'64 Radio Antenna Lead Wire Repair

[James W.]

Hello,

I damaged my radio antenna lead when trying to get it removed from the radio after 33 years if service. The metal male lead that insets into the radio came apart from the antenna wire. My question is, there a repair kit of some kind to repair it or will I have to replace the entire lead wire? I really don't want to have to remove the left side muffler to get at the antenna wire at the antenna.

Thanks,

James West
Omaha, NE.
1964 Corvette #9258
NCRS Member #18379

[Jack H.]

Re: '64 Radio Antenna Lead Wire Repair

It's a conventional 'bananna plug' available at most Radio Shack outlets and sometimes you can reuse the original by stripping insulation/shielding from the remaining lead-in cable, heating the bananna plug with a soldering iron, blowing out existing solder in the tip and reconnecting the plug.

BUT, the lead-in wire inside the cable (factory original cables should have a WARDS silk screen that repeats on them) is angle hair thin making the repair task fragile/tricky. Yep, it's a 'bummer' replacing the original lead-in wire because you've got to lift carpet, sill plates, run through body grommet, Etc. but fresh & new is fresh and new....

If you attempt the repair, verify the integrity this way. Tune to AM (do NOT verify with FM as antenna integrity ONLY makes a difference under fringe area reception conditions). Run up and down the dial looking for two things:

(1) You get BOTH strong and weak signal stations.
(2) With the engine running you do NOT hear ignition/spark interference on weak AM stations.

You can also obtain an 'el cheapo' generic replacement antenna (WalMart about $5) and compare the radio's AM reception profile between your repaired original antenna and the replacement antenna IF you have a helper walk the replacement antenna out of the cockpit toward the rear of the car.

If you get only the strongest AM stations in your area with observable reception degradation on weak signals, you've probably got additional fractures in the lead wire upstream from the end you broke (no hope, bite the bullet and replace the lead-in cable). If you hear engine ignition interference under weak AM signal conditions, you've probably got a shield wire fault and the 'stub' of the bananna plug is acting as a focused 'horn' pointing toward the engine compartment--work on improving the shield braid to bananna plug body connection integrity. Good luck!

[James W.]

Re: '64 Radio Antenna Lead Wire Repair

Hello Jack!

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it is the original cable with the words "Wards" and "Ancona" silk screened on the lead wire. I know exactly what you are talking about regarding how frail the internal wire connection is. I'd really like to just repair it. I priced a new replacement lead wire from ZIP Products for $27. Not a big ticket item, but I'd like to keep the original wire. It was working great before I trashed. I thought it would be easier to replace the radio speaker with both the clock and radio out of the way. I had the instrument cluster out for a speedo/odometer repair and was doing all the repairs that I knew thet needed to be replaced.

I'll look into the Radio Shack repair kit and see what I can do to repair it first.

Best Regards,

James West

[Bob R.]

Re: '64 Radio Antenna Lead Wire Repair

You shouldn't have to remove the muffler to reconnect at the antenna. I was able to disconnect the rear muffler hanger and push the muffler over enough to make the connection on my 63.

[Mike Yager]

Re: '64 Radio Antenna Lead Wire Repair

You can replace the speaker by removing the glove box, which is very easy. You don't need to remove anything else. I recently did this job on my car. Its a little tight but doable.

If you have the instrument cluster out, removing the glove box will give you better access and a bit more room when tightening the screws on the instrument cluster side of the speaker.