing I liked. Either shorty antennas, or ugly looking chrome "bullet" stumps that you insert into the antenna threaded hole. These alternatives may be the easy way out, but they're overpriced and don't look nearly as good as what I'm about to show you. Unscrew your antenna from it's base. Carefully pry the top portion of your antenna mount apart from the bottom piece. I used a butter knife. After removing top portion, a metal plate will be visible. Unscrew the plate. (screw head requires star-shaped socket). Separate the metal plate from the BOTTOM plastic piece pictured above. The plastic piece is what we will use as our custom delete. Now you will see holes used for the antenna. Disconnect the antenna wire. After disconnecting it, you will see a small hole that is just large enough to snugly fit a piece of 12 gauge wire. I pulled this rubber-coated wire from a piece of 12-2/WG home wiring that I had in the basement. After inserting inserting it, I wrapped it with electrical tape. Next, I tucked the wire down inside the fender. This was only a temporary fix, I never believed the reception would be good as-is. I drove around like this for a couple weeks and discovered that I didn't need to amplify it any more. AM is fuzzy, but FM is fine.  Observe the plastic piece you removed in step four. It has a large hole in the middle surrounded by smaller holes. We will fill this with body filler later, however, the plastic piece is designed to make the stock antenna level, which means that this piece has a slant to it. I sanded the top of the piece to make it match the contour of the fender more closely. Be cafeful not to sand too much. I held onto the nub of the plastic piece that goes into the car with needle nose while sanding the top of the piece. Once satisfied with the angle of your antenna delete, fill all of the holes with Bondo (body filler compound) and let dry. Sand, and repeat process until the top is flat. (This is the frustrating part) Coat with sandable primer, sand it, and repeat until smooth - very very smooth. Any mistakes visible on the antenna delete will be amplified x100 once it is finally painted and clear coated.
Don't rush. Get the surface perfect. Once smooth, spray paint the piece with a can of touchup paint of your color. I got a large can of Torch Red for $14.95 from a local automotive paint shop. It may take a couple coats. In my case, I even ended up sanding all of the torch red paint off to re-primer it for a smoother finish. Once you are satisfied with the appearance, you may want to give the antenna delete a spray of clearcoat. Most automotive paint shops will put gloss into your mixture, but in my case it wasn't shiny enough. I gave it two coats of gloss, and it looked as perfect as the car's paintjob.
Finally, I used clear silicone to adhere the delete to the car.
< Message edited by NELS GT -- 10/5/2007 1:29:04 PM >
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:48:55 PM
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torch red
Posts: 1769
Joined: 7/26/2005
From: Hudson Valley, NY
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I dig it..well done..
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C & L Racer CAI w/93 Brenspeed tune
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K-Member brace w/Torque Limiters
Clear Corners /Mirror Caps /Sequentails
GT500 Spoiler/SLP LM
18" Ford GT Wheels 18x9 18x10
BFG KDW 2 255/45 285/40
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:50:25 PM
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157db
Posts: 4391
Joined: 5/16/2007
From: NW Arkansas
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Now thats a trick mod.
Did you use a hidden antenna to replace the deleted stock one?
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:50:38 PM
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NELS GT
Posts: 510
Joined: 6/5/2007
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Thanks dude.
It was frustrating at times but well worth it in the end.
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:51:52 PM
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NELS GT
Posts: 510
Joined: 6/5/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 157db
Now thats a trick mod.
Did you use a hidden antenna to replace the deleted stock one?
Nope, just tucked the little wire into the fender. Like I said, I was pretty surprised my FM reception was just as good as with a giant antenna. AM doesnt come in well, but who needs it? ;-)
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:52:53 PM
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mlcrycc
Posts: 3185
Joined: 2/28/2005
From: Anaheim, California
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VERY creative!! I love home made mods!! Looks good, my only concern, if I used local radio, would be the antenna inside the fender....as far as reception. However, since I do XM anyway, no issue.....
Thanks for sharing, nice job!!
Mike
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2005 Mineral Grey GT,(1 of 2128 - 12/15/04)
C&L CAI,SCT2,Brenspeed&VMP Tunes,MGW Shifter
FRPP 4.10's,JBA Headers,Flowmaster AT Axlebacks
Steeda UD Pullies,FRPP Delete Plates
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:54:54 PM
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NELS GT
Posts: 510
Joined: 6/5/2007
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Thanks, Mike, and nice car too!
To be honest I usually stick with the MP3 player, or Line-in, but radio's good to have.
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 12:56:05 PM
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157db
Posts: 4391
Joined: 5/16/2007
From: NW Arkansas
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mlcrycc
VERY creative!! I love home made mods!! Looks good, my only concern, if I used local radio, would be the antenna inside the fender....as far as reception. However, since I do XM anyway, no issue.....
Thanks for sharing, nice job!!
Mike
Maybe this location could be used to mount the aftermarket Sat Radio antenna
instead of the trunk lid like OEM 07-08 Stangs with Sat Radio factory installed?
_____________________________
AiRaid CAI
Saleen Short Shifter
F/R GT Sways
GT M/T TakeOff Muffler
Roush Rear Shocks/Springs
Roush Hoodscoop
Roush Window Louvers
SS Eleanor Grill
Pony Emblems
CDC Decklid Panel
CDC Sequentials
Raptor Shift Light
MSD DashHawk
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 1:02:38 PM
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A_J
Posts: 309
Joined: 6/1/2007
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Awesome - cheap and clever
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 1:02:41 PM
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Dex
Posts: 2096
Joined: 3/19/2007
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whoa man, i would market that shiz.
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 1:13:08 PM
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NELS GT
Posts: 510
Joined: 6/5/2007
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Haha, thanks guys.
157db, I thought the same thing, I'll bet you could rig that up.
Dex, I thought about it! ;-) However, it would be likely too challenging to replicate this for mass-production.
Glad you guys liked it.
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 1:16:57 PM
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mlcrycc
Posts: 3185
Joined: 2/28/2005
From: Anaheim, California
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 157db
quote:
ORIGINAL: mlcrycc
VERY creative!! I love home made mods!! Looks good, my only concern, if I used local radio, would be the antenna inside the fender....as far as reception. However, since I do XM anyway, no issue.....
Thanks for sharing, nice job!!
Mike
Maybe this location could be used to mount the aftermarket Sat Radio antenna
instead of the trunk lid like OEM 07-08 Stangs with Sat Radio factory installed?
Possibly, but then you have the damn holes in the trunk lid to contend with. I have my XM antenna in the back window deck. No holes, perfect reception. It WILL receive through glass, with tint....
_____________________________
2005 Mineral Grey GT,(1 of 2128 - 12/15/04)
C&L CAI,SCT2,Brenspeed&VMP Tunes,MGW Shifter
FRPP 4.10's,JBA Headers,Flowmaster AT Axlebacks
Steeda UD Pullies,FRPP Delete Plates
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 1:44:59 PM
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yomofoitzjay
Posts: 6153
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Trenton NJ
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wow thats a very clean job...
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 1:50:36 PM
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NELS GT
Posts: 510
Joined: 6/5/2007
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Thanks.
I like your pony.
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 2:35:42 PM
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157db
Posts: 4391
Joined: 5/16/2007
From: NW Arkansas
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mlcrycc
quote:
ORIGINAL: 157db
quote:
ORIGINAL: mlcrycc
VERY creative!! I love home made mods!! Looks good, my only concern, if I used local radio, would be the antenna inside the fender....as far as reception. However, since I do XM anyway, no issue.....
Thanks for sharing, nice job!!
Mike
Maybe this location could be used to mount the aftermarket Sat Radio antenna
instead of the trunk lid like OEM 07-08 Stangs with Sat Radio factory installed?
Possibly, but then you have the damn holes in the trunk lid to contend with. I have my XM antenna in the back window deck. No holes, perfect reception. It WILL receive through glass, with tint....
Not thinkin move the OEM antenna to up front leavin holes in the trunk lid.
Just puttin an aftermarket Sat Ant up front there instead of the AM/FM fishin
rod OEM antenna. I likey the back rear glass inside idea for aftermarket Sat
Antennas. Thru the glass and tint.
_____________________________
AiRaid CAI
Saleen Short Shifter
F/R GT Sways
GT M/T TakeOff Muffler
Roush Rear Shocks/Springs
Roush Hoodscoop
Roush Window Louvers
SS Eleanor Grill
Pony Emblems
CDC Decklid Panel
CDC Sequentials
Raptor Shift Light
MSD DashHawk
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 3:09:55 PM
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NELS GT
Posts: 510
Joined: 6/5/2007
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My original intention was to have the hole welded and grinded then repainted, however, no body shops in my area would touch it for less than $400.00, theres a few guys on this forum who said they had theirs done for $100, I couldn't find anything even close to that deal.
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RE: Tutorial: Custom Antenna Delete - 10/5/2007 4:17:34 PM
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fairlane292
Posts: 2219
Joined: 11/7/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: NELS GT
My original intention was to have the hole welded and grinded then repainted, however, no body shops in my area would touch it for less than $400.00, theres a few guys on this forum who said they had theirs done for $100, I couldn't find anything even close to that deal.
If it's $100 they must know somebody. $400+ is right for this. The welding of this very thin metal has to be done by someone routinely accustomed to this. ...and the paint needs to be blended. No small task overall. What you've done there is the next best thing. Good job!
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