mandyfig

The stubby antenna is indeed wider and will not work with the SC. I tried to shove the MX5 antenna to the SC base and in doing so ripped it. Oh well the stubby antenna should be in today and will go to the MX5! Nothing lost. Am so happy that I finally did this upgrade. Go for it guys.

SlvBullet

iTrader: (8)

Does any one have a antenna mast from the sc430 you can sell? I want to try something I saw on Utube but couldnt find it again. It showed a process where a stubby antenna connecting screw was crimped into the first section of the telescoping antenna. I would use a cement in addition to the crimping. Would be easy to test while I look for the celica mount part.

mohrd

iTrader: (3)

SlvBullet, I was thinking about the same thing a while back. Figured you wouldn't have to remove the current antique looking antenna, just snip it and crimp in a screw mount adapter that comes with many stubbies anyways. Please update if you actually get to experiment this way.

mandyfig

You still have to disconnect the antenna if you crimp an antenna to the current mast. Otherwise you know what's going to happen...

mandyfig

The CravenSpeed Stubby Antenna came in, as predicted the base is bigger and does not fit our base. So it is sitting on the Miata.

Here it is:

mandyfig

There are a ton of stubbies on fleabay. I wanted the S2000 because it really works. No signal loss. The imitation antennas, hit or miss with reception. That is if you are still listening to the radio. Which in my case I still do. But none of the telescoping on-off antenna. It is so outdated. Did they get rid of it towards the end? I do not think so.

SlvBullet

iTrader: (8)

Yep - no way to get arounf the tear down. I'm still loking for the celica mast too.

mandyfig

The Toyota mast will be the challenge.

mandyfig

The S2000 antenna abound.

Anion

This is a pretty interesting mod...

I thought about completely shaving the antenna off to be honest... But this isn't a bad idea

SlvBullet

iTrader: (8)

I finally got around to doing this. First I removed the mast per Lexus Technical Bulletin EL004-02

A. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK.
B. Remove the antenna nut and antenna ornament of the antenna assembly.
C. Press AM and DISC simultaneously and turn the ignition switch to ACC.
Then the radio display shows ANT.
D. Once extended to the maximum length, the antenna mast pipe can be pulled out from the antenna assembly.

> there's more if you are going to replace the OEM mast ...

Then I stripped the trunk liners as Mandyfig and others described. Then I removed the entire antenna.and disconneted the power, RF, and drainage hose just to get the full experience and work outside the trunk. I'm going to do the Nav Gen 4 mod as well as the NavTool v2 with 2 cameras so I removed everything but the left side liner.

To remove the gear strip from the antenna you have to cut the top nobby off and pull the whole thing out from the the bottom. You will insert the new antenna mounting screw into the 3rd mast section. You only need to cut about 2" from the 2nd section then shove it down deeper into the third section. I tapped a 6mm thread to the end of the 3rd section and wrapped the threads with a very thin filiment of copper wire to make it tighter. Then I crimped it.

I replaced the antenna base and reconncted the RF and drainage hose and replaced the outside cover and screw. I fitted the new antenna to the mounting screw and adjusted the mast section height so the stubby would fit tight to the nut. Once I had the position I wanted, I epoxy'ed the antenna segments below the new mounting screw to hold them in place. When dry, I screwed on the new antenna. I used a small rubber spacer to help tighten the new antenna.

Results:

I like the looks. No AM reception at all. Fair to good FM reception. I get mostly the same stations I listen too like PBS, classical and classic rock but in places the signal comes and goes. I need to test with no antenna at all and compare. For fun I found at a salvage yard the Celica antenna base per Mandyfig and will see if a better connections helps - ie. It has the screw mount vs crimped. Then I'll test the S2000 mast. Do I need to keep working on it? Probably not but its part of the learning experince and I still have everything open. If the Celica mast doesn't make any difference I'll sell it. If the S2000 or another mast is much better I'll switch or maybe use what fits what I'm doing and where I'm driving. The experimentation is part of the fun right?

Here's a few pictures.

SlvBullet

iTrader: (8)

more pictures ............:

mandyfig

Looks good! I like it.

ktdsc430

looks nice

SlvBullet

iTrader: (8)

Thanks much! Thanks to Mandyfig and all the others posting tips and DIYs.