81 power antenna
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 303
Likes: 33
From: Anarchist Mt. BC
81 power antenna
My alternator regular fried and pooched my power antenna. I kept hearing the thing running constantly and the gears are stripped.
Any advise on repair/replacement?
Any advise on repair/replacement?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 138
Likes: 3
From: clinton township Michigan
I think willcox had a video and sells the items needed. I personally just removed mine and got a digital one inside the dash. I just have to glass over the hole
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 17
From: MA
1981 power antenna
Alternator output goes through fused power so maybe its not fried. Sounds more like the nylon lanyard inside the antenna broke. Drill out the rivets, pull it apart, and post some pics of what you find. I've rebuilt a few of these its fairly simple. Getting the antenna unit out of the car and onto the bench is the hardest part of the job.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
Alternator output goes through fused power so maybe its not fried. Sounds more like the nylon lanyard inside the antenna broke. Drill out the rivets, pull it apart, and post some pics of what you find. I've rebuilt a few of these its fairly simple. Getting the antenna unit out of the car and onto the bench is the hardest part of the job.
If the antenna was "fried", the motor wouldn't be running. The antenna is raised and lowered by a nylon cable, and with years of use, they eventually break. Typically when they break, the motor will continue to run, but the mast won't go up or down. There's a repair kit available for about $39, that includes the mast and nylon cable.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 17
From: MA
If the antenna was "fried", the motor wouldn't be running. The antenna is raised and lowered by a nylon cable, and with years of use, they eventually break. Typically when they break, the motor will continue to run, but the mast won't go up or down. There's a repair kit available for about $39, that includes the mast and nylon cable.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 303
Likes: 33
From: Anarchist Mt. BC
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 17
From: MA
81 antenna
Looks like the correct unit. It was probably taken out at one point and instead of climbing into the back of the car and pulling the rear speaker, antenna wires, and rubber grommet...they just cut wires (lazy). I fixed my OEM antenna in a six pack of Bush. However, you can buy repros pretty cheap.
New: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Late-1979-19...9YP1ZM&vxp=mtr
Nylon Cable: http://www.antennamastsrus.com/GM/Ch...01979-1982.htm
New: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Late-1979-19...9YP1ZM&vxp=mtr
Nylon Cable: http://www.antennamastsrus.com/GM/Ch...01979-1982.htm
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 303
Likes: 33
From: Anarchist Mt. BC
Looks like the correct unit. It was probably taken out at one point and instead of climbing into the back of the car and pulling the rear speaker, antenna wires, and rubber grommet...they just cut wires (lazy). I fixed my OEM antenna in a six pack of Bush. However, you can buy repros pretty cheap.
New: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Late-1979-19...9YP1ZM&vxp=mtr
Nylon Cable: http://www.antennamastsrus.com/GM/Ch...01979-1982.htm
New: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Late-1979-19...9YP1ZM&vxp=mtr
Nylon Cable: http://www.antennamastsrus.com/GM/Ch...01979-1982.htm
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 41
Likes: 2
From: Lumberton Tx
I just rebuilt my antenna with the kit from antennamastsrus. Relatively easy and quick. Good luck. The nylon in mine came out in pieces, had gotten very brittle. Fully extend the mast when putting it back together before you power it on again. The auto retract will wind the cable back up. I soent 10 minutes trying to wind it myself before I read the instructions again.