Fubar'd my antenna mount

Pote · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:44 am

Well guys, I fubar'd my antenna mount. I was replacing my antenna yesterday with a new one I wanted to test out. I unscrewed my old antenna and took note of the connection. I thought I would replace the male end threaded attachment in the antenna mount body and attempted to unscrew it...well, it would not unscrew and it was too late to go back. I messed up the threads on the (brass?) threaded male end and then I was on a mission to just get it out. Long story short, the threaded end snapped off and left me with a nub sticking out of the body housing. arrrrghhhhhhh!!!! anyhow, I found myself ordering the antenna body (about $10) and a 3 second install has now turned into a $40 fix. doh!!!! I already looked up how involved it is to replace in my Haynes manual and its not that difficult. The biggest portion is taking out some of the fender bolts so I can get my hand in there to replace the body from inside the fire wall. Looks easy...I'm just so pissed I messed up the old one. Live and learn. I swear I remember installing that little threaded adapter for the short antenna I was replacing, just this time it would not budge. Vent over...the antenna I'm installing is really nice however and should be really durable. My old one kept getting bent completely over going through car washes to the point that the bent area was severely compromised.

Quick question. When I ordered the Mopar antenna body it also comes with the antenna cable. Does anyone know if the cable is hardlines to the back of the antenna body or does it disconnect on both ends? both at where it connects to the antenna splice beneath the kick panel and at the back of the housing?? wondering if I have to install the new cable as well since the old one is just fine and only the antenna body is fubar'd.

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

The antenna is hard wired to the back of the antenna mount. I took a good look at mine when I installed my snorkle (had to take off the fender).
Stephen

riptricket · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:52 pm

swys have you installed your snorkel yet?
if so, can you post pics, and it not... WHY HAVEN'T YOU haha

Pote · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:53 pm

Is it very hard to feed the line up through the firewall to the side fender? In the Hanyes book, it says to simply tie a string to the old one and pull it through to the fender, then use the same string and tie it to the new cable and pull it back through in reverse...sound about right??

Pote · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:49 am

well I installed the new antenna body. Was actually very easy. All it took was removing the 3 top fender bolts, and loosening the two inside the door area and the fender could be pulled out enough to fit my hand down inside. I had to take the plastic kick shield off the passenger side with two screws and the antenna connection is right there. Pulled the old one out, fed the new cable through the hole in the fire wall and reconnected. Everything went right back together in a snap.

So, if any of you are looking for a short sturdy but absolutely strong receiving antenna, the one I installed rocks!! Its machined from one solid piece of aluminum bar stock in a billet style, coated in black. It's 15 inches tall and in testing it this morning, was able to pick up a rock station here at my house that I normally get lots of static noise on....clear as a bell. I mean , night and day difference....I highly recommend this antenna from sleaze-bay. Here is the link. check em out. BTW, the new antenna body ran me $11 bucks and the antenna was about the same if I recall. I am super happy that it was an easy fix.

antenna:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/15-CHROM ... QQtcZphoto

I recommend not going below a 12" antenna. I tried one at that size (actually the cheaper one that kept getting bent over at washes) and the same radio station mentioned above was still static-y...even the manufacture says 12-15" are better. They make a 6" version for our Jeeps, but they say you sacrifice reception for having a "cool" shorty antenna. 15" seems optimal. I can vouch for the fact that this thing picks up stations like a beacon.

pics:

Fubar'd my antenna mount

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