Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,042 Posts1,055,519 Members48,424 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 43 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 43 | Has anybody tried one of these 12V power hidden antenna. I have mine concealed under the dash, but I really want some AM stations. I don't want to drill any holes. I'm curious about the AM reception.
Spencer | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Spencer,
I'll be watching for answers with great interest.
Do these hidden antennae not work well above the roof panel? I guess the metal roof makes for bad reception?
Tim | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I think that you will find any AM antenna used near wiring will not be very statisfactory. It may work for FM because interference affecting the amplitude of the signal does not affect the end result. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 43 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 43 | Right now I have a regular antenna under the dash that works fine with FM. I'm wanting to know if the 12V powered ones that look like a box do any good on AM reception.
Spencer | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 43 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 43 | The reason for the antenna being inside is that I don't want one on the outside, but if I have to, to get AM I won't. I've seen these from 30 to $90. The generic street rods use them, but I've never asked about the AM band in a metal car or truck. Thanks
Spencer | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Not sure how it works exactly, but many old cars had the antenna under the running boards, or as part of the running boards?.
I worked on a 30's car with a fiber center roof panel, no steel, and it had chicken wire to help support the roof, this wire was also the radio antenna.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Regarding the chicken wire roof antenna, this is one of the really interesting feature s of the early Chevs, and probably some other makes. Also, the method of mounting an antenna under the running board has been used successfully by one of the members on this board. I remember a posting in the past about that.
Last edited by truckernix; 05/05/2008 1:35 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,107 | i bought a sony am/fm/cd/mp3 and made it so i could use it in both of my trucks. i bought all the stuff from auto surround that specializes in vintage car and truck audio equipment. i read some reviews on the hidden power antenna and they were 50/50 so i bought it for $24. everything is hidden on both trucks but the antenna isnt. i tried it in the dump and even though it did work i wasnt impressed with it so ill mount an exterior antenna when i get tired of CD's. now on my engine i need it to be totally hidden because i compete in judging with this truck against other trucks and it would be a gig against me. i had an old fire radio head and hand set with a whip antenna that i was unsure where to mount it. after testing the whip using the dump and saw how many stations i could recieve and how well i found a spot on the engine to mount it. after mounting and wiring it with coax cable i pulled the truck out of the garage and was able to pick up 38 stations loud and clear which solved that issue plus my cab looks much better with a fire radio and adds to the truck. as for the hidden antenna i also read that it is a directional type antenna. i tried moving it in different locations in the cab and i wasnt impressed with the reception, maybe the box canopy has a part in it but ended up removing it from the truck. | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 1,312 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2004 Posts: 1,312 | I mounted my antenna under the running boards on my '40. FM reception is great, however, AM is poor - lots of interference. If you need AM I think the exposed antenna is the way to go. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | britcon,
thanks for that important information. I was thinking that the AM reception would be as you described. This will help Stovebolt readers that are planning a radio installation. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Over a year ago I got a new radio for my daily driver, and an XM subscription. I have yet to tune in to an AM or FM station, honestly I could do without an antenna. I have only played two CD's in that time, I could do without a CD player too.
For my 48, that will one day be a daily driver, I had planned on the hidden antenna in question here, but I can now see I won't need one. I can't stand to listen to the commercials on a regular radio any more, I'm spoiled by the satellite radio. I also can listen to my iPod through my radio, as if there are not enough choices on the satellite radio.
Something to consider...
Grigg | | |
|
|
