Antenna snapped off - fixable???

[Jay Bee]

Just happened, antenna hit a low lying tree branch and broke it off. Look at the picture and please tell me if you think it's fixable once I remove it. It lately had some kind of issue, could never get it tight. I think the brass portion inside the "cone" was already split apart.

If no fix suggestions doe anyone have a telescoping antenna they'll be selling at Moparfest?

[anlauto]

Can you get the broken part out of the base ?

[Jay Bee]

Can you get the broken part out of the base ?

Not the way it sits right now. Guess I have to remove it completely and see what it looks like on the underside.

The threaded piece on the mast comes out easy enough. I'm thinking if the broken base part can't come out then I'll just remove the piece from the mast, force down on the "stud" and JB Weld the crap out of it - the Macgyver way. I'll be 67 soon, it only has to out last me.

[anlauto]

Can't you clamp vice grips on the little nub and turn it out ?

[Jay Bee]

Can't you clamp vice grips on the little nub and turn it out ?

I doesn't look threaded on that portion. I don't really want to mess up the nub with vise grips since it might prevent me from forcing the mast onto it. I should be able to get out from removing the splash shield, correct?

[Rich G.]

All my cars the antenna mast unscrews from the base.

[anlauto]

NO...The nub in your base will unscrew, that's how they work. No need to remove the base from the fender...

[anlauto]

To Macgyver it....get a piece of 1/4-20 threaded rod, screw it into the antenna with some Loc-Tite then cut to length, and screw into the base of your fender after taking the old piece out.

[Jay Bee]

Okay, back from cooking & eating.

So mine is definitely not 1/4 x 20 like my spare fixed mast and the one in your picture Alan. My threads are about 1/8 dia with a 36 TPI. I looked closer at the nub with a jewelers loupe and I think you guys are right. It looked like there might be one thread showing.

Tomorrow I'll try to vise grip it out and find a bolt with 36TPI that I can cut the head off. If that don't work maybe brazing a coat hanger to nub will.

Thanks for the input Alan & Rich.

[anlauto]

YES...giving it more thought, my Macgyver wouldn't work, for exactly the reason you just stated.....back to duct tape

[Jay Bee]

There were a few things throwing me off, that's why the thread.

1. Why were the threads 1/8x36 and not 1/4x20 (like my fixed one)
2. Why does the "stud" thread into the mast too and not machined as part of it.
That last thing got me wondering if the threads are part of the mast or part of the base.

I already have a stud made if I can get thee nub out.

[Racer57]

When mine broke I did the anlauto MacGyver method. I stuck a jewelers screwdriver into the base and was able to remove it the piece. The antenna treaded base is chromed brass so its very soft. I drilled/tapped it for thread-all. The thread-all piece is a lot longer than factory. I always put a cover on my car when I get it out and got tired of taking antenna off and having to tighten it. With the longer thread, I just screw it in until it touches and thats enough.

[Jay Bee]

Well no wonder I was confused and didn't see any threads, because there weren't any showing and 2 different thread sizes. The picture is worth a thousand words. So here are my options.

1. Buy a new telescoping antenna, trying to find the mast only.
2. Drill out the mast's brass insert and re-tap to 1/4x20 & drill out the "cone".  Sounds like what you did Racer57.
3. Re-install my spare fixed 31" antenna and be done with it.

[Jay Bee]

I just want to thank all that helped me with this and apologize for wasting your time because of my stupidity. I've installed both types of antennas but let myself get sidetracked this time because the exposed threads (1/8x36 vs 1/4x20) looked different.

[Racer57]

I just want to thank all that helped me with this and apologize for wasting your time because of my stupidity. I've installed both types of antennas but let myself get sidetracked this time because the exposed threads (1/8x36 vs 1/4x20) looked different.

A "stupid question" in this forum it
is not possible. We're talking about 50 year old cars for Christ sake !