Where can i get a smaller anntenna?

boostinss · Post by **boostinss** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:46 pm

Ive searched and couldnt find it. I was wondering where i can get a smaller antenna for my 05 neon SXT. LINKS

dinetuner · Post by **dinetuner** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:50 pm

you can try to jerry rig a s2000 antenna... i say shave it. run the antennea under your dash zip tie it or something up there...

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:13 pm

ebay has them for about 15 bucks

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:47 pm

Just cut your stocker in half, paint it black. no reception issues, i'll get a pic up tomorrow for ya, it looks great.

kirktalife · Post by **kirktalife** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:56 pm

does anyone got the "ebay" one, if so how does it work, seems a little sketchy to me

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:56 pm

zapp motorsports

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:57 pm

^whats this "ebay one" you speak of? zzap makes a really nice billet one, but im not sure of the linky at the moment, someone will post it though im sure

dangerdavex2 · Post by **dangerdavex2** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:03 pm

I got a short black one at AutoZone for a little under 8 bucks, it really does make a difference in appearance over the stocker. The only bad thing is that it bends back about 80 degrees at 70-100 MPH, its rubber though, so it wont break.

neon_ert3 · Post by **neon_ert3** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:04 pm

i cut mines to about 6inches tall. it looks great and i still get good reception.

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:10 am

TNK wrote:^whats this "ebay one" you speak of? zzap makes a really nice billet one, but im not sure of the linky at the moment, someone will post it though im sure

http://www.newedgeperformance.com/index ... ProdID=236

rOniN · Post by **rOniN** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:03 am

I used the ebay one...it's like 13 bucks or something.

It has great reception when I checked...I didn't buy it for reception but it did quite well.

It doesn't look bad, could be better at the bottom...they are universal. Comes with 4-5 different fittings on the bottom so that it will match.

Would look best on a black car.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:14 am

wisher, do you have a problem with my statement? sorry i didnt have the link. jesus..... and when i was posting that, raul mustve been posting his, cuz until about 30 seconds ago, i didnt even see his post.

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:37 am

i think the eyerolling was because you were too lazy to look up a link

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:51 am

TNK wrote:^whats this "ebay one" you speak of? zzap makes a really nice billet one, but im not sure of the linky at the moment, someone will post it though im sure

I was too lazy to find the link too.

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:09 am

I have horrible reception with an aftermarket stereo - until I replaced that stupid dodge plug that they use (not the standard round male plug) with a real plug. I may try a Zzapp one, but I am wondering more abou this "cut antenna" someone mentioned - let us see pics.

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:08 pm

No no problems with anyone's statement.

boostinss · Post by **boostinss** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:24 pm

Anyone got pics of this cut one?

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:12 pm

my bad, i had a long day and couldn't get pics. I'll try to run out there and get a pic of it now even though its dark out...brb.

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:31 pm

way too dark out, i'll snap one in the AM.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:15 am

I cut my stock one down to 18", which when you look at the car from a distance, it looks nice and even with the roof. At that point, the rod is almost perfect size to use a die and make a #6-32 thread on the end of it. I did that and threaded a small aluminum ball on the end to make it look almost stock. Reception is still perfect and it cost me nothing. I'll put up a pic tomorrow. (friggin wake tonight, god I hate those things)

Panhead · Post by **Panhead** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 12:24 pm

i cut mine down to 8in. looks a hella lot better!

Nick Drake · Post by **Nick Drake** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:33 pm

^^Still haven't gotten around to finding something to fit on the end so it looks better. I might end up just hammering/sanding it smooth.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:35 pm

Yeah I drove mine around like that for a little while and I got sick of the "crap, someone cut my antenna off" look. I guess I probably didn't have to go through the effort of threading it, but at least this sucker is NEVER coming off.

koreysxt · Post by **koreysxt** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:16 pm

jonnymopar, where did you get your small, alluminum ball at? I did the same thing. I cut the stocker down to about 13", and painted it flat black. Currently, I have a rubber thingy on the end. I had to paint the rubber thingy too -- as it was red. The paint will not hold up on the rubber. I looked at my local Ace, but could not find anything.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:32 pm

koreysxt wrote:jonnymopar, where did you get your small, alluminum ball at? I did the same thing. I cut the stocker down to about 13", and painted it flat black. Currently, I have a rubber thingy on the end. I had to paint the rubber thingy too -- as it was red. The paint will not hold up on the rubber. I looked at my local Ace, but could not find anything.

Don't know if it's feasible for you, but I took a piece of 1/4" aluminum rod and made it by hand on a lathe. It's not a perfect ball, more of a rounded cylindrical look. I haven't had much time this week, but possibly today, I'll post a pic of what it looks like.

As far as buying them, McMaster-Carr is the only place I know of. I just searched and I found 1/4" brass balls, but you have to buy them in packs of 100 ($11.34). The 1/4" aluminum ones they sell are hollow, so I don't know how consistent they are. Check it out:

www.mcmaster.com

Search for "brass balls". I know, sounds like a joke, but that's how I found it.

EDIT: Pics

Total length sticking out from the car is just over 18". As said before, when you look at the car from the side, it's pretty even with the roof. I'm pleased with it. Sure as hell beats spending money on one.

Now if I can just figure out a way to machine my own silver gauge rings... hmm...

koreysxt · Post by **koreysxt** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:28 pm

That looks good. I was thinking of doing something similar. My local Ace H/W sold small, alluminum spacers (cylinder shape). I as thinking of rouding the edges a bit. At 40 cents each, I can play with a couple until it looks OK. If I bought a solid ball, then I would have the problem of drilling into it with a hand drill. I tried getting the stock ball off, but it wasn't salvagable... Thanks for the info!

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:47 pm

That looks real nice, jonnymopar!

Did you notice any decrease in performance as far as the reception goes?

Post by **jonnymopar** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:30 pm

03sxt wrote:That looks real nice, jonnymopar! Did you notice any decrease in performance as far as the reception goes?

Nope

. I even verified it using a simple test I came up with. All you need to do is find a station that barely comes in. One that's mostly static, but you can still make out what's playing. After you replace your antenna, try that same station with your car parked in the same place on a day with the same kind of weather (ie. don't try it on a sunny day, then replace the antenna and try it again in a thunderstorm). The station I tried came in the same before and after. I don't know how accurate that is, but it's a good baseline.

Maybe you'll see it at the Carlisle meet. Trying to finalize plans right now.

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:40 pm

jonnymopar wrote:Nope . I even verified it using a simple test I came up with. All you need to do is find a station that barely comes in. One that's mostly static, but you can still make out what's playing. After you replace your antenna, try that same station with your car parked in the same place on a day with the same kind of weather (ie. don't try it on a sunny day, then replace the antenna and try it again in a thunderstorm). The station I tried came in the same before and after. I don't know how accurate that is, but it's a good baseline.

Maybe you'll see it at the Carlisle meet. Trying to finalize plans right now.

Sweetness!

Sounds good to me!