E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

I'm wondering what anybody out there is using for a power antenna on a 73 Cuda in the stock antenna hole in the passenger side fender or if it is even possible. When looking down the hole it appears that a pinch weld protrudes about half way into it. Appears it would need to be notched or grind it back a bit. Anybody have any experience with this?

I've been playing with trans am cars that have quarter mounted antennas, but I saw that Classic Industries had a nifty power antenna setup with factory looking bezel.

Yes, I've installed two of them now. I believe the company is call retro-sound or something that sells the Barracuda/Challenger kit with the right bezels etc..

I have installed a number of these (have one in my Challenger and one in my Cuda) and will say that I like the fact that they can "disappear" when not in use. However, I personally do not like the automatic variant as they expand when the radio is on and contract when it is turned off. I personally would much rather control the height of the antenna myself as I find that the automatic ones are far too tall when extended.

If you look online, you can find a "semi automatic" antenna on places like Amazon for something like $12. They work great and allow you to make the antenna as high or low as you like with the radio on.

Eventually, when the time is right, I will be installing a AAR style antenna on the rr quarter. Looks sooo much better there.

Nobody has mentioned the elephant in the room.......that pinch weld in that antenna hole looks like it could be a problem. Has anyone had to deal with that during their install? Would grinding a small notch out of it do any structural harm to the car?
http://forum.e-bodies.org/gallery/200-180217172804.jpeg
The pinch weld you can see in the pic where the antenna would go.
Thanks, Mike

Can't really see it in the hole.

Added a link to the area in my above post

cut / cut / snip / snip and whala it should fit.  I've seen what you can do, it shouldn't be hard to make it fit.   :twothumbsup:  I think there's room.

Quote from: Cudalbs on February 18, 2017, 05:38:57 PM
Nobody has mentioned the elephant in the room.......that pinch weld in that antenna hole looks like it could be a problem. Has anyone had to deal with that during their install? Would grinding a small notch out of it do any structural harm to the car?
http://forum.e-bodies.org/gallery/200-180217172804.jpeg
The pinch weld you can see in the pic where the antenna would go.
Thanks, Mike

I had no problem installing one in the fender of my Challenger.

Thanks Cody, I just wasn't sure if cutting on that weld was going to do anything BAD. Nobody seems too concerned about trimming it up to fit so I will be going for it now :ohyeah:

This is the one I installed in a 70 Cuda with no issues, no cutting, etc... https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1970-74-plymouth-barracuda-fully-automatic-power-antenna?variant=31333451342  :alan2cents:

Aahhhh, that one looks like it would be trouble free with the motor out of the way like that. Thanks for the lead Alan.

This is what I use

https://www.amazon.com/MQ-1-Semi-Automatic-Power-Antenna/dp/B004675YOK

All of the automatic antennas I have used are far too tall and you have no choice if you are listening to the radio, the antenna is up.

@70chall440 (http://forum.e-bodies.org/index.php?action=profile;u=76) u could install a switch and just turn it on when u want to listen to the radio. Or if it's an newer aftermarket radio they usually have a signal wire for the antenna

Quote from: A.Gramz on February 19, 2017, 07:12:41 PM
With the semi auto do u find as you change stations u have to adjust the height if it's not all the way out?   I have never used one personally.

I think that you could optimize the height of the antenna for some stations if you wanted to. For me, I raise the antenna to where I think it looks good and still get channels I want to listen to.

Quote from: anlauto on February 18, 2017, 03:33:25 AM
Yes, I've installed two of them now. I believe the company is call retro-sound or something that sells the Barracuda/Challenger kit with the right bezels etc..

I got my antennas out yesterday.
Yes, Retro Sound is the company supplying the antennas to Classic Industries.
Interestingly, the Classic Industries price is $20 cheaper.

I've been using Metra Antennaworks 44-PW22 antennas which I purchased through Year One.
Year One purchases them from Ken Harrison Classic Car Audio.

They are a nice height for Trans Am style quarter panel installation.
I just make a little mounting bracket to secure them to this factory hole.  (arrow in picture below)
This picture is just a quick test fit photo, not a finished install.
As you can see, it' fits with the Challenger fuel filler tube and vent lines, no problems.
Wiring is easy, it just runs along the passenger side like the factory T/A antenna lead.
Durability is fine.  I installed one about 15 years ago, and it's still working just fine.  (This mounting location is pretty sheltered away from the elements anyway.)

The only thing I don't like about it is the bezel.
It comes with a variety of universal fit rubber / plastic / metal fittings that can be combined in all sorts of ways until you find something you can live with.  (The plastic and rubber degrades over time.)
I much prefer the factory appearing bezel that's included with the Retro Sound antennas.

That's pretty cool!   :banana:

Here is a picture of how the Retro Sound factory appearing bezel works.

There is a collar with threads inside that threads onto the power antenna.
Then that rocker bracket slides over the collar.  (optional spacers to adjust height)
Then the unit is placed through the antenna hole in the car, and the bezel goes on top.
Then the antenna nut threads onto the collar to hold everything in place.


I think the collar would thread onto my Metra antenna, but it's to tall to slide on.
I guess I need to machine a shorter collar, or maybe drill out an original antenna base and thread it on the inside.
Hmm, the two units are really similar.  Maybe I could just swap masts.  Looks like that would make it 2.5 inches taller.  I think that would still fit between the quarter panel and the trunk floor, I'd just have to adjust the mounting bracket.
I suppose that instead of swapping the whole mast, I could just swap the metal tube that the mast goes inside of.  I could cut it down to the shorter height of the Metra antenna mast.
Wouldn't be able to put the short Metra mast tube onto the longer Retro Antenna mast though, so I'd only have one power antenna when I was done, instead of having two.   :thinking:
Easiest solution seems to be leaving the Metra antenna alone, and removing the flexible part of the Retro mast, to create a Retro Antenna that's not remote mount, but it's still 2.5 inches taller than the Metra antenna.  I'll have to test fit it again.

The retro sound antenna has a flexible extension between the mast and the motor.

Seems a bit awkward to me, like it might wobble around a lot while driving.  I think it could probably be removed to mount the mast solid onto the motor.  You'd just need to shorten the nylon drive cable by the length of the extension.
Then the antenna would be firmly held in place by the fender at the top, and a bracket at the bottom.


@anlauto (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/anlauto_19)  What did you fasten the power antenna motor to when you installed it under the fender?
Maybe hang it upside down from that brace that goes between the cowl and the inner fender?  No, the splash shield is in the way. 
Hmm.
Maybe some kind of bracket off the pinch weld?
Have any pics?