ReconH3
Guardian Angel
- Messages
- 2,288
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
The factory antenna is 37" long. Every time I park in my garage, or go into a parking structure, I go smacking the antenna everywhere. This is something that drives me up the wall. Most people just get a stubby antenna, but I actually like having the antenna as a warning for low clearances so I don't go breaking anything. I found in Pep Boys a 31" antenna that looks identical.
It comes with a bunch of adapters, but none work for the H3. The thread on the H3 antenna is M7-1.00. The thread in the new antenna is M6-1.00. What I did is go to Lowes and get a M7-1.00 x 25mm bolt. I then got an M6-1.00 threading die.
I left the bolt head uncut till the last step so I had something to hold onto when threading it. I grabbed the bolt in a 11mm wrench, and with the M6 die I started threading it. I made about 1/3 of the thread into 6mm thread.
Here's a comparison of the before and after. The head of the bolt has already been cut off, but I would suggest not doing it until you have installed it on the new antenna. That way you can tighten it down. I added some loctite on the 6mm thread so it stays put in the antenna. You can then cut the bolt head off.
Here a comparison. Top OEM. Middle new antenna with modified 6/7mm thread. 7mm bolt.
Before with 37" OEM antenna. You can see how it hits the garage door.
After with 31" antenna. You can see it clears the garage door, but is still tall enough to still serve as a warning if the clearance is too low. I had been wanting to do this mod pretty much since I got my truck, but since I couldn't find the right replacement antennae it never happened. Now it's done and one of my favorite mods.
The reception is just as good as with the OEM one.
It comes with a bunch of adapters, but none work for the H3. The thread on the H3 antenna is M7-1.00. The thread in the new antenna is M6-1.00. What I did is go to Lowes and get a M7-1.00 x 25mm bolt. I then got an M6-1.00 threading die.
I left the bolt head uncut till the last step so I had something to hold onto when threading it. I grabbed the bolt in a 11mm wrench, and with the M6 die I started threading it. I made about 1/3 of the thread into 6mm thread.
Here's a comparison of the before and after. The head of the bolt has already been cut off, but I would suggest not doing it until you have installed it on the new antenna. That way you can tighten it down. I added some loctite on the 6mm thread so it stays put in the antenna. You can then cut the bolt head off.
Here a comparison. Top OEM. Middle new antenna with modified 6/7mm thread. 7mm bolt.
Before with 37" OEM antenna. You can see how it hits the garage door.
After with 31" antenna. You can see it clears the garage door, but is still tall enough to still serve as a warning if the clearance is too low. I had been wanting to do this mod pretty much since I got my truck, but since I couldn't find the right replacement antennae it never happened. Now it's done and one of my favorite mods.
The reception is just as good as with the OEM one.
