Built up enough courage to take my "acorn" oem antenna apart. As with most antennas the motor works but antenna doesn't move. So, I pulled the antenna apart.

Of course the sections come out the bottom of each tube and at the bottom of each tube is brass collar that the antenna tubes are crimped too. Using my dremel cut-off wheel I cut each brass collar off and pulled each tube section out. I am down to the final section but just learned the "Acorn" tip will not fit through the final section.

My question is doe any one know how the Acorn tip is installed? Is it solider, does it screw on what? Do I need to cut it off and then weld it back? My objective is to install a new nylon insert into it and reassemble!

Greatly appreciate any info or point me in the right direction. Here are photos of what and where I currently stand.

Thanks in advance.

I would think it threads on. Cutting it off and welding sounds like a bad idea. Even if you can get it welded back on; which you might not be able to do depending on what it's made out of. How are you gonna keep it from rusting? The original is plated. The new welds won't be.

Why do you need to remove it, the nylon wire crimps to the bottom of the last rod. I think you can attach it without taking it apart. Do a search on it and a few people have repaired them without taking the sections apart.

OK I was wrong, it looks like it unscrews. See this thread

http://www.classiczcars.com/topic/39699-antenna-mast-plastic-string-replacement/

Yes, it unscrews as 240dkw says.

I found when I was refurbing my antennae that the pointy tip will also thread on to a later 280Z motor/mast that I had.

That motor and mast was in much better shape mechanically so I left the pointy tip on it for use as the replacement in the 240.

I used Stihl string trimmer line (.0130") that I purchased on ebay. It works perfectly.

Credit goes to ajmcforester for his extensive post about refurbishing these antennae masts.

There was also a post done by JLPurcell which was beautifully done with re-plated parts and a complete disassembly and re-assembly of the complete motor and mast.

An "antenna restoration" search should turn it up.

Edited May 11, 20159 yr by Zup

Small typo in Zup's post -- the size of the replacement trimmer line is 0.13" (i.e. about 1/8"). 

 

I just finished rebuilding the antenna for my 1970 Z, so Zup's new picture is interesting.  The antenna in my car uses only the top half of the cup-and-ball mounting hardware (i.e. the pieces that you see from the outside of the body panel).  On the inside it uses a stamped-steel 'shoe' that rides in a small, cupped washer sitting at the top of the mast housing.  The shoe has curved bottom edges (with teeth) that ride in the cupped washer and allow for adjustment of the mast angle.  The electrical grounding of the antenna (required to complete the circuit for the antenna motor) is established through the shoe.  Note the grounding collar/strap system used in both examples in Zup's picture.  I assume this is required because these examples both use a dual (inside/outside) cup-and-ball arrangement, where the contact on both the inside and outside of the fender is plastic-to-metal.

Edited May 11, 20159 yr by Namerow

You might find my post (03 Jan 2013) of some value. It was a contribution made after plagiarizing ideas from several older posts and the successful completion of my project attempt.

 

Cheers,

 

George

Just want to say thank you to those who replied. My antenna rebuild was extremely successful due to all the great comments. I ended up using Gator-line .130. Have attached a few photos of the through the build. Now if any one has the top nut that secure the antenna in the quarter panel I would be interested in buying it. Plus, if any one has a mast they do not intend to use I would be interested in that to. I have one more working motor assembly but it has no mast.

This is one fantastic community!

Edited May 23, 20159 yr by newtonhubcap

Additional photos to the finish assembly.

Edited May 23, 20159 yr by newtonhubcap

Nice work, good for another 40 yrs.