70 antenna ground plate

[Wayne B.]

I'm getting to those final assembly items and have my antenna ground plate but I don't see what holds it in place when I look up under the car, there doesn't seem to be any matching posts for the holes in it. what holds that on? surely it isn't just pinched up there by the antenna nut.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

I'm getting to those final assembly items and have my antenna ground plate but I don't see what holds it in place when I look up under the car, there doesn't seem to be any matching posts for the holes in it. what holds that on? surely it isn't just pinched up there by the antenna nut.

Oh yes it is. The other holes are for rubber bumpers so it doesn't rattle. I have never had mine out, so I don't know if glue is used. Someone who has had it out might be able to shed more light on it.

[Michael D.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

I believe the antenna body and nut keep the ground plate in place.

[Lynn H.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

I believe the antenna body and nut keep the ground plate in place.

I would agree with this assessment, as I have removed quite a few, and have never encountered any glue type substance in the assembly. I have run into some difficulty in removing the ground strap from unmolested cars, without damaging anything. This should not be an issue for assembly, but I would highly recommend making sure the bumpers are there.
Lynn

[Wayne B.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

Thanks folks, there are some remainders od bumpers there that just rubbed off on my hand. I have some of those adhesive backed stick on bumbers that are used cabinet doors and drawer faces, that should work great.

[Jamie F.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

One thing I ran into with a repro ground plate with new rubber bumpers is it is very difficult to press the plate up tight enough against the underside of the deck to start the threads of the nut up on top. And even more difficult to hold the plate with one arm and tighten the nut with the other! The new bumpers seem to be stiffer and don't compress as much. I actually had to file the notches slightly in the fitting that the cable goes into so that the threads would protrude further up in order to start the nut.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

It looks to me like the aluminum plate has a bend in it in order to fit in the space available. If the replacement material were thicker (doubtful, but who knows?) or of a stronger alloy, or not "dead soft," it would be harder to mold into shape.

In normal judging this part is next to impossible to see. On the Bowtie cars, when we have them on the lift, if one tries hard it is almost visible, if one has a good flashlight (and what judge worth his salt doesn't have a good flashlight?). Of course a 1969 with side exhaust would make it more visible. The finer details we are discussing will probably go unnoticed on the judging field.

[Edward J.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

Terry, the 70-72 judging guide doesn't even make a mention on the grounding plate, does that mean that its not judged? its seems to me theres more talk about the antenna mast tip dia. than anything with reguards to the antenna.

[Jamie F.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

Edward,
I think during judging anything in front of the judges is open for examination depending on the experience of the judge.
At my last Top Flight I had a couple of judges that picked on all kinds of stuff that was never mentioned in the guides.
At the same time I had judges that went by the letter of the guide and if it wasn't mentioned they didn't acknowledge it.
I just try to make sure everything is as correct as I know.
It's the luck of the draw...

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

Ed, If you can figure out how to judge the antenna ground plane with the car on the ground -- be my guest.

Just as a general note, just because an item isn't listed in the manual or on score sheets does NOT mean that it can not be judged. It certainly is less likely to be judged since it will not attract a judge's attention -- but if a judge chooses to judge an un-listed item it can be done.

[Harmon C.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

Their are two pins on the cable housing with the threads for the nut. The pins fit in two notches on the metal plate bracket that hold the ground plate in place. If you attach the mast to the cable housing and pull the assembly up through the fiberglass hole it will make it easy to pull up with one hand and install the gasket,spacer and nut with the other.

[Edward J.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

Terry and Jamie thanks for the responses, my reason for the question is my interest in the judging process and plan to someday do my part as a judge. as of the pass two years ive only done it a few times and like to take part in the learning experience.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 antenna ground plate

Ed if you attend a Regional or National consider attending the Advanced Judging Seminar. It won't answer all your questions, and may even give you more questions -- but I think you may find it worth while. There is not an AJS at every regional, but most have it.