Is this the correct Antenna Mast for a 1976?

[MattSaint]

Howdy,

The Antenna mast for my 76 is non-functioning.  The motor seems to be working but the mast won't go up.  I purchased a donor antenna that has a faulty motor and was going to combine the two.  Below is a picture of the antenna that is currently in the car.  I've seen a few types of masts and was wondering if anyone can help me identify if this is the original mast for the car?  The car was manufactured 9/75.

Cheers!
~MattS

[Zup]

Hi Matt--

Chances are your mast cable has broken.

The mast in the retracted state shown above is a good sign that the mast itself is fine.

You said you can hear the motor working---again, good news.

AJMcForester did an excellent write up of replacing the mast cable with string trimmer line that I and others have followed and gotten success.

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

Clean and lube everything inside the case, per the recommendations of that thread and others on the subject, while you have it out.

Pretty sure you'll be a happy camper.

The mast you have shown Is certainly correct for the early cars. (240Z--pointy tipped)

The later mast had a different shape for the finial end---more cylindrical in shape and relatively flat at the top---and is what is usually seen on the 280z.

(The mast tips are interchangeable--the final segment of the mast is threaded and the finial just unscrews from it)

 

 

Edited September 5, 2016 by Zup
added info.

[MattSaint]

Hi Zup,

Thank you for the confirmation and the link.  I was fairly certain the antenna was a original to the car.

I dismantled the the antenna with the faulty motor and it looks like the mast cable is intact.  I am going to read the post you linked.

Cheers!
~MattS

[MattSaint]

Update:  I was able to removed the complete mast cable from the old antenna.

My next dilemma is that I am afraid to remove the plastic interior panels.  They are in good shape, but there is no give to them.  I have nylon trim removing tools to minimize the damage, but I am not really sure where to begin.  Anyone have an tips or suggestions?

Thanks!
~Matt

[gwri8]

Your interior panels should be held with round plastic rivets with a center post ( a dot in the middle). To remove those, push the center post through the rivet with something like a small nail or punch of some sort.  Then try to retrieve it.  Don't worry too  much about that as new rivets are plenty available.  Do not try to pry out the rivet out before you do that. Could scratch your panels.

[MattSaint]

Oh Excellent, I didn't know that.  I assumed they were like newer rivets.  I will go give that a try.

Cheers!

[jfa.series1]

Matt,

Expect to remove the cover over the taillights in order to get room to remove the quarter panel at the antenna.  It is likely you'll also have to remove the hatch strut and the bracket where the strut connects to the body.  I realize you have a 280Z and I'm speaking from a 240Z point of view.  On the 240's, the quarter panel has great difficulty coming out if the hatch bracket is still in place.

Jim

[siteunseen]

14 hours ago, jfa.series1 said:

Matt,

Expect to remove the cover over the taillights in order to get room to remove the quarter panel at the antenna.  It is likely you'll also have to remove the hatch strut and the bracket where the strut connects to the body.  I realize you have a 280Z and I'm speaking from a 240Z point of view.  On the 240's, the quarter panel has great difficulty coming out if the hatch bracket is still in place.

Jim

Thank you for posting this.  I cracked mine trying to bend it enough to get it out over a year ago, '77 280.  This spring I went to the junkyard and managed to get another one out without breaking it.  It's still sitting on a shelf in my garage.  Turns out they're as hard to get back in as out. 

I did manage to bust my dome and get a few staples fairly easy.

[Captain Obvious]

Dang! Seriously?

What the heck are you doing to yourself??

[Mark Maras]

 Impressive. Did the strut bracket do that? I'm sure many of us have tales of woe due to a lapses in reasoning for any number of reasons. Might be an interesting theme for a new thread. "Z injuries. AKA Don't do this." A picture is worth a thousand words.

[jfa.series1]

5 hours ago, siteunseen said:

I did manage to bust my dome and get a few staples fairly easy.

  Did you really have to link my quote with THAT pic in the same post?  Holy crapola!

[gwri8]

I remember that post with the picture of Carrie as an example.