Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior cheap antenna mod...

Hey all, I've been a bit busy this week, it hasn't helped that my paycheck from the comedy club bounced this week, yet still, I've had enough time to make a simple (and cheap) mod for my celica. Unfortunately, since my desktop PC is still down, I don't have any pics to post yet, but what follows is a step-by-step how to I like to call:

The Poor-man's S-2000 antenna mod

Okay, here's what I did:

1) go to the local pep boys (or other convenient auto parts store) and buy one of those replacement rubber antenna masts. They are made of a conductive rubber, are shorter than a standard mast, and quite cheap (I paid about $7 for mine) it is crucial that it is the bendy, conductive rubber type, mot the ones that have a metal coil or rod inside. please excuse the crappy image, but it's all I could find...


2) now, you simply cut the rubber portion of the mast, so the antenna is as long or short as you want. the shorter the antenna, the worse the reception, and vice-versa. I trimmed mine so the antenna is about 6" long. you will notice, as I did, that there is no metal in the whip portion of the antenna, it is solid rubber, the rubber itelf has microscopic metal particles in it to make it conductive enough to be an antenna. after cutting the whip down to the desired length, I used a fine file to smooth out the tip, and round off the edge a bit. I then used a scrap piece of suede leather to buff the antenna's tip to match the finish and texture of the rest of the mast. When you're done, it'll look like the antenna was made at that length. best of all, because it's shorter, it's no longer floppy, rather it's stiffer and resilient (insert lame porn star joke a-la super street here)

3) now that the antenna has been trimmed to your liking, and buffed out a bit to make it look perfect, you now have to mount it.

the mast comes with a stud kit, use the import/japanese stud (has a single ring in the middle, and the smallest threading at one end then the others). thread the chunky end into your new mast, and screw the antenna into the reciever on the passenger-side-rear of your celica. note, that there is a hollow, plastic portion of the antenna below the whip, there should be a spring in there, which does two things. a) it keeps the butt-cap torqued down to the base of the antenna (the threaded base of your new mast, where you install the stud, that's the butt-cap) and b) it provides the conductive link between the threaded stud and the rubber whip. if your reception is as bad as it is with no antenn in place, double check for the spring by unscrewing the butt-cap on the antenna mast.

if all went according to plan, you now have a nice, stubby antenna that will not break, looks cool, and best of all it was much cheaper than an s2000 antenna.

so far, this antenna works great for me. I'll post plenty of pics, as soon as I get my PC working again.

moral:spend a few bucks more and buy an s2000 antenna..if you can afford the car,you can deffinetly afford an s2000 antenna

don't you mean, if your parents can afford the car? ...J/k man

Or didn't you read the part about my paycheck bouncing?

I can afford an s2000 antenna, I'd rather just make my own and save $20, to go towards new rims or something, just because something costs more doesn't mean it's better.

one more thing, blue. Keep your morals to yourself... I'm a heathen!

BOOOYAH

$20 towards rims?

Talk about pissing in the ocean hoping the tide will rise

I'd like to just find an S2000 antennae

exactly!!

Have you tried "HONDA".

ever think of trying a honda dealership?

with all the lovely comments from people as of late, maybe you'd all prefer that I posted in another forum.

Sure, when the problems can be solved with money, you all know the fucking answers, don't you? But when it's a basic technical issue that's got you all dumbfounded, everybody wants to hit me up for the answers they can't pay the techs at the dealership to solve.

So you know what, I don't know if I'll bother posting any more tech articles here, period. I suppose I'll "piss in the ocean and wait for the tide to rise" after all, I drink a lot of fucking coffee, and I'm sure it'll go up an inch or two in a few years after I've pissed enough.

The problem with stupid kids that have no money of their own is they don't know the value of a dollar, and that, >gasp< saving money here and there gives you more to spend when you need it.

If you got the bread for an s2K antenna for your celica, you should have the brains to find a vendor from which you can purchase said antenna, Oh, sorry, was I generalizing, as so many of you are often inclined to do on this forum? Well yes, I suppose I was.

So if you flame me, or whine, or bitch about it in any way, realize you brought it upon yourself, 'cause you all do the same thing every fuckin day.

Most of you bitch and moan when people say this shit, because you know it's fucking true, and you kick yourselves in the ass because it burns like turpentine in an open wound when someone confronts you with it.

if you have a nice ride, with all the best tuner parts, and it's sooo super pimp that all the haters just wanna fuck it up, it because of three possible reasons:

1) your mommy and/or daddy pays for your car (and possibly all your tuner parts)

2) Your mommy and/or daddy pays for everything else in your life so you can afford to dump all your money into your car.

3) you are doing something illegal to pay for that shit.

Unless you run a tuner shop, or just made your IPO on the NYSE, you cannot afford it. and odds are, if you are either of those two just mentioned than one of the above three probably applies to you anyways.

I work two jobs, I bust my ass. I can afford the car, my rent, my bills & expenses every month, but little else. I've gone back to publishing to try and afford a bit more for tuning my GTS, and when my deadbeat boss at the comedy club writes me a check, and he closes the bank account the next day, it doesn't help. not one bit.

So, if you can afford the car... that's a bunch of bullshit, if you pay for you own shit, I mean ALL your own shit, you wouldn't be talking like that, you'd be prayin your company doesn't downsize you out of your livelyhood, and that you got enough cash in the bank to pay for your kids school supplies and still have enough left to feed them.

so shove your s2000 antennas up your collective asses and spin, because you obviously haven't the foggiest understanding of the value of your money, god willing, you will when your folks get sick and tired of your leeching, and that $20 you save will mean the difference between eating for the next few days or starving.

go fuck yourselves.

Sincerely,
Eric L. (a.k.a. Rave669)

im not doing 1,2, or 3, but my parents have decided to pay for my insurance now because im basically poor since i cant work as much now as i can in the summer

im not 1 2 or 3...and i like my S2000 antenna! and i think it was worth 20 bucks ...and im not sticking it up my ass! lol Rave you gotta chill out dude...its the internet! lol wow

rave-i honestly have to give you props for doing something custom, any dumbshit can go out and buy an s2000 antenna..even i can!! how many people spend enough time on there cars to do a CUSTOM antenna themselves..mad props to you bro!

Mommy and Daddy? Uhhh I moved out when I was 18 and they haven't paid one cent for my car or my mods. I have not made one penny from illegal activities. Obviously you're upset, but making ridiculous comments like that doesn't lend yourself any credibility.

But hey, nice antenna

ebay it up.. i called honda dealers around here and they were asking like 30+... 15bucks ebay.. for the time and eff. you put into yours i clicked my mouse typed a bid and it was magically @ my house a few days later..

hey, I got a homemade antenna too I cut the stock antenna about 4 inches high and I used my cordless phone antenna( rubber piece ) and slip it right in over the stock. It actually fits quiet well, looks good, get great reception, and best of all I dont have to worry about it gettin stollen!!

I'm with you on that whole money problem, i'm working full time, going to college, and working on the side, doing customizing and basic parts on cars just to get my bills done mostly, and i know how damn hard it is to save up to get the stuff for your car when you have all those bills coming in. Any mod that will save you money and look just as good is worth the effort, i did my front bumper today, came out just as good as a professional and i didn't have to pay them 2-300 to put it on. Keep posting any other ideas you might have, we do appreciate it.

Rave good tip on the antenna, I dont worry to much about money but I like to come up with my own Ideas too. I changed mine to also using more brain than money and get a lot of people that have a s2000 ant that want to know where I got mine {had about 50 people at NOPI Nats ask me}and I love the fact that mine is diff. Keep up with the good ideas and pm me if you think of anything else.

theres nothing wrong with custom antenna and mad props on doing it so, i have one and it looks great, creativeness brings it to the next level

You can do that, or just go by an S2000 antenna. Whatever floats your boat.

edit: I'm not going to fight with you

You need to learn to take a joke.

Maybe that's why the comedy club didn't pay up.

rave im with you on everything you said...however that was pretty funny what diablo said about the comedy club not paying you.
IF you guys can afford this car and and all the mods with out mom and dads help...im curious to know what you do for a living or if you go to college or went for that matter.Because if you have all this money to spend i want a job like that.

Rave was just making a point about his ant. mod ... play nice guys.