I've disconnected my antenna and am left with deadweight I'd like to remove. Only problem is, this will leave a gaping hole in the fender. Is there a rubber grommet that can be put in place, or even something with a bolt on the inside to hold it properly?

 

The right way to do it is to have a plate fitted under the hole, fill and refinish the wing but this is costly and presumably why you don't want to go that way?

Using the original grommet with something like the dome head chrome bumper bolt off an MGB would do the job but, however carefully you select the bolt size, is always going to look going to look like a hole in the wing with a grommet and a bolt.

Short of filling the hole and repainting, leaving the antenna in place is the neatest option to me.

Graham

 

Try this:

Go to Lowes or a well equipped hardware store. There you will find a selection of chrome or black plastic hole plugs designed to snap into holes of various sizes. If you can find one to match the hole size in your finder - problem solved.

I can't be more specific as I don't know the size of the antenna hole. Were it me, I would use some silicone sealant to make the plug water tight. If you can't find the proper size, do an on line search.

Do report back.

 

I would have to agree with Graham, It wouldn't look right with a plug I would leave the antenna, or get a chromed carriage bolt to replace the antenna in the middle of the antennas sealing grommet.

 

Agreed, especially if you add Rev Sam's switch so that the antenna only comes up when you want the radio (which I never do).

 

If you ever want to sell it you'd regret getting rid of all that. When I just pulled the fuse to disable the ugly mast from going up I simply left everything in place seems best as any plug is going to look about like what the antenna does when down anyways.

 

Yeah, it's a tough decision. The antenna will never be used again, arguably by the next owner as well- my replacement hidden setup works fine (though I need to tweak a bit more to get rid of a little static that comes and goes). And who wants to see that ugly mast ever again? Only if it was being prepped back to 100% pure OE for a concours I reckon. While the deadweight is annoying, I also don't want a bolt in the hole from the top. I just wish a 'delete plate' of sorts was available.

I just looked to see if the motor can be pulled whilst leaving the mast in place- that may be the route I go. Though the CD changer/amp stack would have to be removed, and even then I can't see exactly how it unbolts (yet). Hrmmm.

 

Maybe pull it all out and find a mast from a wreckers. Silicone it in place and cut off anything hanging down inside you don't need. It looks pretty good when it's closed, so that might work and still get rid of the extra bits.

 

Cut through at this ridge leaving the stub attached to the wing and discarding the remains of the motor section......



You can't be doing this for weight saving so presumably have plans for the space currently taken by the antenna and CD unit?

Graham

 

Thanks, Graham (Mike too), that's a good idea. It's not weight savings per-se, there's just no reason for it to be there if it will never be used again. No plans for the space back there.

 

Chris,
I'm curious about your antenna, so what do you use for radio reception, sounds like you are fine tuning some solution?

 

I did WhiteXKR's antenna delete mod, basically wiring in a flexible antenna behind the back seat and hooking it up with a 300ohm balun and a spare length of coax cable. It's on YouTube, highly recommended.

But that was only so I can get my talk radio fix over my lunch hour when I'm out and about- I am all Pandora all the time otherwise in this car now (also see my aux-in thread).

 

Unless I am mistaken, I think you meant to say "Rev Sam's antenna delete mod". I just watched it myself as I am considering whether to repair my broken antenna or do away with it. Just wanted to make sure Sam gets the credit he deserves.

 

Whoops, you may be right! Thanks for the correction.

 

FWIW, I also removed the relevant fuse as an easy solution, and even though I never listen to radio I tried it and even without a substitute antenna I have no trouble with FM reception. Not only is this solution easy, it's easily reversible and there's potentially some value in that. The antenna stays in the down position (obviously) and while not as clean-looking as the flush wing it's vastly better than the extended antenna!

 

Thanks, Marsden- which fuse is it? Great to hear that reception is still good with it down.

This route needs to be noted for anyone going forward, so they don't do what I did. Get impatient, and just cut the wire off at the motor... Not my style, but I couldn't get the connector off and couldn't take it anymore. And luckily the scissors I hastily grabbed were insulated, as one wire is hot and it sparked. Dumb move. Learn from this.

 

Luggage Compartment Fuse #9 - 10 amp

Graham