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Does the antenna rod separate from the base mount? I have a new car cover that tells me to put a hole in it to accommodate but I'd rather unscrew it than put a hole in a cover designed to protect. When I tried, the whole base was beginning to move so rather than go further, just wanted to ask. Might just be rusted on.
Meant to add: 72 stingray
Last edited by mtnance; Feb 18, 2015 at 12:44 PM.
Reason: add car
I think you risk doing more damage to the car by screwing and unscewing the antenna than you would if a drop of water got thru the hole for the antenna. I would recommend a slit rather than a hole.
If its the antenna mast Only , It's no biggie. I unscrew it by hand and hand tighten snug by hand also. .did it for 12 years with no close calls at all.Just make sure you're just removing the Mast and not the base.
Last edited by redcruz1120; Feb 18, 2015 at 11:11 PM.
Just make sure the base nut is tight, and then loosen the mast nut. You may be right in saying the mast nut is frozen.
Hand tighten only after you get 'er free!
Sorry to resurrect this old thread showing this super-simple procedure. Needless to say, removing the mast is the very first thing I tried to do on my new '82, and the damn thing won't budge. Spent an hour in my driveway applying WD40 to the joint. Then I held the base nut using a wrench wrapped in masking tape while trying to twist the mast with pipe pliers. No go. Is it possible (or common) for the mast and the base to be corroded together? The chrome hold-down nut came off easily enough, but I can't get the mast to move one molecule in any direction.
Sorry to resurrect this old thread showing this super-simple procedure. Needless to say, removing the mast is the very first thing I tried to do on my new '82, and the damn thing won't budge. Spent an hour in my driveway applying WD40 to the joint. Then I held the base nut using a wrench wrapped in masking tape while trying to twist the mast with pipe pliers. No go. Is it possible (or common) for the mast and the base to be corroded together? The chrome hold-down nut came off easily enough, but I can't get the mast to move one molecule in any direction.
An aftermarket antenna wouldn't look the same, would it? This looks exactly like a factory fixed-mast antenna. The only thing different from the photos in this thread is that it's missing the bezel under the nut. The car has been repainted at some point, so they must have left that out when they reassembled it. There's a rubber grommet/gasket, but no bezel.
OK, let's say I end up not being able to remove the mast from the base. Is it difficult to replace the entire antenna? Is it accessible from underneath the car, maybe if I pull the wheel? What about the coax cable? Does it disconnect at the base, or is it permanently attached? In other words, does replacement of the antenna base require routing a new cable all the way to the front of the car? Sorry for so many questions. This isn't an area I ever had to work on in my other Vettes, and I don't have a shop manual yet.
An aftermarket antenna wouldn't look the same, would it? This looks exactly like a factory fixed-mast antenna. The only thing different from the photos in this thread is that it's missing the bezel under the nut. The car has been repainted at some point, so they must have left that out when they reassembled it. There's a rubber grommet/gasket, but no bezel.
OK, let's say I end up not being able to remove the mast from the base. Is it difficult to replace the entire antenna? Is it accessible from underneath the car, maybe if I pull the wheel? What about the coax cable? Does it disconnect at the base, or is it permanently attached? In other words, does replacement of the antenna base require routing a new cable all the way to the front of the car? Sorry for so many questions. This isn't an area I ever had to work on in my other Vettes, and I don't have a shop manual yet.
Replacing the entire antenna isn't too bad. My '77 had a non-functional power antenna a replaced with an OEM style fixed mast antenna. The cable is a part of the antenna. It isn't too hard to route the cable into the car. I used a string when I pulled the old cable out for pulling the new cable. I was able to access the bottom of the antenna from under the car, but think I removed the muffler on that sideor maybe just disconnected the exhaust from the rear hanger on that side.
think I removed the muffler on that sideor maybe just disconnected the exhaust from the rear hanger on that side.
OK, thanks. I've decided to just drop this thing out of the body and replace it. Aside from the missing and incorrect parts (gasket and bezel), it's not worth the risk of damaging the finish in this area by continuing to wrestle with the stuck mast. It's either corroded in place or some idiot glued it. I'm just hoping it will fall all the way through with the mast attached, and that the through-hole hasn't been mangled. I also need to work on the parking brake, inspect all of the calipers, and pull both door panels this weekend.
OK, thanks. I've decided to just drop this thing out of the body and replace it. Aside from the missing and incorrect parts (gasket and bezel), it's not worth the risk of damaging the finish in this area by continuing to wrestle with the stuck mast. It's either corroded in place or some idiot glued it. I'm just hoping it will fall all the way through with the mast attached, and that the through-hole hasn't been mangled. I also need to work on the parking brake, inspect all of the calipers, and pull both door panels this weekend.
I had the same issue since my car is always outside and under a cover, and was getting tired of rainwater getting through the grommeted hole. So when it was time for a new cover, I snaked the antenna and mounted it under the rear deck and put a plug in the hole. I usually listen to ipod music anyway, but I only lost my am reception, FM still fine. So when I replaced my rear clip, I filled in the hole.
OK, I finally got around to this. Didn't take a photo of the work itself, but I cut a notch at the joint in the mast where the arrow is pointing, then snapped it off. Finished up by smoothing what's left with a file, then put on the cover. This will be good until I decide I can't live without crappy FM stations.
Antenna mount
