I got original antenna when i bought the car but the mast was busted. Now i've purchased another motor antenna with mast on, BUT they are different (see the picture)

I've got an antenna just like the one on the right in this pic. There are no Nissan or Datsun markings on it. Was it ever determined if the one on the right is from a later year or is it an aftermarket unit?

Zombie thread resurrection... That's what "search" is for!!

The one to the left looks correct. The one to the right looks to be aftermarket, unless it is for a 280Z. I have parts for the one on the left the right maybe.

Right. It's already been determined that the one on the left is correct... For a 240.

But I've got a 280 and the antenna looks like the one on the right. I have no idea if it's factory or if a PO has replaced it some time in the past. What I'm trying to determine is... Is the one on the right correct for a 280?

It's either factory, or both of us ended up with the exact same aftermarket unit? Certainly conceivable they're both aftermarket from the same company. I doubt there are too many mfgr's out there, right?

Also conceivable that they're both factory 280 units.

I was able to rebuild mine (for the 280Z) a few yers ago. I had to buy 1 or 2 other eBay units to get the parts I needed (the mast and plastic pushrod) and I used alternator brushes to get the motor to run. I glued the brushes in and soldered the braid from the brush to the arm. I did clean and 'polish' as much as possible to remove the gunk and oxidation. It was important to clean & lubricate things like the pushrod and the the motor's rotating points, and to put the case together just right, or the motor didn't work (don't pinch the motor.)

Thanks TomoHawk. I just recently finished a radio install, so now I need a working antenna. Mine goes "up" sorta. I haven't tried to run it all the way up to the clutch slip. I don't trust it. It picks up enough stations to keep me occupied until I can take it out and give it the once over.

When that time comes, I'll probably be back with questions about where you got your mast, etc.

Don't worry about braking the plastic rod I came up a way to replace it. However you need to clean the unit out they get nasty inside. In fact the antenna runs smother once you replace the line (I think the line gets old and stiff over time and when going up it can't straiten anymore. Here is the link to the forum on replacing the line.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/electrical-s30/42445-antenna-mast-plastic-string-replacement.html

Thanks for that link. I don't know yet if I'll need to do the flexible line, but I've got no reason to believe that mine would be any different than anyone else's. I'll hopefully get to this project in the next week or so. I'll keep you posted.

It would be nice to have a post of restoring a 280Z antenna on the site also.

Gotcha. Well if I get into mine and find that it can be repaired, I'll take some shots.