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Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
#760773 May 13th 2020 8:55 pm
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Planning on a few body mods this summer, including frenching two short antennas into either driver or passenger front fender. I'm looking for a 10-15" antenna, potentially extendable to that max length or fixed. Some I see in that size are dummy antennas and I want mine to work. Im not looking for power antenna, just signal reception to my head unit.

If you've done this to your van (or other project) and you did what I'm looking to do, can you shed some info on what might be a good source to find that size antenna that could be some type of OEM or flat base style with wired connection built in? Im looking to use a 1.5" hole diameter which seems pretty common but cluless on antennas and the internet isnt always super helpful.

[Linked Image]


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760774 May 13th 2020 9:27 pm
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The hamb has a really good thread on this subject. Usually a universal antenna, steel tube, and a washer are all you need.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/french-antenna-help-how-do-i.10231/

Last edited by Charlie99909; May 13th 2020 9:31 pm. Reason: Link added

You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760775 May 13th 2020 9:52 pm
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My frenched tubes have drain lines out the bottom

Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760776 May 13th 2020 10:15 pm
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I know how to do the mod, but “universal antennas” like the ones people used to use don’t really exist. Most I see are too tall, not adjustable or stock bases that don’t accept shorter antenna. So I’m looking for advice on finding a workable antenna that would work for something like this


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760778 May 13th 2020 10:27 pm
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Originally Posted by Deathorvictory
I know how to do the mod, but “universal antennas” like the ones people used to use don’t really exist. Most I see are too tall, not adjustable or stock bases that don’t accept shorter antenna. So I’m looking for advice on finding a workable antenna that would work for something like this



Have you looked at the mid to late 90's Caddies? They have that electric antenna in the back that can be removed from the trunk?

It's funny because you usually see the right antennas at swap meets and flea markets.


You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760780 May 13th 2020 10:40 pm
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Our only swap of the year was cancelled. I’m not super keen on electric ones since I want to run 2 next to eachother and not sure if that would even fit. Trying to keep the whole thing as simple as possible. I went to measure on my van where I may put them, I could probably get away with up to 20” and recess it to where the height would work.


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760783 May 14th 2020 1:22 am
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Autozone lists one by Metra that is retractable and fits in a 17mm (0.748 inch) hole. I would start there. The only thing I don't like about it is the black base and tip. I'm sure Metra makes one with chrome base and tip, but I just pulled this one up as it was the first that came up in a Google seach.

Only other suggestion would be to search the local scrap yards for something you like. Problem is going to be finding two identical or even really similar units in the scrap yard. Going with a company like Metra will give you more options for matching or similar units for the dual instal.

Metra from Autozone

As for the power units, I've had a couple back in my minitruckin' days and they're actually quite small. I got them out of scrapyard Toyotas or something like that, one was from a Caddy. Speedway Motors sells a decent one these days.

Power from Speedway Motors

*EDIT* Here is a chrome one I found on eBay using "Telescoping Car Antenna" in Google search. Probably a bunch more out there too.

Chrome from eBay

Last edited by kursed; May 14th 2020 1:31 am.

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760826 May 14th 2020 12:25 pm
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@kursed thanks for the info. Those metro ones seem ok, but all of them I feel, the mounting base always looks canted at an angle and I’m not sure how that would work on a flat base plate in a frenched tube. I might be misunderstanding them because I really haven’t worked with an antenna like those before. I’ve seen fixed mast antennas with a simple flat base and was thinking that might be what I’m looking for but I guess the ones you posted besides the power one is what I actually need. Most of those extend super long which makes that tube below the base long as well. I probably will have room in my fender but I certainly am trying to avoid buying mistakes.


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: Frenched Antenna - What Type of Antenna?
Death or victory #760827 May 14th 2020 12:53 pm
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Originally Posted by Deathorvictory
@kursed thanks for the info. Those metro ones seem ok, but all of them I feel, the mounting base always looks canted at an angle and I’m not sure how that would work on a flat base plate in a frenched tube. I might be misunderstanding them because I really haven’t worked with an antenna like those before. I’ve seen fixed mast antennas with a simple flat base and was thinking that might be what I’m looking for but I guess the ones you posted besides the power one is what I actually need. Most of those extend super long which makes that tube below the base long as well. I probably will have room in my fender but I certainly am trying to avoid buying mistakes.



I'm looking at the base also because I thought they were at an angle, but I believe they do pivot.

Last edited by Charlie99909; May 14th 2020 12:58 pm. Reason: Wrong about posted link.

You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave
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