"A picture is worth 1000 words"

Hello, I'm asking for Anyone to share pictures of an installed Remote power antenna for the 1968 or 1969 A-body. (Coupe OR Convertible, even though the conv is what I'm working on)

The more, the better 👍🏼

I have some from the web, but they are really just trunk pics that happen to have the antenna in part of the pic-
More what I'm asking for and hoping for; are pictures specifically of the mounted antenna. Like the orientation of the motor; the mounting 'foot', etc etc.
Anything you think might be helpful -
(I am adding this option to my 68 442 'vert, so I don't have the visuals of an original to help go by)

I do have the PIM and should be able to come close to the proper hole location. But would also welcome pictures that could help with that (Ive seen a good deal of variation - but some of those may not have been original)

I have the antenna, switch is installed, I made new wiring. I believe I have all the pieces now. (And many thanks to Dave442, ros6872 & Barney Eaton!!)

Thanks!, Rob

 

Here are a few. Sorry would have to move the spare and jack to get a better mounting picture.

 

Note that the top piece for a convertible is slightly different than that for a holiday coupe/sport coupe. On the coupes, the top piece fits over the top edge of the quarter panel. For a convertible, the top piece is flat and doesn't fit over that top edge, but more so near the middle of the flat area on the top quarter inside of the edge. The picture I've attached is somewhat misleading as the car is sitting on a slight incline and it makes it appear the antenna assembly is angling aft when it is actually vertical.

Randy C.

 

Thanks Trophyblue442 and thank you Randy!Yes I've got the correct convertible "top piece"; (bezel & nut).
Not the coupe style bezel that goes over the fender peak like perfectly shown in Trophyblue442's first photo.
Im not to the point of installing yet. I'm working on other parts of the interior. I do have a couple more questions

- ??) Does anyone know definitely what Ohm cable the antenna lead-in is supposed to be? 50-ohm, 75-ohm,? 100?Does the jacket on an original antenna lead-in have it printed on?
My intent right now is to have a new lead-in made.

 

You have the PIM which is much better than a lot of folks start with. Good on You! According to the PIM, there should be a dimple on the trunk floor that marks where the self-tapping "foot" mounting screw should go. Locate that dimple and drill there. Be careful, there are two dimples in the area. Be sure you get the correct one. I have a '68 4-4-2 that came original with the trunk-mounted Remote Power Antenna. By the time I bought the car (4th owner, nearly 18 years ago, 3rd was a flipper) the original antenna had been replaced with an aftermarket unit. I have since sourced an OEM unit and will be installing it. My trunk floor already has the correct dimple drilled from the factory, in addition to the one drilled by the installer of the aftermarket antenna.

 

BackInTheGame , that’s neat that yours originally had that option, and that’s great you’ve located an original style one. Ive been meaning to post somewhere an “information” or recommendation for anyone dealing with these OEM (Tenna Corp. Mfg.) antennas, and maybe this can be of help to you/for you as well…

There is a gentleman near Georgetown Texas that does a wonderful job rebuilding these. He does have an account here on CO, but I believe rarely visits. (TXbarney) His name is Barney Eaton and I can post his current email and phone, but Im not sure if that’s okay? I could send it to you as a PM as well if you like.

He rebuilt and checked mine over inside and out, BUT THE Biggest thing I wanted and he did- was to replace the “plastic drive cable\cord” With a steel braided cord that is plastic coated and of the same diameter as the original all plastic cord. That original all plastic cord is the weak point on these. Im confident now that its braided steel that I wont have that broken drive cord issue in the future. Barney has been doing antennas for around 40 years I believe, and I know there are other rebuilders out there- but I don’t think anyone else has perfected the steel cable change. If yours needs help- just thought Id pass on that info. It cost me $90.

I have a question for you BackInTheGame , being that you have your antenna out. (so this is easily visible) On the top of the tube/shaft there is a “spike part” that is attached with several side screws. This engages-spikes the underside of the quarter panel. That Spike part should have a number on it. I am interested in what number is on yours. Hopefully you can read it or make it out, really just the last 3 after the dash, as I pretty much bet the first numbers are 302500- ???.

Yes I know, yours is a coupe, so the spike should be different then whats right for the convertible. The problem is I don’t know what the right one for the convertible is, or better said- Im getting conflicting info from several sources. When I go to put it in, I think itll be pretty obvious, because the angle is fairly different between the 2 spikes I have. It may be six months till I get around to putting it in.

So, It may not mean a whole lot, but if you can read those numbers – it may be helpful “reference info” for me. , Thanks! Rob

Heres a pic of the 2 spikes I have, on the Left 302500-138 and on the Right 302500-294 (I believe these are ‘Tenna Corp’ numbers (the manufacturer))

 

2qwk4u442, here is a picture of the parts I have for mine (Holiday Coupe). I like the idea of replacing the OEM nylon "drive cord" with the braided steel version! I have no idea how old mine actually is - probably nearly 60 years at this point!. Replacement would alleviate future worry, for sure! I rebuilt my OEM unit myself, and it works fine on the bench. I would not be ashamed to have it redone by someone who actually knows that they are doing!

For correct installation, see page 325 of Section 1-4 in your PIM (shown below). Note that there are different part numbers for Convertibles and Sedans VS 2 Door Coupes, for the antenna assembly, as well as the "lower spacer," and the bezel and seal that go on the outside of the fender.

The part number on my lower spacer (for Holiday Coupe) is 302500-292.

 

Is that all the further down that those go? I thought they went flush with the bezel to hide the entire antenna?

 

GN1220, the OEM ones stick up around 4" when fully retracted. (Convertible) At least for the Olds A body. And the Coupe one sticks up too, but it appears more than 4.
The ones I've seen fully hidden like you are thinking, have all been an aftermarket or replacement.
It could be different for the full size, or toro's, that I don't know.

 

Backinthegame, Thanks for the number info! Your -292 looks very close and similar to the -294.,which is what I would expect. There's not a HUGE difference between Holiday qtr & convertible. Theres another member here I've bought parts from, and he has a '69 convertible with his Original antenna currently out.His has the -294, so I believe -294 is for the 68 & 69 convertible. Bad thing is somewhere on the web when I was researching - I came across 294 as supposedly for something else. I guess till I go to put it in, I'll have to wait and see.
Randy's 69 convertible with the antenna would be perfect for confirmation... But I'm not going to ask anyone to take anything apart looking for a number! Lol. And unfortunately, that is likely impossible to see while it's in place.
-Rob

 

I just checked - mine is a "294".

Randy C.

 

Randy!!!! Awesome! Thank you!!! How on earth could you see it, a mirror???

 

Contact info for anyone interested.
For Antenna rebuild/repair and the steel braided drive cable/cord.

 

I was able to see it with a flashlight and looking way under and then up. I didn't actually see the "2" but the "94" was visible.

Randy C.

 

Randy and Rob, that is great that you were able to confirm the trailing -294 on that part number.

Rob, thank you for posting Barney's contact information.

Rich