I've got a '70 El Camino. Horrible radio reception. The radio is a Ken Harrison unit sold by OPGI. Wouldn't have bought it had I known it was identical to the stuff sold by Custom Autosound. Anyway, I'm going to do some testing this weekend to determine whether it's the radio or the windshield antenna that is giving me fits.

If it turns out to be the windshield antenna, am I going to run into any problems installing a traditional fender-mounted antenna on a '70? I don't want to even think about drilling a hole in my fender without knowing what I may encounter.

Thanks.

BTW, did replace the cable that connects the antenna with the radio.

Have you thought about using a inline antenna amplifier? I've used them several times and they have worked.

I have not, but I just noticed something on the Year One website. It's a "Windshield Antenna Ground." I'll have to check to see if my EC even has one. Of course I need to know where to look for it. The product info says it mounts "in the cowl area" to make contact with the hood when it closes. Might you (or anyone else) know exactly where this piece mounts?

http://www.yearone.com/images/parts/97_99/9827n.jpg

My windshield antenna works great on my 70 elky. Picks up FM stations quite a ways away. Has the original am/fm radio in it.

Having just replaced my antenna lead and not seeing the part noted above, I'm thinking I may have a ground-related problem. Again referencing its location (as provided by Year One), I just had my hood off for an engine swap and I didn't see anything like this making contact with the hood.

I have not, but I just noticed something on the Year One website. It's a "Windshield Antenna Ground." I'll have to check to see if my EC even has one. Of course I need to know where to look for it. The product info says it mounts "in the cowl area" to make contact with the hood when it closes. Might you (or anyone else) know exactly where this piece mounts?

http://www.yearone.com/images/parts/97_99/9827n.jpg

Tim -

The hood ground clips are probably missing from 95% (or more) of cars that have been restored. The clips are mounted to the cowl with a single sheet metal screw and are located outboard of the rectangular cowl vent openings. Look next to the openings and you'll probably see evidence of a small hole in the cowl where the clips were once attached.

The hood clips are used in conjunction with the three braided copper ground straps that ground the engine to the body and the body to the frame. I could be wrong, but I've always thought of these grounding mechanisms as a safeguard against radio static (along with the noise suppression capacitors) - and not a means of improving radio reception.

Rich

Good info. Thanks.

I'm betting the problem is just a cheap made radio.

Just as a follow-up regarding mediocre radio reception:

I've got an original mono am/fm in my '70 Elky with the windshield antenna. I had the radio rebuilt by Greg Thompson at S&M Electro-Tech. After being refurbished, reception wasn't up to the standard of what we're used to in today's radios and I just chalked it up to the technology of the day.

In a conversation with Greg, I mentioned my disappointment in reception and he explained that a minor reduction in operating voltage can affect radio performance. He suggested cleaning the fuse clips at the block as well as using contact cleaner on the radio harness connectors. Everything "looked" nice and clean but I took his advice anyway - and it made a difference! So, if you are experiencing less than desirable reception, you might try this easy fix. It worked for me.

Certainly worth a try.

I agree with Jerry. My 70 SS 454 El Camino has the Org. A/M.--F/M and reception is fine, No problems. Did you know??? In 70, If your windshield antenna went bad, The dealer had the option of replacing the windshield or you got a fender antenna. I guess if you didnt care you got a fender antenna??????????????
Bob

Well, I just narrowed down my problem to the antenna (windshield). I thought my choices were limited to replacing the windshield or adding a fender antenna. Just last night a friend told me of something that worked for him on his '55. Not wanting to drill the fender, he bought a generic fender antenna and mounted it (fully extended) under the car on the outside of the frame rail. Said it worked fine. In all my years this a the first I've ever heard of such a solution. Anyone out there done this?

Well, I just narrowed down my problem to the antenna (windshield). I thought my choices were limited to replacing the windshield or adding a fender antenna. Just last night a friend told me of something that worked for him on his '55. Not wanting to drill the fender, he bought a generic fender antenna and mounted it (fully extended) under the car on the outside of the frame rail. Said it worked fine. In all my years this a the first I've ever heard of such a solution. Anyone out there done this?

Back in the '50's and '60's it was popular to hide the radio antenna either along the frame or under the running board on full customs. It was especially popular on lead sleds with frenched lights, shaved handles and chrome trim removed. Having an antenna sticking out of the fender wouldn't fit the theme.

A lot of guys did it so it must have worked to one degree or another.

I have been around the block a few times with old Chevys.
37-38 Chevys the factory antennas were mounted on the underside of the running boards. Three of my 37-38s back then had running board antennas. The other 9 I have owned had did not have running board antennas. Wish I still had one,,,,,,,,,,, Love 38 Coupes.
Bob
P.S. You can also tape a Dia-pole antenna to the back of the dash pad.