I bought my Z with someone already installing the power antenna (not sure which company), but since the day i bought it the antenna does not fully retract. it starts to retract but then stops and i hear this clicking like gears stripped in the antenna assembly. not having instructions on how to install, does anyone have an idea if this can be fixed or even how to remove the power antenna or am i stuck with having to remove it all together and just replacing it with a shorty? I thought about swapping for a shorty, but the power antenna install completly removes the threaded base and i need to know how much of a fuss removing that assembly would be. Any suggestions? I found several antenna hits in the search..but nothing answering my problem.

 

I installed one on my Z16 it is the same GM unit used on the convertible. You can replace the unit for about $125 or install a new mast kit. Remove the 2 right rear tail lights to get access. You cannot go back to a screw on mast, you will have to get the bracket that bolts in the same way the power unit does.

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...8&dept_id=1424

 

through the taillights huh? I thought I had to come from under the fender. Thanks for the help and I'll try pulling the unit off. Was it a pretty easy install? Just did the headers so anything should be easier than that!

 

I did the mast repair twice on my 90 Coupe some years ago. 1st time, it just broke, like yours it would stick some where between full up and full down. Second time when a Homecoming Queen slid off the roof and bent it. Both times it was stripped teeth on the ribbon (Rack and pinion).
My advise is to get some "Superlube" Synthetic grease and liberally apply it to the nylon toothed ribbon and the drive gear when you install the new parts.Lube the whole thing, then there will be no binding, just a slippery mast inside. Also, wipe it down with a light lube occasionally.
Easy job really. I remember pulling the whole assembly out and building it on the work table.
Good luck.

 

alright, first off thanks for the replies as they really helped the removal. My next question us which replacement do I need? I'm looking at a few and not quite sure which is needed. The oem convertible model is cheaper but I'm not sure if it has all applicable wires. There is a 70 dollar difference between frc and oem convertible options. I have the mounting bracket and the part I removed has 3 connecters. The frc mod reads as if I need to run new wire. Any ideas on which one you installed? If it matches the link you provided I'll cross my fingers and give it a shot

 

I thinkj you could have gotten away with replacing just the mast. ITs not hard to do, I've done it twice. Once time I actually had to open the antenna mechanism up to get a piece of the nylon geared "tail" out. Once I did that and put the drive back together, installation of the mast was a breeze. If you don't have to disassemble the motor assembly it is a 5 minute job. OTherwise about an hour. A new mast should be around $20

Here are some simple directions I stole from another website :

"Most of the antenna masts that I have replaced all work the same way. Take the top nut off the antenna then have someone turn on the radio. The entire mast should just start coming out like a snake. That top nut on the fender actually keeps the antenna in place. After you get the entire antenna mast out, compare it to the new one to make all the parts came with it. Remember which way the teeth were facing when the old one came out as you will need to do the same. With the radio still on, feed the plastic cable into the tube. When it stops, have someone turn off the radio because you will have to guide the new mast into place. It may take a few times but it's pretty easy. If the antenna is not all the way down on the first try, turn the radio back on and redo the process. After it is all the way down, reinstall the top nut on the fender and you will have a new mast installed."

 

I think member Dee Gee also did a write up on repair of the electric antenna mast...