Cutting antenna

Is it possible to cut down the stock antenna a couple inches? Since my lift I am hitting the garage door with it.

Yes door is up as far as it goes, and no I really don't want to get a new one. To many pokers in the fire now.

 

I don't see any reason you couldn't take a hacksaw to it. I cut my Mustang antenna in 2001 with a hacksaw and just touched up the end with some black enamel.

Here's where I bought mine, in case you have a spare $20 laying around:
http://www.shortyantennasource.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8_57

 

did you lose any reception quality with the shorty antenna ?

 

Not a significant amount, no.

 

hey man....look on ebay....there are shorty antannas on there for like $10.

 

I cut my stock antenna with a set of wire cutters, easier and quicker than hack saw. I had a tip from a previous after market antenna and just slipped that on the end. No lose of radio reception quality. I had the same problem with the stock antenna hitting tie garage door.

 

I'm no EE but theoretically, you should lose some reception (the taller the antenna, the better the reception). It depends on the frequency of the signal you're receiving. The higher the frequency the smaller the antenna you can get away with (e.g. cell phones). A shorter antenna's effects would be more pronounced on AM (KHz) than FM (MHz). My guess, if you pretty much stick to FM, you'll probably not notice much difference. If your FM reception is already crappy, it may make it worse. If you cut the stock one, you'll definitely want the tip.

A reader on this site recommends a length of 26-31" for standard FM (90-100 MHz). He said if you want it shorter do it as a multiple of those numbers (13-15.5").

 

You could get one of these at an auto parts store for like 10-15 bucks

 

just bought a 13" antenna off ebay for the taco. thanks for the tip.

13" should look pretty good and almost level with the windshield- better than 31" anyway!
and probably better than the 8" version they sold.

that one just looked, uh, diminutive.
anybody got an 8" antenna is welcome to show me a pic to disprove, btw