C2 Power Antenna

[David D.]

Is there a fix for a messed up thread for the plastic threads that attach the 65-66 power antenna to the body? Mine has somewhat stripped over the years and will not allow the threaded retainer to thread onto the antenna body.

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

David,

Greg Thompson is the resident expert on 65 - 66 power antennas. I can dig up some contact info if need be.

Joe

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

Is there a fix for a messed up thread for the plastic threads that attach the 65-66 power antenna to the body? Mine has somewhat stripped over the years and will not allow the threaded retainer to thread onto the antenna body.

David -- not sure what you mean by plastic threads; would these be the parts to which you're referring ?

[David D.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

Wayne -

I was worried about using the plastic adjective. I am referring to the threaded section at the top of the assembly with the bowtie on it. I cannot get the chrome nut to thread onto the antenna unit. The threads are almost non existent on the very top of the unit. I can't go out to look at my car at this moment, but it seems that I remember the threaded area being something other than hard metal.

[Larry T.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna Nut

Take a look at the picture below. I have a handful of these original nuts and a couple of reproductions. The two pictured are presumed original. If you look closely the one on the right has more of a taper going down to the hole while the one on the left has more of a shoulder. The one on the left will not get a good "bite" on my threads either. The one on the right snugs down very nicely. I have reproduction and original in both configurations. I was facing your same issue and thought I would need a new body due to weak/stripped threads. My guess is yours is like the one on the left?

By the way, Waynes picture has metal threads, mine are not plastic either, as you describe.

[David D.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

Larry -

Thanks for the info. I'll look at mine this week end on the way to FunFest.

Is there a part number difference or other marks to id one or the other?

[Larry T.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

David,

All of mine have the same part number embossed on the bottom, 3863499. The reproductions have no part number embossed on them.

Check out this NOS part that sold on eBay a couple of weeks ago. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Crazy.

Larry

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

David,

All of mine have the same part number embossed on the bottom, 3863499. The reproductions have no part number embossed on them.....

$198 for NOS in the GM package is nuts ! The cast number is invisible when installed, so are there noticeable differences in the top side (other than scratches ), between NOS and repro ?

[Larry T.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

I agree, that price was nuts. However, there are some subtle differences between OEM and Reproduction even when installed. Specifically the size of the flat "semi-circles" that would serve the purpose of tightening with a wrench if you so desire. The reproductions are not consistent between each other in this area and the semi circles are generally larger. This assumes no one has improved the production of these parts recently.

[Scott S.]

Re: C2 Power Antenna

I agree, that price was nuts. However, there are some subtle differences between OEM and Reproduction even when installed. Specifically the size of the flat "semi-circles" that would serve the purpose of tightening with a wrench if you so desire. The reproductions are not consistent between each other in this area and the semi circles are generally larger. This assumes no one has improved the production of these parts recently.

$198 for NOS in the GM package is nuts ! The cast number is invisible when installed, so are there noticeable differences in the top side (other than scratches ), between NOS and repro ?

Larry and Wayne --

The seller referenced above with the NOS antenna caps has a bunch of these and the other antenna-related parts (and the ash trays), and lists one every now and then, seems to be every few weeks. While the package says "3863499", the antenna bezel cap inside has the standard replacement part with the "A" inside a circle on the bottom, NOT the "3863499" part number. The sides (i.e., the wrench flats) are like any other standard "circle A" antenna cap, they are not like the original/actual "3863499" antenna cap.

These NOS packages come with the antenna cap bottom-side facing up, as well as down. The seller above uses that picture for all of his antenna cap listings. The one he sent me a while back was not the one in his picture, although it was in the GM packaging. The example I received arrived with the bottom side facing up, so I didn't even need to open it before starting the process of sending it back. He doesn't take returns lightly, you will have to go through eBay or Paypal to get your money back, if your experience is anything like mine. Notice that he never advertises this part with the bottom-side facing up, so that the "3863499" part number could be seen (or not seen, since it is not there).

In his own words: "i dont know much about these and all i do is put them on forsale".

Buyer beware.