I just bought my 69 Camaro a couple of months ago. The radio reception is almost non-existent, my buddy says it's the antenna. Is there anyway to check and see if the antenna is functioning properly or if it's something else? Sure would like to have some music while cruising. Thanks

can also be the antenna adjustment.....

in some delco radio's there is a mark that looks like a lil triangle.. put your red needle on that.or on the nearest station to it.
remove your knobs and look for a lil adj screw under one one of the knobs...i think its under the right tuning knob.

remember the current location!!!!

try adjusting it while the radio is on to pull in the station.....

can anyone chime in on this?

The following applies only to OE AM radio and staff extended all the way - First, make sure the bracket of the staff is on clean metal underneath, got to have a good ground at the clamping nut. A good troubleshooting technique is to touch the staff, if volume of radio increases, then antenna needs better grounding.

Antenna trim adjustment as wagonman suggests. Tune the radio to a station above AM 1400 khz, turn down the volume down, remove the tuning knob and the balance knob (the big knob behind the tuning knob just pulled off).

Using a plastic flat blade screwdriver, adjust the ANT TRIM for best reception while listening to the volume. Install knobs. Done for AM adjusting.

If you have FM option, shorten antenna to 31 inches.

Is there a resistance check or anything that will tell me if the antenna cable itself is good or not?

Center conductor to outside casing should be open.

Are we talking AM / FM or both?

The antenna connects to the radio via a coaxial cable. You should be able to find it plugged into the back of the radio. There are two conductors on the plug -- one for the center conductor and the other for the grounding shield.

You should be able to disconnect the coaxial plug and do a continuity measurment from the center conductor to the antenna whip, and from the coax shield to ground (chassis). You should not get continuity from the center conductor to the shield unless you short the whip to the chasis in some way.

I don't have any suggestions for debugging other than check the antenna connections. However I have noticed the original AM radio I have in my 69 gets better reception than some of the AM units I have in my newer vehicles. However, I rarely listen to the radio since I rather listen to the sweet music of the engine.
ColoradoZ28