Author Topic: Retracting antennae  (Read 5183 times)

Offline shadango

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Retracting antennae
« on: July 12, 2012 - 12:02:23 PM »
Not sure if this belongs here or not...but it has wiring to it so...LOL

Anyone have an electrical retracting antenna on their fish in the stock location?

Wondering if its even possible given the access issue.

Want to be able to use a cover and it would be great to just turn the radio off and have the antenna retract....that, or one I can manually push down I guess...but electrically operated would be cool..... :bigsmile:




Offline BS CUDA

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2012 - 02:50:02 PM »
Year One offers one that says fits all models, doesn't specify stock location but would assume........

Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2012 - 03:54:05 PM »
What antenna do you have now? I can unscrew the mast on mine and throw it in the trunk when I put on the cover.

Mike

1970 Challenger - SOLD
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Offline Jamiez

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2012 - 05:24:52 PM »
The 1974 FSM has instructions for servicing/installing/replacing a power antenna.  It isn't specific as to what model lines it applies to.



Parts manual wasn't much help either...it might have only been for the C car line not the B-J line

Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2012 - 12:52:17 AM »
I put a power antenna in my Challenger in the trunk area where the T/As had them. Up when the radio is on, down when the car is off or radio is off.  Got it from a later model Chrysler at the junk yard but had to add a dpdt relay from radio shack to get it to work.  You can do it with a newer antenna from anywhere but I wanted to use a Chrysler one with the stainless nut on top.
Rob

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Offline brads70

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2012 - 09:37:26 AM »
I put a power antenna in my Challenger in the trunk area where the T/As had them. Up when the radio is on, down when the car is off or radio is off.  Got it from a later model Chrysler at the junk yard but had to add a dpdt relay from radio shack to get it to work.  You can do it with a newer antenna from anywhere but I wanted to use a Chrysler one with the stainless nut on top.

Great idea! Do you have any pictures of this? :2thumbs:
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

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Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2012 - 01:05:25 AM »
Great idea! Do you have any pictures of this? :2thumbs:






Came from a Big Chrysler or Dodge in the junk yard. Maybe a C-body? I can't remember
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

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Offline brads70

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2012 - 07:49:14 AM »
Looks great! Whats a  dpdt relay? Anything different from a regular 30 or 40 amp relay?
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2012 - 09:55:08 PM »
Looks great! Whats a  dpdt relay? Anything different from a regular 30 or 40 amp relay?

It's 2 way switch  doubled up. Do a google search on it. When you buy a power antenna it comes wired in already. The ones from the factory didn't have one wired in.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline shadango

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2012 - 08:54:41 AM »




Came from a Big Chrysler or Dodge in the junk yard. Maybe a C-body? I can't remember


That looks GREAT.....

I cant stop wondering though how i could do this on the front fender without removing it....seems like that motor etc would need space to get in there?

Offline shadango

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2012 - 08:59:15 AM »
Ok, so in a blinding flash of "duh!!!", right after I posted that last post I went out and looked in the fenderwell of the car....

THERE IS A REMOVABLE PANEL it seems!   If that is it, problem solved....LOL

What Ma Mopar didnt think of....LOL

Hopefully the bolts break loose OK and this works!


Offline dodj

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2012 - 09:00:29 AM »
That looks GREAT.....

I cant stop wondering though how i could do this on the front fender without removing it....seems like that motor etc would need space to get in there?
Once you remove the splash guard behind the front wheel there is a fair amount of space there. I would think it would be do-able. Might have to put it too close to the edge though?
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
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Offline shadango

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2012 - 09:12:59 AM »
Once you remove the splash guard behind the front wheel there is a fair amount of space there. I would think it would be do-able. Might have to put it too close to the edge though?

My big wonder was how to physically get the motor unit etc into that space....never thought of the a removable panel being there....LOL

Going to see if I can find a good looking aftermarket one and see what happens!

Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2012 - 09:30:19 AM »
The only problem is making the top part look stock or close to original. It has to fit the curve at the top of the fender. If you can make the aftermarket one incorporate the chrome original fender bezel, it will be a nicer fit. Both Challenger and Cuda fenders have a slight curve to them at the outside edge.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline shadango

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Re: Retracting antennae
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2012 - 10:04:53 AM »
The only problem is making the top part look stock or close to original. It has to fit the curve at the top of the fender. If you can make the aftermarket one incorporate the chrome original fender bezel, it will be a nicer fit. Both Challenger and Cuda fenders have a slight curve to them at the outside edge.

The aftermarket power antenna I just picked up has 5 different angled bases to work with whatever angle there is....plus I guess a flat one....so hopefully one of them work!

Will post pics once i git er done!