Moparts Tech Archive

Elec Topics

Rear Antenna...All AAR's And T/A's?

4speeds4me
Moparts Member
Posts: 4273
From: Sicamous, B.C., CANADA
Registered: Sep 2001
posted 01-16-2003 02:57 AM

Is there any special hardware to doing this? Or is it the same stuff that would be used up front, just mounted at the rear, using a longer coaxial cable?
I don't think all cars look right with a rear mounted antenna, but the Cuda/Challenger is definitely one that does.

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GTXtasy
Moparts Member
Posts: 1076
From: Milmont Park, PA USA
Registered: Oct 2002
posted 01-16-2003 03:25 AM

Seems that way!!
What a ripoff!!
AN-7250 68-70 Charger & 70 AAR Cuda Kit w/ Solid Antenna Mast $ 174.95
AN-7251 68-70 Charger & 70 AAR Cuda Kit w/ Telescoping Antenna Mast $ 194.95
AN-7260 68-70 All B Body (exc. Charger) & 70 TA Challenger Kit w/ Solid Antenna Mast $ 174.95
AN-7261 68-70 All B Body (exc. Charger) & 70 TA Challenger Kit w/ Telescoping Antenna Mast $ 194.95

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4speeds4me
Moparts Member
Posts: 4273
From: Sicamous, B.C., CANADA
Registered: Sep 2001
posted 01-16-2003 03:46 AM

By the looks of that listing, any setup from a 68-70 Charger would do the trick on the Cuda!
That may make my life easier

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Sunydart
New Member
Posts: 87
From:
Registered: Jul 2002
posted 01-16-2003 05:27 AM

The chrome trim bezel is actually different, I believe the mast on the originals was also shorter by about 1/2". The bezel for the charger will work and visually is very close, but is not 100% the same. My AAR had a jumper if I remember right, which used 2 regular cables & the jumper block connecting the two, but this may not have been original to the car I dont know,although it was all mopar stuff.
Suny

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reflections7
Moparts Member
Posts: 1638
From: newnan Ga
Registered: Dec 2001
posted 01-16-2003 11:25 AM

Or buy one from autozone and put it back there like I did.

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jeff968
Moparts Member
Posts: 997
From: Connecticut
Registered: Nov 2000
posted 01-16-2003 11:51 AM

As for the posted question, there were actually a few T/As and AARs without the rear antenna, the radio delete cars. They had no holes. There was a T/A for sale on eBay a few months ago with a fender mounted antenna. A look at the fender tag showed no radio code so it was a radio relete car. A previous owner then went and installed a antenna in the right front fender.

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T/A Care
Moparts Member
Posts: 749
From: Colorado
Registered: Apr 2002
posted 01-16-2003 12:24 PM

It's pretty similar, as you describe, but with the longer lead wire. The mounting bezel angle is the most important. The telescoping antenna goes straight up, not swept back at an angle.

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A12
Moparts Member
Posts: 247
From: Vermilion, Ohio USA
Registered: Jan 2002
posted 01-16-2003 03:56 PM

Just something to consider for correctness; a telescoping antenna was usually used on cars with a AM only radio, and a fixed length antenna for FM use was set at 32” for optimum FM reception.
The 32” fixed length worked okay for AM reception but to make sure the customer got good FM reception, and to make them feel they got what he or she paid extra for the FM radio, the manufactures made the antennas non-adjustable on AM/FM radio cars.

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formula s
Moparts Member
Posts: 1406
From: Long Island ,N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2000
posted 01-16-2003 04:21 PM

GTX,where did you get those prices from??? I bought mine from Metro at Carlisle last summer ,telescopic mast for $95.00 with the 72''cable.

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71T/A
Moparts Member
Posts: 2781
From: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Registered: Sep 2000
posted 01-16-2003 05:31 PM

The AM reception STINKS with a fender mounted antenna and fiberglass hood. I know why they put that antenna in the back. I'm gonna get a solid mast antenna. Those telescoping ones are too fragile.
Thanks for the carlisle tip - I'll get one there or maybe at Columbus coming up. Still need one of my T/A clone (already BORED a hole in the rear quarter!!!)

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Scott Smith
Moparts Member
Posts: 4813
From: P.O. Box 160278, Clearfield, Utah 84016
Registered: Mar 2002
posted 01-16-2003 05:48 PM

A12,
I'm not sure if your theory is on target. My 1970 318 Barracuda convertible (September 69 Hamtramck built car) has it's original Am radio and fender mounted fixed length antenna.

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formula s
Moparts Member
Posts: 1406
From: Long Island ,N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2000
posted 01-16-2003 06:02 PM

A12, your theory is correct. Optimum FM reception at 98 megacycles,the middle of the fm spectrum would call for a 32(actually 31)inch mast. 71 T/A you're also correct about the glass hood and AM reception . A steel hood acts as a 'ground plane' to capture the signal,something a glass hood can't do.

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A12
Moparts Member
Posts: 247
From: Vermilion, Ohio USA
Registered: Jan 2002
posted 01-16-2003 06:15 PM

Scott, there may have been a point that FM radios were becoming more and more popular that manufactures started to order fixed (re: less expensive) antenna for production then the telescoping version.
In ’68 and ’69 I had a part time job installing car stereos (8-track players) and FM converters and that is when I learned about setting all of the telescoping antennas to 32”.

I called a company that specializes in rear fender mounted (Mopar) antennas, looking for a replacement antenna for my ’69 ½ 6BBL, Lift Off Hood, Road Runner that had it mounted on the rear fender (since 1970), and they also pointed out that 32” fixed antennas were normally on cars with FM radios.

I’m not saying that you won’t find an AM radio car with a fixed antenna but you’re less likely (after a certain point) to find FM radio cars with a telescoping antenna that extends a little more than 32”. Now that I said that I’m going to have to come up with a lot more facts, won’t I? I should learn to keep my mouth shut.

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Scott Smith
Moparts Member
Posts: 4813
From: P.O. Box 160278, Clearfield, Utah 84016
Registered: Mar 2002
posted 01-16-2003 06:24 PM

I will measure it tonight and let you know. What points do you measure betweenfrom? The tip and the mast base? Unscrewed off the car?

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formula s
Moparts Member
Posts: 1406
From: Long Island ,N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2000
posted 01-16-2003 06:27 PM
Don't measure the threaded part that screws in the base. Measure the exposed portion.

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4speeds4me
Moparts Member
Posts: 4273
From: Sicamous, B.C., CANADA
Registered: Sep 2001
posted 01-20-2003 02:19 AM

Well, I posted this question for cosmetic reasons, but it was good to learn WHY the T/A's and AAR's got the rear mount. Very enlightening, gentlemen. Thank you!

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Little John
Moparts Member
Posts: 1045
From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Registered: Apr 2001
posted 01-20-2003 06:19 AM

Dan, if your looking to mount an antenna on the quarter panel instead of the fender, and if your interested in an electric telescoping unit... Canadian tire sells a universal one that comes with several different bases so you can mount it straight up or at an angle.
I put one on my 'Cuda last summer and I think it's one of the best things I could do for my car, I think it really cleans the car up and it makes it much easier when it comes time to put the car to bed with the car cover on it.

But if a stock apearing antenna is what your after don't go with this universal one, it doesn't look anythng like stock.

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