65air_coupe

While I'm replacing my gas tank I thought I might as well replace the non-working, aftermarket electric antenna I installed decades ago. It only worked for a few years and I don't really use the radio anyway and practically never operated the antenna which is probably why it failed. I'm considering just a simple fixed s'stl mast or possibly a stubby but probably not thinking it would not look right on this car.

What have others done?

Frankie the Fink

To me the only advantage of an electric antenna -- one that collapsed to flush on the fender was when installing a car cover or raising the car on a lift....that's all...

65air_coupe

Which is why I replaced the non-working OEM antenna with an aftermarket version and since then I simply poked a small hole in the cover. I tried finding one of those little stubby metail antennas you see on highway patrol cars with no luck. Obivously not a AM/FM antenna.

It looks like a pull-up antenna is a decent option, cheap, can stay down indefinitely and has plenty of room under the vendor, just can't find one in stock anywhere and what ready to put the tank in today

65air_coupe

Found one on Amazon, Metra 44UL105, will be here Thursday.

Frankie the Fink

The Metra 44PW22 is what I used -- only 13-1/2 inches under the fender and if you finagle the mounting components mounts flush -- you can see it working at the end of this video; a search would have revealed I've recommended it many times here:

Rob_64-365

Thanks Frank, I will just blindly order this, knowing you did the homework!!

milano maroon

Frankie the Fink

I don't see why not.....the antenna goes up when power is applied, down when its removed -- it doesn't get much simpler than that..

Dreaming60’s

Incredible to be able to buy a retractable antenna for $15 or less. Okay, so you extended the antenna lead to go to............never mind. Tell us about your system and installation please. It sounds very good.

I was going to get an aftermarket AM/FM/MP3 wonderbar look-a-like replacement radio and switch out the kick panels to the speaker kick panels I see everywhere, since I figured the original speaker must be shot. But, your set-up sounds great. Where are the speakers?

Sorry, this is what you get for being a guru, the minions come to bow before you.

BH

survivor66

Down when power is removed? There are two power positions. One for up and one for down.

Frankie the Fink

The antenna in the video is the Metra; it has a blue wire for up power designed to connect to the radio "on" signal (orange wire on many radios) an add'l wire goes to unswitched power. The power "off" at the radio lowers the antenna.

The system in the video is the Antique Automobile Radio repro Wonderbar fed by a Sirius XM tuner...its outputs go to a Kenwood 8404 power amp and feed an Eckler's 140W dual voice coil 6/x9 dash speaker and a passive BT6014 Bazooka via a bridged attachment to the Kenwood amp.

The Sirius XM tuner was later removed and the system operated through smart phone Pandora via Bluetooth.

Dreaming60’s

Thanks Frankie! I forgot I asked this question and had to go looking for this thread or would have responded sooner. I do intend to go with an updated AM/FM/MP3 repro wonderbar radio and have recently discovered Pandora, which plays the music I like (50's and 60's) without a bunch of DJ talk and BS, like Sirius. So, it looks like Pandora is an excellent choice.

So, you're happy with the single upgraded 6x9 speaker? I was concerned you wouldn't be able to hear it with the top down. If you can, no sense going to the kick panel speakers.

Is the Kenwood power amp or similar model really needed or can I just go with the updated radio and speakers. I won't be blasting my music, but just want to hear it at 60-70 mph with the top down.

Thanks!

Frankie the Fink

Dreaming60’s

I don't need the thump and as long the aftermarket radio and speaker combination don't sound tinny. Your comment on top down, 60 mph sound, makes me wonder about the kick panel speakers. I wonder is any formites have installed these and their opinion.

BH

65tripleblack

Pay the freight and buy a restored original.

68hemi

I have the kick panel speakers in my 57 and they are worthless in my opinion. I have a 4 speaker soundbar with a single speaker in my 65 coupe which sound good with the windows up not so much with the windows down.

Dreaming60’s

Thanks 68hemi,

I won't go for kick panel speakers then. I don't want to spend the time installing and rerouting wires for poor sound. Do you think it might be the speakers that come with the kick panels or just the location?

BH

68hemi

Probably both, I just don't seem to be able to hear hardly anything out of them.