Make a shorty antenna

[Black07LS]

Why pay $20 for an antenna when you can cut yours down to size?

1:Remove antenna from car.

2:Wrap antenna with electricle tape just below were you want to cut.(This helps keep the small wire attached)

3:Cut antenna flush with top of tape with a cut off wheel. A hacksaw should also work.

4:Use 1/8" rubber vacuum cap ($1.49 for 5 at AutoZone) as a tip. Twist cap as you push it on antenna. (this will push the tape down)

5:Remove tape.

6:Reinstall.
7:ENJOY your shorty.

[Halfcent]

Approved

[BriantheLion26]

I did the exact thing. I cut mine where I wanted it, grounded off the end a little bit to put the ball back on, got some black touch up paint for the tip and it looks perfect.

[CTCOBALTSSS]

Pics of your final product??

[LSCobaltlover05]

What length did you make it?

[g5mike]

thats been a popular choice here for awhile,i did the same the day I boulght the car.LOL

[BriantheLion26]

I think I made mine 13ish inches. I don't have a close up but you can get the idea here. I can take a close up whenever I get around with it. I think it looks much better than buying one honestly. I like how the small wire wraps around it. It is much stiffer now too since it is shorter.

[CTCOBALTSSS]

Looks good BriantheLion26.

Damn you Silver Cobalts. Damn all of you. I wanted that color so bad.

[chevysalesman614]

nice how to.. short and sweet.

any reception probs? i like to listen to the radio, this would be a problem for me.

[OrngBalt]

Originally Posted by BriantheLion26

I did the exact thing. I cut mine where I wanted it, grounded off the end a little bit to put the ball back on, got some black touch up paint for the tip and it looks perfect.

I did the same thing. cut 16" out of the middle and put the ball back on. little touch up paint and even a clear coat and it looks amazing.

Originally Posted by chevysalesman614

Good job Brian, nice how to.. short and sweet.

any reception probs? i like to listen to the radio, this would be a problem for me.

Depends on the area. In RI i like listening to a Boston station so i go in and out, but at 14" the local stations come in perfect. when I go home to NY I get every channel perfect

[chevysalesman614]

thanks for that speedy response... im off to autozone

[OrngBalt]

I actually used a dab of liquid nails clear silicon sealant to connect the two (same thing i used to reseal my headlights) and it has held through 3 or 4 nasty thunderstorms, crazy winds and two carwashes.

[Black07LS]

I do not know how to post pics. but I cut mine to 8.5" I pick up FM from about 60 miles away but I do got static sometimes. My wife has a Jeep Liberty. I cut hers to 11.5" and she has good reception.

[g5mike]

I cut mine to 4inches and my reception is fine.

[OrngBalt]

It depends on your location... lot more things blocking reception coming out of boston and in RI.

[BriantheLion26]

I have sirius so i use the fm transmitter so I don't even need the antenna at all. I really don't think it would effect my local fm radio channels but I never use them so sorry I really can't help you guys much. I seriously think it looks 100% better and it honestly took, maybe 10 minutes. Saw zaw baby.

[Kritter]

I just took my whole antenna off and put a 1/4 vaccum lug over the threaded mount, looks sweet, and I hate the radio anyhow, to many commercials, although in Va, reception was of course, a problem, but in Kansas, I pick up the stations just fine.

[Belto]

This was my first mod, when I bought the car... heres a pic: