AARRA

I am a new owner of a '79 which will sit in my garage until spring, but I am doing some research and have questions about the power antenna.
The seller said it would go up but not stop running so he disconnected it. Would that be a cable problem? I have a new cable.
I have read that in '79 they used two different am/fm/cb power antennas based on date of production. If that is the case, are they interchangeable? If not interchangeable, how can I tell which I have without pulling the antenna out? I would like to keep the antenna original.
Also, can anyone recommend someone good to work on the car in the central New Jersey vicinity?
Thanks very much for any help.

Easy Mike

Do you have factory CB? I believe the power antenna is essentially the same 79-82. For factory CB, a splitter is added for the coax.

You can peer around the left hand muffler and see what's installed.

AARRA

Thanks. Yes, it is a factory CB. Somewhere (?) I either read or heard that the antenna may have been different in the early '79 and the late '79. Don't know if that is accurate and even so, why I would not be able to replace what is currently there with either '79 antenna. I will try to take a look, but space is tight in the garage.
Thanks for the response.

KapsSA

Early 79s have an antenna with an aluminum motor housing with a plastic "bezel" snapped into the fender.
Late 79s have a plastic body antenna with a chrome bezel set into a flat circular depression in the fender.
Both use the same nylon repair cable. Altho sold as for a late antenna it will work with the earlier one, too.

AARRA

Thanks much. That is very helpful.

hugie82

I live in Bridgewater NJ and I've done the repair before on my 82. It's not hard but sometimes you need a third hand to get that nylon wound up and tucked in.

7t9l82

does your antenna have the coil built into the shaft? if so post back when you replace the cord.

KapsSA

Have a question?

7t9l82

just that mine has the coil, and i have found nothing for it. and I'm not sure the nylon cable will interchange between both types.

AARRA

If that is an offer of help, I gladly accept. I'm not far from you (Marlboro) and would not be able to do the repair myself.

AARRA

When I attempt the repair, I will take photos and post them. It may have to wait until it gets a bit warmer.

KapsSA

They added a CB kit last year
Pretty much difference is 4" longer.
Will work with the early 79 alum motor antenna by cutting off the hook and tossing the seals.
http://www.antennamastsrus.com/GM/Ch...01979-1982.htm

AARRA

That is what I bought. We'll see if it does the trick.

7t9l82

well how bout that.

AARRA

Date of manufacture was June, 1979, has chrome bezel. Does it sound like my problem is the cable (goes up but motor keeps running)? Also, if necessary can I replace this antenna with an early '79 model without rebuilding the car?

KapsSA

First of all, it IS an original antenna? Or at least a GM service replacement?
Does the antenna go DOWN?
If it's stuck up and the motor keeps running then likely the cable's just broke.
I feel confident saying every original antenna either has or had a broken cable at some time.
Best to stay with your late antenna if you fine a need to replace it. The early one mounts differently so you'd need the brackets too.
Plus, the later ones usually can be had for less money. Usually find something on ebay.
Vendors had reproductions a couple years ago but they were problematic and discontinued. Don't know if they fixed their problem.

pokey1

Good luck finding a replacement CB antenna. Been looking for one for my 81 for two years. Nobody that I know of makes a replacement.

AARRA

I can get one for my '79, but the best advice, as KapsSA recommends, may be to replace only the cable if that will solve my problem.

AARRA

Do you know anyone in our area who you trust to do good quality work on the car? I take one of my cars to Thrust Performance on Route 9, but do you have anyone who specializes? Thanks.