If you're needing one...look to eBay but get ready for sticker shock. A mere $749.99.

I'm curiouis about the part number that shows 22010659 on the body while the box shows 22010413. I'm thinking because this box includes the mounting hardware, the 413 # represents the antenna/mounting hardware assembly while the 659 is the antenna body #. However a look to the AIM and we see a different part number.

My view is that the 413 is a over-the-counter Delco service replacement while the AIM # is the production number. Am I understanding this correctly?



https://www.ebay.com/itm/11570575002...ccfb4f81ee2ead

 

my 79 has a 78 antenna in it..early build.. the part #'s on mine.. maybe made in 1985 is the ebay one and mine says 78?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...na-wiring.html

 

Yes, yours would the 293rd day of 78 which makes it a 79 production...as you say early! That's what I wanted to see is the date code on the label. I've got a couple here and trying to figure out the assembly dates. One is an 81 the other an 87 but carry that 659 body part #. I believe your part # coincides with the factory AIM #.

 

There are lots and lots of numbers in the delco antenna parts book. 30 pages or so.
220*********numbers are service replacement numbers.
The 413 pops up for pretty much all 78/79 GM cars but is not really direct replacement. Notice there is no top bracket installed on the ebay one you're referencing.
But notice all the holes in the mast tube....for mounting different brackets, which I see 16 different ones in the book.

CORRECT OEM 78 antenna is 5044911 or 5044887 with CB

Didn't notice the 659 no but didn't feel like searching through the book.

 

The power antenna's were made up of numerous parts, and each of those parts had a part number, but not all of the parts were serviced separately, sometimes the numbers on parts were only internal numbers for use by GM. I think that's the case with the motor on that antenna. The power antenna and it's related parts are in Group 9.647 in the Corvette Parts Book, but 22010659 is not listed there, at least not in the 1982 book I'm looking at.

The 82 parts book lists the following power antenna's.

22010409 - 78 and first design 79 power antenna w/tube. It's noted that this antenna has a die cast gear box.
22010411 - Is listed as the same antenna as "409", but without the "tube". I assume this means it was only the motor and gear box, without the mast and mast tube.
22020286 - This is listed as the second design 79-82 antenna with tube. The second design antenna is described as having a plastic body and a 29MM tube. The second design is not shown as being available without the "tube", probably because unlike the 78-79 "409" antenna, the "286" wasn't designed to be easily disassembled for repairs, like the "409" was.
22030478 - Is a third version listed as "82 second design", and appears to be the same antenna as "286", but with a shorter 23MM tube.

The above antenna's were all regular, non CB.

I tend to agree with KapsSA that the antenna on eBay is a GM service replacement part for various 78-79 GM models, not the 78-79 Corvette antenna. My guess is it probably replaced the Corvette specific "409" listed above in the early 80's.

 

Slightly related to this thread...
15 some years ago I bought a replacement power antenna assembly for my 78. Is in a plain brown box with Zip Corvette part sticker on the end. On the top is a sticker that says GM Restoration Parts and P/N 22048621. Nothing else. Instruction sheet inside gives no mention who actually made the antenna or anywhere else for that matter. Zip sticker just says "78-82 Power Antenna W/O CB" and their own part #. I'll find out this summer when I replace the old broken antenna if it is any good.
I wouldn't rule out, if even possible, taking parts off the repo and making original work.
Thanks for this thread. In all the time I've had it don't recall even opening the box to look at it. Just started last fall tearing the 78 down for a refurb.

 

FYI...in digging into the 78-79 Power units, I learned that the service replacements use a different bezel on the rear deck. My Pace Car has an antenna replacement and the bezel departs from the factory hard plastic style bezel. And I have seen this on other 78s with power units and not sure why...soooo check it out

 

You probably have the reproduction that was made by K & B Special Products in Georgia. GM discontinued the second design power antenna around 97-98 (the first design 78 style was killed 10 or 15 years earlier). The K & B repro came out around 2004 or 2005.

The K & B repro was based on the 79-82 plastic body power antenna, but served as a working replacement for the 78/early 79 antenna. There was a lot of problems with their antenna's when they first came out, that I believe was corrected by improving the gear drive and motor on later runs of the antenna. I don't know if K & B is still making them. Besides the antennas, they made all the repro gauges, the TI amp, Bose speakers for C4's and a lot of other licensed AC Delco reproductions.

The GM service replacement was based on the 79-82 antenna that took the threaded antenna nut. The raised nut you referred to was a universal piece that came with the antenna, but the thin, flat chrome nut with 4 spanner type notches in it, that the factory 79-92 Corvette power antennas used, worked with the service replacement antenna. I know people tried using the black plastic 78 bezel with the service antenna, but I think the problem was that it didn't hold the mast tube securely. The 79-82 nut looks much better then that taller chrome nut that came with the service antenna.

 

Photos?
Here are a few I have seen and noted...

 

Here is what's been on my 78 PC and still on it. Never has worked in the 20 years I've owned it but haven't ever looked into why. Assumed all along is dead and mast appears to be missing. Hence, the replacement I bought years back.

78 PC
And the repo I bought.

Repo 78-82
Mast end on repo.

Repo mast nut

 

The top one is the standard fixed mast antenna that came on all 69-82 Corvettes. The angle of the bezel was different on the version that came on 78-82's, but the large nut, small nut, gasket & mast were the same, and the bezel was very similar except for the angle it was cast in. The three power antennas pictured are all aftermarket antennas, and not GM service replacement ones.

The Delco service replacement antenna came with a plain round chrome bezel that had a slight tapper to the sides of it, a black plastic sleeve inside of it, and was maybe a 1/4" tall. The lower portion of it was threaded to screw into the mast tube, but the outside of the bezel was smooth making it difficult to get it screwed into the tube any more then finger tight. The GM/Delco masts came with the same diamond shape tip on the mast as the original factory installed mast. None of those antennas have the diamond shape tip.

I'll have to look around and see if I still have any of the bezel/nuts that came with the GM service replacement antennas. We use to pull them out of the antennas before selling them, and replace them with the correct, low one with the spanner notches (see the bezel/nut in RickM Z06's last picture). I know I still have some of the relays and wire harnesses that came with them.

That antenna and the box it came in, looks like the repro made by K & B. The bezel with the four spanner notches is what came on 79-82 Corvette power antennas. The 78/first design 79 antennas came with a plain black plastic bezel that snapped into the mast tube, instead of screwing in like yours. The black rubber cap on the end is just there to protect the mast and tip. If you pop it off you'll see the diamond shaped antenna tip.

 

Plastic bezel nov 79 assume 78

 

That antenna and the box it came in, looks like the repro made by K & B. The bezel with the four spanner notches is what came on 79-82 Corvette power antennas. The 78/first design 79 antennas came with a plain black plastic bezel that snapped into the mast tube, instead of screwing in like yours. The black rubber cap on the end is just there to protect the mast and tip. If you pop it off you'll see the diamond shaped antenna tip.[/QUOTE]

Pulled out the old broken antenna assembly but haven't looked it over much. The small instruction sheet that came with the one I'm putting in mentioned keeping the rubber tip on it. Perhaps to help keep water out of the mast?
The antenna mast end is indeed diamond shaped.