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By: Zane Merva & Matt Blouin GM-Trucks.com Staff Copyright 2015 Parts & Tools Needed One (1) 11mm fine thread bolt with nut One foot of 12-gauge wire Two (2) crimpable eye fittings Shrink wrap Zip ties Socket Set Pliers Wire stripper/Cutters Estimated price: $12.00 Time to complete: 30 minutes What is It? The relocation of the antenna from stock placement to under the hood for a cleaner look. Skill Level Beginner Warnings and Precautions This relocation will reduce your ability to pick up AM/FM signals. We performed this modification for aesthetic purposes only. OnStar and SirusXM reception will not be affected. Performed On 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab SLT Step One The first step in any project is to prepare your work space. Gather the required tools and safety equipment. Park your vehicle in a place where you have adequate light and you won't have to move it for the duration of the project. Step Two Unscrew and remove the antenna with a small wrench or pliers. Use a rag or paper towel to protect the antenna and prevent scratching the paint in case you want to return it to stock in the future. Step Three Carefully remove plastic trim panel that covers antenna stud. You can pull this piece off with your hands but don’t use too much force or you risk breaking it. Step Four Cut a section of 12-gauge wire approximately one foot in length. Strip about a quarter of an inch off each end. Place two sections of shrink wrap on the wire then crimp the eye-terminal onto the ends of the wire. Heat the shrink wrap to ensure proper seal. Step Five Place the eye-terminal on the 11mm bolt and thread it into the open end of the antenna and tighten down with socket wrench and hold antenna in position with pliers, again being careful not to scratch paint off. Step Six Place antenna under hood in desired location. We chose to relocate under the fender pinch rail next to the battery and intake. Step Seven Route wire up to antenna post being careful to avoid areas where it may pinch. Place the eye-terminal over the post and tighten down with the 11mm bolt. Step Eight Secure antenna with zip ties making sure it is tight to mounting point so it will not move around under rough conditions. Step Nine Place plastic trim panel back over antenna area. Optionally, cover hole with rubber plug, cap, or tape. We've got various sized plugs on order and will update this article if we can find a good fit to cover the left over hole. Conclusion This is an easy and cheap modification to clean up the exterior look of your pickup. Our 2011 Sierra looks way more modern without the ugly mast poking out of the hood. The downside to relocating our antenna is greatly reduced reception. That said, we live in a rural area where reception wasn't great to begin with. Stronger signals in urban areas still work but range you can travel from the station will be limited. Since we rarely use the radio and almost always stream music, this isn't an issue for us.
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