1984-1996 Corvette Antenna Mast Repair
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Posted
February 12, 2013
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Overview
Section: BodyWhat's Hard:
Removing the old C4 antenna is required and difficult so a service manual as an additional resource would be helpful.Bottom Line
A big cost savings here that can be completed by those with some mechanical experience and a few free hours.
Ratings are based on overall difficulty level of the procedure.
- Articles that receive fewer stars will require less mechanical ability, basic tools, shorter time and little or no additional help to complete.
- Articles that receive more stars are for more confident mechanics who have a larger collection of tools. These will most likely require additional help and take longer to complete.
Our Complete Rating System
Experience:
- 1 Star: No mechanical experience is necessary.
- 2 Stars: Very limited mechanical experience is required.
- 3 Stars: Mechanical experience is helpful but not necessary. Possibly a good first project for those with more confidence.
- 4 Stars: Mechanical experience is a big plus. These jobs are not recommended for first time DIY projects.
- 5 Stars: Mechanical experience is a must. These jobs are only for experienced mechanics and most should opt to have these professionally completed.
Tools Required
- 1 Star: Does not require any tools to complete the job.
- 2 Stars: Common tools required to complete the job.
- 3 Stars: Common tools required. More advanced tools might help complete the job easier.
- 4 Stars: Common tools, more advanced tools and possibly special tools are required to complete the job.
- 5 Stars: A professional tool collection with advanced and special tools are required to complete the job.
Completion Time
- 0-1 Star: Time spent to complete the job will not exceed 1-hour.
- 2 Stars: Time spent to complete the job will likely fall within 1-2 hours.
- 3 Stars: Time spent to complete the job will likely fall within 2-3 hours.
- 4 Stars: Time spent to complete the job will likely fall within 3-4 hours.
- 5 Stars: Time spent to complete the job will require 4+ hours.
Additional Help
- 1 Star: Does not require any additional help to complete the job.
- 2 Stars: An extra hand would be nice to save your back but not required.
- 3 Stars: A helper to complete this job would make for a much smoother operation.
- 4 Stars: An extra hand is highly recommended and possibly necessary but the helper may or may not have mechanical experience.
- 5 Stars: A helper is highly recommended and likely necessary. We recommend getting help from someone with mechanical experience.
Full Article
Broken power antennas seem to be a common problem on 1984-1996 Corvettes. There is a fix though, without having to dish out big bucks for a new power antenna - and the repair is a fairly simple procedure. Removal of the antenna assembly from your Corvette is required, so refer to your service manual to obtain the procedure for removing the antenna assembly from your C4 Corvette. We contacted Zip Corvette Parts, 8067 Fast Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111, 1-800-962-9632, and bought their C4 Corvette Antenna mast replacement kit.
For the rebuild, you will need a flat-blade screwdriver and a drill for drilling out the four small rivets in the antenna housing. You won’t be replacing the rivets, so don’t worry about replacements. The procedure should take about 15 minutes once the antenna is out of your C4 Corvette. Follow along as we rebuild your 1984-96 Corvette antenna.
Click on the images for expanded views – it’s much easier on the eyes.
Step 1
01: There are a total of four brass rivets that need to be drilled out. Note that there is one in the middle of the antenna gear itself.
Step 2
02: Once you have removed all of the rivets, pop off the clips around the outside of the antenna housing. Be sure to place the clips aside because you’ll need to reuse them.
Step 3
03: Use a flat-blade screwdriver to carefully pry the housing cover apart. If you look where the clips were located, you’ll see a slot in which to insert the screwdriver.
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Step 4
04: With the antenna motor housing separated, you can carefully remove the antenna mast and gear.
Step 5
05: This is why our Corvette’s antenna wasn’t working. You can see where the cable is broken. Zip’s line of Corvette Parts includes replacement antenna drive cable or complete rebuild kits with the drive cable and antenna mast. No matter what you need Zip has the right Corvette Parts for you.
Step 6
06: Here is the new GM Corvette antenna rebuild kit from Zip Corvette. Our 1986 Corvette needed the mast replacement since the mast was bent in the process of “manually” moving the antenna mast.
Step 7
07: GM supplies instructions with each kit. As you can see, they are not very detailed, but at least you get a diagram of how the Corvette antenna is assembled.
Step 8
08: After cleaning off any old sealant, apply new sealant to the outside of the antenna housing.
Step 9
09: Insert the new antenna cable’s metal hook into the gear. There is a hole in the gear that the end of the cable will fit into.
Step 10
10: Carefully wrap the plastic cable around the inside track in the gear. You must keep the cable tight while doing this or it could come loose.
Step 11
11: Place the gear into the antenna housing along with the new antenna mast. You will see the rubber grommets that hold the mast in place. This assembles the same way the old mast came out.
Step 12
12: Now reinstall the housing cover. Make sure you press firmly on it so the rubber grommet slides on the pin on the mast. You also want to be sure that the edge all the way around the housing is seated.
Step 13
13: Reinstall the clips. They simply snap into place.
Step 14
14: Once all the clips are on, you are ready to reinstall the antenna into your Corvette. You will not be replacing the rivets in the housing.
1984-1996 C4 Corvette Antenna Mast Replacement: Corvette Antenna Fix
Source: Zip Corvette Parts
8067 Fast Lane | Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | (800) 962-9632
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