The Unofficial "Ask a Stupid Question" Thread

1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
I actually like the stubby idea, like a 2010 Mustang. I may consider that.
Click to expand...
I haven't had a stock stereo in 24 years, but I seem to remember that it only raised the power antenna when you were listening to the radio. I'm not certain about that though because I don't remember using a cassette tape in my car for those few months I had the stock stereo.

Either way, I definitely didn't have that capability after switching to my first Pioneer head unit, so now the antenna goes up whenever the stereo is on. It's a moving part with no functional purpose for me, but still better than having a stock fixed mast that would have gotten in the way back when I was parking my cars on and under my lift. The stubby antenna is better than both stock options, but I figure I may as well hide the thing altogether.
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
Not really sure where I'm looking.

Meanwhile, I discovered something else. I think there's glovebox damping in my future.

View attachment 1665

In fact, I'm planning to fully cover the glovebox door in faux suede. The release will be electromagnetic with a button on the center console.
Click to expand...

The connector/pigtail would be to the side of the blue airbag module, the stereo harness runs along the glove box hinge area of the dash frame, parallel to the main dash harness

I took out the glove box shock on mine, it pushes down on the right side of it when its closed leaving an uneven gap.
 
Irv said:
I haven't had a stock stereo in 24 years, but I seem to remember that it only raised the power antenna when you were listening to the radio. I'm not certain about that though because I don't remember using a cassette tape in my car for those few months I had the stock stereo.

Either way, I definitely didn't have that capability after switching to my first Pioneer head unit, so now the antenna goes up whenever the stereo is on. It's a moving part with no functional purpose for me, but still better than having a stock fixed mast that would have gotten in the way back when I was parking my cars on and under my lift. The stubby antenna is better than both stock options, but I figure I may as well hide the thing altogether.
Click to expand...

It raises 100% of the time the stereo is on, radio, cassette or CD. I had a kill switch tapped into the module so it only raises for the rare occasion I listen to regular radio. Stubby antennas have awful reception based on what Mustang guys who added them have told me
 
XR7-4.6 said:
I took out the glove box shock on mine, it pushes down on the right side of it when its closed leaving an uneven gap.
Click to expand...

The car I saw in the junkyard today had that shock, but it was all limp. I'll keep looking; I still like the idea.

I definitely don't see any unused connector under my dash there. Would my base radio even support the power antenna module.
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
The car I saw in the junkyard today had that shock, but it was all limp. I'll keep looking; I still like the idea.

I definitely don't see any unused connector under my dash there. Would my base radio even support the power antenna module.
Click to expand...

It was available for both standard stereo and premium, it's just one wire that runs from the radio to the antenna module, which is simply a 12v "on" signal.

97 was the only year without the shock, all 94-96s have it
 
I have several dash harnesses hanging around. Give me till later and I'll post some pics.
 
Is it normal that when you remove these little clamps (4), the headlights come apart?

I mean there might be the tiniest amount of glue, but there was literally no resistance.


20231027_181007.jpg

Yes, I'm removing these little chrome balls. They look so dated to me...
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
Not really sure where I'm looking.

Meanwhile, I discovered something else. I think there's glovebox damping in my future.

View attachment 1665

In fact, I'm planning to fully cover the glovebox door in faux suede. The release will be electromagnetic with a button on the center console.
Click to expand...

Nice touch! Can’t wait to see the finished product.
 
Normally, you have to carefully bake them in an oven to get the lens off. I'll have to check out my spare set, and see. If I get that off, I'll get someone to cut me a glass replacement. I know how to recoat the silver as well, as long as the underlying plastic is still smooth. You clean the hell out of it, pull a vacuum on it, and strike an arc on a piece of aluminum. The aluminum vapor will stick to everything inside the vacuumchamber evenly.
 
The oven works great on the headlights but the 96-97 corners need extra persuasion in my experience, I'm astounded you got those apart so easily, I've trashed multiple sets trying!
 
My original headlamps came apart pretty easily too. I replaced them a number of years ago and they were a little more resistant but still way easier than the older lamps.
 
They're glued with an epoxy; I'd bet that it was some cleaner sometime in the last 25 years broke down the epoxy, and with tons of sunlight it came apart, leaving the clips the only thing holding it. I've used acids to dissolve epoxy at work.
 
Not likely, the needle shafts/collars changed diameter, IIRC those early mark clusters use the thin ones like the 89-96 VDO MN12 clusters.

Late 90s - early 00s Escort ZX2 is more probable1698871575027.jpeg
 
XR7-4.6 said:
Not likely, the needle shafts/collars changed diameter, IIRC those early mark clusters use the thin ones like the 89-96 VDO MN12 clusters.

Late 90s - early 00s Escort ZX2 is more probable
Click to expand...

Ahh, ok.

I'm thinking about putting LEDs in now, and the white light tends to wash out the orange or red needles. I'm thinking white needles would look best.
 
Is it possible to disable two-step verification? It drives me nuts having to get the code in my email and I am not worried about someone skimming my Birdcats account. :rofl:
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
Ahh, ok.

I'm thinking about putting LEDs in now, and the white light tends to wash out the orange or red needles. I'm thinking white needles would look best.
Click to expand...

Workaround to that is to mount a 3 or 5mm orange or red LED right at the base of the needles, Scott who used to make the custom faces used to have a write up and pictures and it was very effective, made the needles look almost neon
 
I used to put cheap stereo's in cars, and often it was covered in stick on chrome trim, lol. Why you'd replace a factory radio with a $40 radio, IDK. My boss had to buy a $600 radio for a cadillac after seriously screwing up replacing a belt, lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Back
Top