Lazy Antenna

[340Challman]

Hey All,

I've got an issue that I need your input on. I installed my antenna this evening and it has an excessive lean to the outside of the car. I measured it and it is right at 4* away from the center of the car. I could see maybe 1*, but 4 looks horrible. The inner piece that mates up against the underside of the fender has circular surfaces that makes you think you should be able to adjust the tilt, but not so. The upper/outer bezel is what establishes the angle. There is no adjustment. Do I just have a crappy repop antenna? If so, who makes a good one? This one was bought from Roseville.
  
Thanks.

[340Challman]

If I rotate the bezel 180*, now the antenna is leaning 6* in to the center of the car. It still looks wrong, but I gotta say, it looks better than 4* out. Shouldn't the antenna be very close to plumb? I can't remember how it was before I took my car apart and I don't think I have any pictures looking dead on the front. 

[cuda hunter]

None of my ebodies have an antenna.
My B bodies, C bodies and A bodies all have antennas that stick straight up in the air with no lean in any direction. 
I don't have an answer for you, but I can say that yours has issues for sure. 

[pschlosser]

Can the antenna not be adjusted to vertical?  There is a little bracket on the underside that is curved allowing you some flexibility to position it how you want.

[340Challman]

Can the antenna not be adjusted to vertical?  There is a little bracket on the underside that is curved allowing you some flexibility to position it how you want.

No sir. Look at my last picture. The castle nut so to speak, pulls the lower portion up to the underside of the fender. The castle nut rides on the exterior bezel. It determines the angle of the antenna. I agree. When I saw the circular bracket I assumed I could adjust it also. No can do.
Go out to yours and loosen it a little and see if you can adjust yours. If you can, then mine is completely wrong. That never happens with repop parts. 

[340Challman]

If the bezel were conical/convex and the castle nut concave then you could get some adjustment. Has anyone had their originals apart recently and remember. Or still has their originals apart? That would be lame, but cheaper to manufacture. These are flat surfaces on both.

[70vert]

when I restored my 70 Challenger I eliminated the antenna. It really served no purpose (I only stream from phone) and it looks so much better without it.

Good luck!

[pschlosser]

when I restored my 70 Challenger I eliminated the antenna. It really served no purpose (I only stream from phone) and it looks so much better without it.

Good luck!

I use mine as the Union 76 ball holder.

[340Challman]

when I restored my 70 Challenger I eliminated the antenna. It really served no purpose (I only stream from phone) and it looks so much better without it.

Good luck!

You know, funny you should say that. I had noticed a lot of e bodies with no antenna. I was assuming everyone likes the clean look. I will most likely create my own gasket to sit under the bezel and will give it a taper to straighten up the mast. I'm committed now. the time to get rid of it has long passed. 

I use mine at the Union 76 ball holder.

Exactly! As you should. I'm torn between my 76 ball or my jack in the box ball.

[mtull]

I had/have the same issue.  The contour of the aftermarket antenna bezel doesn't match the contour of the factory fender very well.  I thought my situation was unique.  In my case I had a few issues exacerbating the problem. Make sure the sheet metal on the bottom  side of the hole is flat (mine wasn't).

I've not tried this but here's a few thoughts:

• Try to adjust the length of one of legs on the mounting bracket by removing some of the material on one side
• Use a hard plastic or metal shim on one side of the mounting bracket

I'm concerned the problem with the two approaches requires the strength of the mounting bracket to be greater than the force of the bezel trying to find it's final position as you tighten things up. 
 

[Lunchbox]

I had/have the same issue.  The contour of the aftermarket antenna bezel doesn't match the contour of the factory fender very well.  I thought my situation was unique.  In my case I had a few issues exacerbating the problem. Make sure the sheet metal on the bottom  side of the hole is flat (mine wasn't).

I've not tried this but here's a few thoughts:

• Try to adjust the length of one of legs on the mounting bracket by removing some of the material on one side
• Use a hard plastic or metal shim on one side of the mounting bracket

I'm concerned the problem with the two approaches requires the strength of the mounting bracket to be greater than the force of the bezel trying to find it's final position as you tighten things up. 
 

Would be interested to see how the aftermarket compares to the factory lugs, my car didn't have an antenta when I got it and have a 15 year old Metro repo that I plan on putting on.

[340Challman]

I'm concerned the problem with the two approaches requires the strength of the mounting bracket to be greater than the force of the bezel trying to find it's final position as you tighten things up.

I tried to persuade it into a plumb position with various methods underneath and I can say your fear is correct about the bezel winning the battle. I have resigned myself to the task of making a tapered gasket thicker on one side than the other. I hope I can get closer to plumb.

[pschlosser]

Another thought:

I think I remember that from the factory, the bezels between the Barracuda and Challenger were different.  Yet, some aftermarket offerings become a single bezel for both applications.  I seem to recall the curve atop the fender is different between the Barracuda and the Challenger.  I may be wrong, and I may be senile before my restoration is done.  But the problem might be the bezel, in your case.  Over the years, I have been able to get the (solid, non-telescoping AM) antenna to sit up straight on several Challengers and Barracudas.  But at those times, I'm pretty sure I was using OEM (albeit, beat up) bezels.  As far as I recall, all the other parts (nut, antenna shaft, cable assembly, crescent bracket) are the same in both applications.
The 1970-71 parts book seems to agree.  Refer to image:

[mtull]

I tried to persuade it into a plumb position with various methods underneath and I can say your fear is correct

Thank you for confirming.  You saved me the trouble of trying myself.
 

[mtull]

think I remember that from the factory, the bezels between the Barracuda and Challenger were different.  Yet, some aftermarket offerings become a single bezel for both applications.

... that seems to make the most sense as to the cause of antenna plum issues.  I was looking at those part numbers earlier wondering if that might be the cause.  Thank you for posting.