Antenna
- Thread starter luckyrat
- Start date
luckyrat
Busy user
The antenna cannot be secured without that plate. I’m using all genuine parts were possible, reproduction as an alternative. I had to involve my wife with this operation to hold the antenna base while I poked it through the holeWhat were you supposed/did you do with that huge great piece of flat metal?
I admire your bravery wi all that drilling you are doing!
! You can not do it alone....
Attached is from my copy of the 1972 factory assembly manual, a very valuable book.
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
It's weird looking at those two rear-end pics of a '71 & '72 and the alarm key switch being different and I'm pretty sure my '71 is slightly different again!
I wonder if they used up left over stock from whatever parts bin?
The flat plate is the reinforcement plate.
I wonder if they used up left over stock from whatever parts bin?
The flat plate is the reinforcement plate.
luckyrat
Busy user
I think antijam’s 71 has a non standard support plate on the switch?
Attached are 72’s including mine with GM correct oval keys. The gold is a 70/71 same switch?
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Yes a '72 I had recently had the same switch as those above but my yellow one has a lock with an outer ring that doesn't look to be as big as antijam's. If I remember, the alarm was a $40 option later in the '71 run but standard equipment on the '72 run due to a cost saving omitting some fibre optics in '72.
I have the original dealer invoice that lists the extra cost added on for the alarm
I have the original dealer invoice that lists the extra cost added on for the alarm
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Slightly different to antijam's
Attachments
Chris Sale
CCCUK Member
This is a late response to luckyrat's post above regarding the antenna plate. I had to replace the antenna cable (between antenna and radio) in my '64 a few years ago. C2s have a similar plate below the antenna and I was curious about its purpose, since it was connected to the chassis by a copper ground strap.
This is what I was told by a good NCRS contact in the US who is something of an electrical guru. Seems that the plate is more than just a reinforcement:
Since the Corvette body is fiberglass, there is no ground plane beneath the antenna mast to define the length of the antenna in signal-reception terms. In high-strength signal areas this is not a problem, but in areas where signal strength is low the radio needs all the help it can get. Having a ground plane at the base of the antenna reinforces the standing wave aspect (don't ask!) of the incoming signal and improves reception quality.
Therefore, a small metal plate was placed below the antenna to act as a ground plane. It is connected to the chassis so that it has an 'earth reference'. This is required because the radio uses the chassis for ground reference back to the battery, and the amplifier in the radio needs the antenna to be working from the same ground reference.
Chris Sale
'64 Coupe
This is what I was told by a good NCRS contact in the US who is something of an electrical guru. Seems that the plate is more than just a reinforcement:
Since the Corvette body is fiberglass, there is no ground plane beneath the antenna mast to define the length of the antenna in signal-reception terms. In high-strength signal areas this is not a problem, but in areas where signal strength is low the radio needs all the help it can get. Having a ground plane at the base of the antenna reinforces the standing wave aspect (don't ask!) of the incoming signal and improves reception quality.
Therefore, a small metal plate was placed below the antenna to act as a ground plane. It is connected to the chassis so that it has an 'earth reference'. This is required because the radio uses the chassis for ground reference back to the battery, and the amplifier in the radio needs the antenna to be working from the same ground reference.
Chris Sale
'64 Coupe
luckyrat
Busy user
Unfortunately I didn’t have the copper ground strap so that yellow and green cable is something I made up for now.
Attached are where some C3’s had the same alarm switch located, much prefer the location of mine.
Another lockdown project in the morning so I may bore you all with another post! Cheers all....
kentvette
CCCUK Member
Chris S's response clarifies the antenna base plate thing - much of which I knew from my work days, not to mention CBs. But the photo of LuckyRat's just seem too huge to fit under the body! - clearly a photo-distortion.
The '74 to '77 alarm key switch was on the front left wing, but by '78 it was incorporated into the drivers door lock.
The '74 to '77 alarm key switch was on the front left wing, but by '78 it was incorporated into the drivers door lock.
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
I never knew about the alarm switch either. My 1968 doesn't have one as far as I'm aware. Though I do have an outside key switch behind the driver's seat on the outside "sugar scoop" just beyond the rear window on the upright part. I have no idea what it does.
And Luckyrat - where did you get those numberplates from? I like them and I think I need one saying 1968 Stingray on it too
And Luckyrat - where did you get those numberplates from? I like them and I think I need one saying 1968 Stingray on it too
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Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
The alarm was an option - UA6 $26.35 in '68 and first (on C3's) became standard equip in '72
Forrest Gump
CCCUK regional rep
Presume either aesthetics or practical difficulty reasons for moving the key switch after the rear end revamp ‘74 on. You can imagine the discussions about where to reposition it.
Im not keen on its position on the wing on my ‘75 - It detracts from that classic “Stingray” badge and I’ve been asked plenty of times why there’s a door lock on the wing! I’m going to delete it when the opportunity arises.
Forrest Gump
CCCUK regional rep
How much value will it add?Fit one to the other side too , then it will be like the early `side lock` bonnet Jaguar E Types which the purists really lust after