spedaleden

On 78 to 82 car with power antenna, how is your reception. Mine is poor, just wondering. AM works fine but FM is weak.

Tally Ho

FM is good on my 82. I installed a new antenna right after I bought it as the one it had was stuck in the up position. I haven't tried AM.

Easy Mike

Ditto. FM is good in my '80; I cannot honestly recall the last time I tried AM.

Antenna lead plugged in well at the stereo? Ground surfaces clean?

IrishJoker

My 81 works great in AM or FM no problems - sounds like you have a connection problem.

terry82

my fm is not the best, but it may have been good for its time. but compared to the new stuff its not so great .i did make it better by putting a new ground on the antenna mount.

gbvette62

On my 81, the AM band currently works poorly, but FM comes in fine. I've traced this to a bad cable.

Is your power antenna extending fully? If it's not, this can effect the reception. If the old memory is working properly, the ideal length of an FM antenna is around 27"-28"? I can't recall exactly how far up the factory power antenna goes, but with age and dirt build up, the antenna may not fully extend.

spedaleden

Power Antenna works fine, no problems but may need to run a new extension and see if that helps. What's weird is when I disconnect the ground strap at the power antenna reception gets better, not great just better

KapsSA

By chance is your antenna one of those GM look alike reproductions sold by some of the vendors?
They have a crappy connection where the co-ax cable connector contacts the inner stationary mast tube.
Originals are soldered, the repros(that I have seen) simply have a ring that contacts the tube.
Try loosening the co-ax cable and then wiggling it.

spedaleden

It is an original antenna but will try your idea

Thanks

KapsSA

Since it's an original antenna, try disconnecting the co-ax from the fitting on the mast tube and then remove that fitting too.
See if the stud is still attached to the inner tube.
If it's loose and original nothing will make it work again except resoldering the stud to the inner tube.

Some later GM 'service replacements' have a stud with a nail head like base that simply rests against the inner tube. The co-ax cable needs to be tightened with a wrench to firmly press that stud against the inner tube. Lot of guys simply tighten it finger tight.

And then there's the repros I can't see HOW the stud maintains good contact with the inner tube!

srs244

your experience seems to be contrary to the way it should be. FM (because of the wave length) is almost always stronger and in many cases can be near perfect with the antenna all the way down. that is assuming you live in an area that isn't way out in the country far from transmitters. AM almost always is weak (and affected by tall buildings, poorer weather, underpasses, etc) without a good antenna. one of the first things you should check is to make certain that the antenna has a very good ground source that is clean and that the ground strap isn't frayed or partially torn. years ago (in 1975 or so) i was going nuts trying to get any decent radio reception on my 69 convertible and swapped my radio out with a replacement and found no improvement. then i started tracing wires to make certain everything was as it should have been and discovered a very poor antenna ground (in the fender where it was located). once repaired, i was amazed at the improvement.

nrock47

where is the best place to ground at the antenna housing? i have poor reception, it's hard working under the fender and over the muffler. i have a ground strap but not sure where to hook it on the antenna.http://www.tld-corvette.com/prodinfo.asp?number=631267

spedaleden

I restored the car 5 years ago, you can eat off the underside of this car. I need to look at the antenna, that is one piece I just reinstalled. Grounds are fine and no frayed wires. Might also be coax but AM is working so coax should be good.

Thanks for everyones tips, I'll let you know the out come.

terry82

ground strap to metal part of the antenna.

nrock47

it's plastic!!!!!!!!

terry82

on the lower shaft there is metal some were.turn the radio on loud enough to here it then touch the metal with the ground strap.tell us what you get.

nrock47

i did a check from the battery negative to the antenna ground with ohm meter, it was under 2. going out to crawl under their now, anybody know a good chiropractor?