[QUOTE=blackjack hotrods;2131826]Just a thought: Wouldn't it be a good idea to cut the wire wrap first with a pair of wire cutters just to be sure it doesn't come undone?QUOTE]

Souond like a good idea to me. Wrapping it with tape helps alot too.

 

heres mine.. cut to 7" and used 2 layers of black heatshrink and i still need to get a tip for it

 

Here is my shorty antenna finished. Taking pictures at sunset always makes the color of my car look all screwy.




I just used a piece of a vacuum cap for the end. I cut just the rounded tip off and glued it to the antenna with some 3M emblem adhesive gel. Reception is still great, notthat it matters with mp3 cd's and ipods nowadays.

 

will this affect the radio in any way? like getting shitty signal in areas you never used to get because you shortened it.

 

I think it all depends on your area. I haven't noticed a difference but I live in the Phoenix metro area and radio signals are really strong here so I don't notice any difference at all.

 

Not that much, it depends on how far you are from the stations you listen to. I live about 50 miles from my main stations and get static from time to time but not to bad. You should be fine being in NYC.

 

so you guys are just cutting the antenna and then putting on a little end piece?

bump ^^^^ please answer^^^^

 

that's what it looks like if you go to page 1
and read the instructions.

 

Yes that is correct. You just cut your existing antenna.

Cut it down to the size you'd like (I used a hacksaw), then tape up the very end (about a 1/4" worth) with electric tape, then slip on a vacuum cap (before I slipped it on, I squeezed a tiny bit of super glue into it to secure it - but I don't even think it's necessary).

The vacuum caps, as mentioned above, can be purchased at Autozone and I'm sure at Wal-Mart. I forget the size I used (I know it's specified w/in the first 5 pg.s of this thread). Usually like 5 or 6 come in a packet, and the packet was around $1.99.

 

cool thanks

 

Here is what I did.... looks fantastic..

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/show...y+opel+antenna

I just had to drill out the threads and tap it to fit the 7mm stud.

BTW... if anyone wants a stock antenna already cut short let me know. I still have my old one. It looks great and you wont have to cut your own stock.

 

Mine in stealthy mode. Cut to 14". Note that if you cut it to a length close to the top of your XM antenna, you are sure to get good reception. At 14" it is there.

 

i just finished mine.. i cut it to 13" and painted it metallic silver. i think it looks alot better now.

 

^ Looks good. See it wasn't hard at all was it? Not bad for free huh...

 

i have noticed a little difference in radio reception, but that attenna needed to go...that thing was HUGE.

Cost a total of 5 dollars for me, i had to buy the end caps for the attenna and a hack saw...bought a cheap one time use hack saw. haha

 

Here's Mine!

I live just north of Orlando, Florida and the reception is just fine!

 

when you drill out the threads in an antenna, there's a way to put new ones in...but what kind of bit do i need? (i mean i heard this, i'm not sure about it, but does anyone know?)

i had gotten about 3 different antenna's before i gave up on this and still have that giant ass antenna lol.

 

^ what year? they changed them in 07 I believe

I went to Autozone and bought one for $4 and it threaded right on

 

Go and get a tapping kit. if you are drilling a 6mm thread to change it to 7mm you obviously need a 7mm tap and use a 15/64 bit to drill out the old threads

nope, late 06. I have an 06 with a 7mm stud

 

I guess I'm a lucky one then.

 

I just did this on mine...easy as pie. Looks so much better.

 

i just tried to do this antenna mod and found out that my antenna housing itself just spins inside the car whenever i try to remove it, i have the panels pulled back in the truck and it seems like the antenna isnt sitting in the housing right and i've chewed the hell out of the bottom of my antenna, and ideads on how to fix the housing to get this mod done without screwing anything else up?

 

i cut mine too short and got bad reseption : (

 

Are you talking about the flexy rubber ****? I have it too and it doesnt work well at all.

 

did this with mine cut to 11" and it looks great but i get horrible reception, so i went ahead andsepnt the $12 for a euro 13"

so when my XM runs out i can listen to music