I was looking at diagrams of the 1981 Corvette non power antenna on the web and seen that a non power antenna has reinforcement or ( ground ) plate with a ground strap under the fender. I was wondering has any one come across this part, seen a supplier for it or made a part like this ? I looked around and can't seem to find any one that carry's any thing like it.
Hi, The ground plate on my 72' is aluminum. Easy enough to make one. Just has to fit contour of fender. Also, the ground strap can be any type of woven or solid copper strap. The woven type will be available at parts stores, and have a place on the end to put the bolt through.
Corvette America has all parts. May have to search 63-68. Ground plate is listed there.
Thanks , I thought it would be easy enough to make one from a 1/8 pc. of aluminum but was trying to avoid that if I could. I went ahead and bought one from Corvette Central this morning. I'll just get a ground strap from auto parts store or will probably make one my self from wire and wire ends.
I am surprised that your power antenna didn't have the aluminum ground plane plate. It's really not very thick and it's just to provide a ground plane for the radio frequency signal since the Corvette is all plastic.
1973 L-82 4 spd
looking at the power antenna the ground strap is bolted right on the antenna. I don't know if power antenna had that part to begin with. Now that I'm going with the fixed mast antenna I not only need the plate for a ground plate, I was also thinking with out the plate it may eventually cause the body to crack at the antennas hole in the 1/4 panel, do you think that's possible ?
Not likely. My opinion is there is very little stress from the mast from movement to create enough effect on the body. The ground plane is there to catch the radio signal, not support for antenna base.
That's good to know, I was unsure at first and it's always good to ask for opinions. I probably could have found a way to jerry rig a ground wire to the fixed mast antenna itself but I think that using the antenna ground plate will look better and make the installation easier.
Curious why you changer to a fixed mast antenna! Is the power one broken?
No, Not any longer check my other post out on this power antenna in C3 electrical. Thanks for your input on the antenna being an OEM part. The previous owner told me it took him a long time to find it but I was unsure about it.