Installing OEM Snorkel and Dealing with the Antenna

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

rhyary

rhyary

Joined
Apr 5, 2006
Threads
167
Messages
1,483
Location
Albany, NY
This Saturday, 3/31/12, I am going to attempt installing the OEM snorkel I got from Jeff a while back. My inner fenders rusted out and part of the project of replacing them, it will be an excellent time to install the OEM Snorkel.

I am opening this thread for this project. My plan is to take pictures this Saturday to document what we do. I have another thread on the inner fenders. So here I will only add updates as they are related to the Snorkel. In particular I will attempt to preserve the Antenna somehow. By either moving it to the driver side or relocating it on the same passenger side.

Because both outer and inner fenders will be off, it may give me some options as to how to deal with it.

If you have specific suggestions that can help please add them here. Please try restrain yourself with comment on the snorkel, OEM, Safari, etc etc. There are plenty of other threads that deal with general discussions and opinions about snorkel.

If I am successful with the installation and keeping the antenna, then this will help the next guy that wants to do the same.

Rami
 
I recall an old thread where they used a heat gun and reshaped the plastic with a pipe to make room for the antenna. You heat up the plastic and then push the pipe in for an indentation allowing room for it. I don't know if this would work in your application or not but its an idea to consider or at least look at.

Maybe others who may of tried this could chime in on this.
 
That would be for the Safari installation. But it may work here as well. I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for reminding me about it.
 
As far as moving it to the d/s have you thought about hopping on ebay/OZ to look for a right hand drive d/s front fender? I think that would be pretty easy but costly.

I was just looking in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/274960-cb-antenna-stock-location-how.html, to see how hard it might be to try to drill a new hole on the d/s??? The splitter might be a good idea if you have a CB antenna all ready mounted?

And going the route of not using the OEM antenna at all: Universal Window-mount Antenna AM/FM replacement antenna at Crutchfield.com
 
Interesting thread.
I wanted to do the same, but then chose to relocate the antenna. The OEM snorkel covers the whole left by the original antenna completely and there is not much room to play with, as the antenna is pretty big inside and has a bunch of bracketry to stay in place.
I opted to chose the easy way and put a flexible antenna on the front bumper, which works great.
Good project! cheers,
Jan
a1.jpg
a2.jpg
 
The truth is that my Yaesu 350, can do FM radio.
Since I only listen to the public radio, that works fine.

So keeping the Antenna is only to preserve OEM functinality and to have the antenna switch in the cabin do something. I hate switches to do nothing.

Otherwise, there is not realy reason to mess with this.

Rami
 
Details on where you got that antenna at? Also, did you have to drill a hole into your bumper?
 
Well, the snorkel is installed and I just left the antenna in the fender for now. It is position on its side with the power to the motor disconneded.

I did not want to cut the wire until I figure out what to do.

Beside that, there was nothing else to add to the original installation.
 
I know there are a lot of reasons to trip over yourself to 'stay OEM' on things...

But WOW... I like the Safari snorkel's mounting (no exposed bolts), positioning (clears the antenna), air connection (simple round hose and 2 hose clamps to the air cleaner) and top hat (the little scoop Vs the birdhouse).

Cool and all, but sometimes, rarely as it may be, aftermarket solutions may actually be better than OEM.

I had no idea that the OEM snorkel was such an 'interesting' bit of hardware.
 
Just installed the Firestick splitter.
Without the CB antenna screwed into the mounting the FM reception is excellent just from the mount. AM reception is non-existence.

With the CB antenna screwed in, FM reception is excellent and I can get AM reception. I don't know how good because I don't listen to AM.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD
 
Grench said:
I know there are a lot of reasons to trip over yourself to 'stay OEM' on things...

I had no idea that the OEM snorkel was such an 'interesting' bit of hardware.
Click to expand...

Grench,
First I'll admit that I wanted OEM. Not really a practical to explain way. I go to a bar and I order one beer. The guy next to me drinks five. I will not understand how someone can drink 5 beers. I cannot even drink 5 glasses of water. :-)

Back to the OEM snorkel. It is a nicely design piece. Fit is excellent. The OEM has one specific advantage over the Safari for a DD truck.

I drove a Truck with the safari and I didn't like the wind noise. I suspect that because the safari sits below the roof line the noise comes thru the window.

The OEM sits above the roof line and it is totally silent. I like that.

Rami

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD
 
I am currently installing my OEM snorkel today and I am about 90 percent finished except for the mount on the A pillar that supports the upper tube of the snorkel. The hardware I have that shows to install in that position doesn't look like it is self tapping. Did you just drill the holes and use the supplied bolts?
 
Snorkels are somewhat of an acquired taste, so I can see having different opinions on specific ones. I actually think that the "birdcage" looks rather, hmmm, spookish, like you have some super-secret satcom link disguised inside...:D

How far above the roofline does that thing stick up?

Our garage is tight already, I've got at best about six" clearance to the roof -- and no roof rack. It doesn't matter how cool I think it looks -- "if it won't fit, you must quit":p
 
Tulip said:
I am currently installing my OEM snorkel today and I am about 90 percent finished except for the mount on the A pillar that supports the upper tube of the snorkel. The hardware I have that shows to install in that position doesn't look like it is self tapping. Did you just drill the holes and use the supplied bolts?
Click to expand...

Tulip,
The A-pillar bolts are not used on the US vehicle.
I used a license plate plastic inserts. You have to drill a hole and square it with a file. Then plug the plastic insert. Use stainless steel bolts and it works well
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

O
Power antenna troubleshooting after new head unit and motor tear down.
Replies
2
Views
536
OklahomaNibbler
O
RescueU
97 OEM Antenna rebuild
Replies
4
Views
1K
mcbs
mcbs
63FST
'95+ OEM PWR Antenna --> Winch button upgrade
Replies
2
Views
714
63FST
63FST
Kabanstva
What OEM 17” wheels fit best on the 80? Looking for plug and play solution.
Replies
13
Views
1K
Broski
Broski

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom