Antenna or not?

[neod192]

I placed the order on 4/10.

Dang! It took almost a month to get it?

[smr2112]

Mine only took 10 days order to receive. It's cause ya'll waited and now the guy is backlogged... :)

I ordered as soon as I knew such a thing existing as I wanted this thing 2 years ago for my 2010.

[clummus]

 

 

Yes exactly that. Is a prefect square that the sharkfin fits inside exactly and will not move.

Position the frame over the antenna base exactly and eyeball it. Then secure with tape

and put sharkfin inside for final position. It will not move and then I removed backing to attach the antenna.

I cut the frame using a piece of stiff cardboard and a T-Square and pencil. Cut it with a drop blade

so it was perfectly square and then square a piece at the back to lock it into the frame.

 

 

With tape alone as he instructs, it just felt to me it could move too easily at the last instant.

Probably depends on the tape you use, but the tape I had was slick and the Sharfin slid off

it too easily. Worked great and I highly recommend it.

Really makes the look of the car. Here is the final picture I just took.

 

The color match was dead-on exact. I think I read it is painted by a body shop so it should match

and hopefully it will last too. The guy who makes these clearly knows what he is doing.

 

If you're thinking about this thing, it really is very easy if you take your time. Then put sealant on

the car afterwards.

 

[clummus]

what do you mean by put sealant on the car afterwards? do u mean wax? y'all don't laugh at me if that is a stupid.question!..

[murphy]

what do you mean by put sealant on the car afterwards? do u mean wax? y'all don't laugh at me if that is a stupid.question!..

 

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?28676-Is-it-a-wax-Or-a-paint-sealant

[smr2112]

I meant you want to do this ASAP when you get the car as any way to paint salant, like I put on

will interfere with the adhesion of the Sharkfin. Once on the car, Blackfire sealant I used bonds

with the paint and the Sharkfin painted surface.

[clummus]

I thought the car would have the clear coat sealant before I pick it up?..

[smr2112]

No, of course every car has clear-coat sealant on the paint, don't want to take that off ;-)

 

But I am talking about any additional wax or additional sealant you might add - don't want to

get that adhered before the Sharkfin if you can help it. He has a way to take it off with a 3M prep, but

you want to avoid that if possible. I just washed the car first and then prepped with isopropyl

alcohol.

 

Don't people wax or seal their cars (especially when brand new?). The expensive paint sealant

the dealer wanted to charge for, can be had for $20-$30 and is simple easy to use and will

protect the paint from all sorts of environmental hazards (thinking bird doo-doo). Judging by the

cars I see in a typical parking lot, I would have to bet 50% of people drive their cars off the lots

and never do anything to the paint surface. Seems that way... Of course today's paints and

clearcoats are way better than years ago. But most people aren't nuts like we are.

[Riggo]

I did my Sharkfin install today and have to say it was very easy to do, if you we're thinking about it, I recommend it.

The appearance improvement is great.

 

To install, I made a square cutout that was easier for me than just the tape. I tapeed this cardboard cutout and could tweak

it in to place. Once stuck, it sticks like iron and will not move. only mistake I made was leaving about 2" of backing I missed

in peeling off, but I got it off with a piece of plastic and had no issues sticking it. Will not move and reception is fine. even

washed and waxed car after with no issues, that thing ain't going anywhere. With that square cutout image,

the Sharkfin fits perfectly inside and not possible to move or shift. With just the tape as in

the instructions, it seemed like it could move too easily while trying to stick it.

 

Wow, that is completely different than I thought. I was thinking you had to take off the black hump on the Fusion too, not just cover it up with the shark igloo. Maybe this isn't such a hard instal after all! I'm still a little sketched out to try it though, I know if I stuck it on even 1 degree off it would bug me forever. Plus I fear if something goes wrong with the atenna the paint job will be forever ruined if I have to pry the shark off.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Riggo

[neod192]

My SharkFin just shipped!

[fusionTX]

I may be the exception, but I am not bothered my the Fusion's antenna. I agree that I would have preferred a shark fin to start with, but I am more concerned with function over looks. I will probably wait a few months, and let the dust settle, before jumping on this. I do appreciate all you pioneers. Keep em coming!

[terryb]

17 calendar days and I'm waiting for my shipment information.

[GrySql]

17 calendar days and I'm waiting for my shipment information.

Email them, I found they respond fairly fast.

[neod192]

My SharkFin just shipped!

It's here, but this weekend I detailed my wife's car instead of mine. I might have time for mine next week - that's when I'll install the fin :)

[Nick P]

Installed my shark fin antenna Saturday and it looks GREAT! The color matches perfectly (Oxford White) and installation was a breeze. I have pics posted in the gallery. I highly recommend the Visual Garage product. I've not noticed any loss in reception compared to the 50 cent black stick that came with the car.

[terryb]

I learned that my antenna may ship by the end of the week. Paint formulation regulations have changed and slowed them down.

[gmarshall]

I just received my Shark Fin Antenna (Ingot Silver) yesterday and installed it last night. The installation was a breeze just take your time and you will have no problems at all. Makes the car look so much cleaner. The paint match was perfect and it looks like it came from the factory this way, very satisfied with the product overall.

[terryb]

Got the word that it shipped yesterday. Looking forward to the sleek revision.

[neod192]

I finally had time to clean up the car and install the Sharkfin!

 

The setup:

 

Installed:

[neod192]

So after taking the car w/ the SharkFin out on 2 trips, it's pretty clear that I lost HD radio :doh: . It used to cut in and out by my house and stay connected in the city. Now it doesn't get any HD signal by my house and cuts in and out in the city .. Bummer :cry: , but I still like the look of the SharkFin and i'm NOT taking it down :rockon:

[acdii]

Guess that answers that question. I kind of like the pig tail sticking off my roof.

[fusionTX]

So after taking the car w/ the SharkFin out on 2 trips, it's pretty clear that I lost HD radio :doh: . It used to cut in and out by my house and stay connected in the city. Now it doesn't get any HD signal by my house and cuts in and out in the city .. Bummer :cry: , but I still like the look of the SharkFin and i'm NOT taking it down :rockon:

Sorry to hear. That is what I was afraid of. My HD radio comes in good, but satellite can sometimes be iffy. I will wait until newer model Fusions get a new antenna before fiddling with it, if at all. Who knows, maybe the 2014's will have a new antenna look.

[terryb]

<p>Got mine yesterday and NOW after 5 months of discussion, there's a report of loss of function!?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Installed it just now in about 20 min.I used a cutout as seen above to do allignment and show the footprint for surface prep.  I had her waxed within a week of delivery.  Now to see if there is any functional impact to offset the appearance improvement.  ( fingers crossed )</p>

Edited May 29, 2013 by terryb

[smr2112]

HD Radio is a funny thing anyway. I really have not had any problems I can detect.

I doubt he did anything wrong.

 

Do make sure when you install it that the S/F does not touch any part of the base.

Use a screwdriver to tighten the washer attached to the S/F antenna wire firmly,

but not too tight. Test your radio function before securing it while the car

is stationary.

[Fastronaut]

So after taking the car w/ the SharkFin out on 2 trips, it's pretty clear that I lost HD radio :doh: . It used to cut in and out by my house and stay connected in the city. Now it doesn't get any HD signal by my house and cuts in and out in the city .. Bummer :cry: , but I still like the look of the SharkFin and i'm NOT taking it down :rockon:

Really sorry to hear about your HD radio reception. Have you contacted the antenna vendor to get any help?