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Old 09-24-2012, 10:26 PM
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so.......

does the stock antenna just suck hard? or is something wrong with mine? because only one station in my area (right across the river) comes in clear, the others (just the next town downriver, broadcasts form the top of my hill) and even the country station (atleast 40 miles away) comes in better then the one just downriver, idk if theres a setting or something on my radio that needs turned on? the antenna is plugged into the radio all the way and its totally stock, what can go wrong with an antenna?
Old 09-25-2012, 06:18 AM
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Re: so.......

Originally Posted by kmcn47
does the stock antenna just suck hard? or is something wrong with mine? because only one station in my area (right across the river) comes in clear, the others (just the next town downriver, broadcasts form the top of my hill) and even the country station (atleast 40 miles away) comes in better then the one just downriver, idk if theres a setting or something on my radio that needs turned on? the antenna is plugged into the radio all the way and its totally stock, what can go wrong with an antenna?
my original sucked so I went to zone and got their like 12" antenna that looks factory and I get better reception and a better look
Old 09-25-2012, 10:30 AM
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Re: so.......

If there is a trimmer adjustment on the radio you can try tinkering with it. All radios used to have it, but I don't know if they do any more. It usually adjusts with a screwdriver thru a hole near where the antenna cable connects. You just tune to a weak station and adjust the trimmer for the best reception.

The stock antenna is a simple 1/4 wave vertical. I can't imagine what could go wrong with it to make it not work well unless it's in the connection from the antenna base mount to the rod, or from the screw stud to the antenna mount (base). There also needs to be a well grounded connection to the inside of the fender from the ground shield of the antenna cable.
Old 09-25-2012, 03:50 PM
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Re: so.......

Originally Posted by afremont
If there is a trimmer adjustment on the radio you can try tinkering with it. All radios used to have it, but I don't know if they do any more. It usually adjusts with a screwdriver thru a hole near where the antenna cable connects. You just tune to a weak station and adjust the trimmer for the best reception.

The stock antenna is a simple 1/4 wave vertical. I can't imagine what could go wrong with it to make it not work well unless it's in the connection from the antenna base mount to the rod, or from the screw stud to the antenna mount (base). There also needs to be a well grounded connection to the inside of the fender from the ground shield of the antenna cable.
thanks, i'll be checking it out and thats what i thought, that it would have come loose or un grounded or something, i am right down the hill from the stations tower i can see it form where the car sits, and nothing but static
Old 09-25-2012, 05:07 PM
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Re: so.......

If you are close enough to see the actual transmitting antenna, then you might be so close that you are in a shadow or null.
Old 09-25-2012, 05:23 PM
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Re: so.......

even still 20 miles of flat area away form it (on my way to school on the interstate) its still static, unless 96.5 jack fm just broadcasts like crap. idk 107.5 95.7 are the only ones that com ein clear enough to really listen, damn clear channel stations ruining radio
Old 09-25-2012, 05:24 PM
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Re: so.......

and its a ways away, perhaps a photo will help, give me five minutes
Old 09-25-2012, 05:30 PM
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Re: so.......

Name:  002-2.jpg
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towers in the background, its a good ways away

Last edited by kmcn47; 09-25-2012 at 05:31 PM. Reason: fixed
Old 09-25-2012, 06:29 PM
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Re: so.......

WYJK transmits out of moundsville WV which is only about 10 or 15 miles from you I think. You should be able to pick that up unless there is a mountain in the way.
Old 09-25-2012, 11:15 PM
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Re: so.......

hmm, nope just a river and the river valley should echo that signal right up to me, i do live on a hill after all, and i can see moundsville from part of it, have to get a pic of that soon too
Old 09-26-2012, 07:49 PM
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Re: so.......

Undo the fender plastic from around the rear of the wheel far enough you can get your hand and a ratchet in there. Take out the bolt for the antenna mount, and move the antenna base away from the body bracket. Use a wire brush on the bolt and star washer and sandpaper on the antenna base and bracket. Reassemble and enjoy. Unless the antenna mount and cable are bad...

IDK if GM has any more of our antennas... I think I got one of the last ones in the country a few years back when part of the radio plug on the cable went bad.

:edit: Toronto is a fringe station to me... My car gets better reception from Toronto than either of my family's other cars, an 04 Intrepid and an 08 Malibu. But, then, they have stock radios and I generally run an Eclipse (no, not the Jap car brand).
Old 09-26-2012, 09:52 PM
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Re: so.......

thanks, have to do that tomorrow on my day off, i'll pull it all apart and check it out before i do anything, i'll have to see if i can adjust that screw on the back of the radio if mine has one
Old 09-26-2012, 11:39 PM
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Re: so.......

I completely tore mine off. Never listen to the radio anyways.

The only problem is the big hole from where the antenna was.
Old 09-30-2012, 08:47 PM
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Re: so.......

I haven't had an antenna on my 84 for 4 years, and never really get any kind of static. but Texas is pretty much flat so that may be it.
Old 09-30-2012, 09:06 PM
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Re: so.......

that'd be nice, i enlisted the help of a few broadcasting colleagues (more of my dumbass friends) to try and help me to solve the problem, we got tools and all ready to work on the radio and antenna, and it started pouring, and i have a headlight out, and need a new alternator, and need to do some new wiring so the cars been parked, i for once have something else to drive for a change
Old 10-01-2012, 11:49 AM
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Re: so.......

I know how that goes. My car gets all pi$$y about the rain. Runs great all the time until I hit a big puddle or it's raining hard. Then it starts bucking like a bronco and won't even throw a code. I'm going to have to hook up tunerpro and wet it down. Hopefully I can find the sensor that's giving it fits. I'm fairly sure my cap and wires are not the issue. I'm thinking it's either the MAP or TPS freaking it out. It acts like it won't take gas and leans out real bad when you try to accelerate. Then it starts smoking the tires like it thinks it just won Daytona, then back to the bucking, rinse and repeat.
Old 10-01-2012, 09:59 PM
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Re: so.......

sounds kinda like the wiring going to your tps honestly, gets wet shorts and wreaks havoc
Old 10-02-2012, 10:15 AM
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Re: so.......

Originally Posted by kmcn47
sounds kinda like the wiring going to your tps honestly, gets wet shorts and wreaks havoc
I don't disagree with that. It will still idle, though it surges, when it's acting up. But when you give it the throttle it gets stupid about it. I can't believe it doesn't throw a code when it's doing that.
Old 10-02-2012, 12:11 PM
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Re: so.......

check engine light broken? that can happen too ya know lol
Old 10-02-2012, 12:18 PM
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Re: so.......

hey kmcn47 is know this isn't in topic but i see you have a 305, im building mine and trying figure out what heads to put on it. Should i stick with 58cc chambers or can i go with 64's?
Old 10-02-2012, 12:31 PM
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Re: so.......

tell ya the truth, cant answer that idk, my heads are all stock, thats something i'll be looking into myself when i get a new daily driver and can rebuild my engine, i'd message one of the mods, five7kid, sofakingdom, someone who knows alot about building an engine and has been there done that, post that question in members camaros and im sure you'll get answers
Old 10-02-2012, 12:38 PM
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Re: so.......

Ok thanks man
Old 10-02-2012, 05:14 PM
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Re: so.......

64cc is too big for a 305 with flat tops. If anything, you may wish to consider 53cc instead of 58cc.
Old 10-02-2012, 05:21 PM
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Re: so.......

Originally Posted by kmcn47
check engine light broken? that can happen too ya know lol
Nah, it's not that. I see it working every time I start the car.
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