Power Antenna Replacement

[spikeygg]

I just went out and pulled my antenna out (it's dead, been dead a long time). I've never seen it before, looks like a "custom" install. When I pulled the charcoal canister off I grabbed the bracket that the power antenna is mounted to and it was incredibly loose. I looked in there and only saw a single stud and nut holding it in:
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I took the nut off and tugged on the assembly and there was something still holding it down. I realized that there was some old rusted iron pipe strap holding it to the bottom of the compartment:
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I'm wondering if this is stock or custom. If this is a (bad) custom job, how should this thing be mounted so that it isn't completely loose? It doesn't look like any of the holes in the mounting frame line up with anything else in the compartment...

[Patrick C]

This is the stock antenna bracket for the cars equipped with power antennas:

https://store.delorean.com/p-7251-bracket-automatic-antenna.aspx

https://store.delorean.com/images/Product/large/110972.jpg

At less than $20, definitely a fair price!

[spikeygg]

This is the stock antenna bracket for the cars equipped with power antennas:

https://store.delorean.com/p-7251-bracket-automatic-antenna.aspx

https://store.delorean.com/images/Product/large/110972.jpg

At less than $20, definitely a fair price!

Wow yeah, that's definitely not what mine looks like. I don't suppose you have any photos of it installed? Thanks Patrick.

[David T]

The factory also used the thinner, galvanized bracket that you have. The power unit you have is not original.

[DMCMW Dave]

This is the stock antenna bracket for the cars equipped with power antennas:

https://store.delorean.com/p-7251-bracket-automatic-antenna.aspx

https://store.delorean.com/images/Product/large/110972.jpg

At less than $20, definitely a fair price!

This is a really odd piece. I've seen it factory installed in a small handful of cars, I suspect it's only in the late 82, 83s. Most of the cars have a relatively flimsy piece of bent steel with a piece of radio back brace (slotted steel about 3/4" wide) securing it to the bottom of the pontoon.

If you have the time and patience, this part is really good to have but will take some minor modifications to fit a modern power antenna. But once installed it is very secure.

[mluder]

I just went out and pulled my antenna out (it's dead, been dead a long time). I've never seen it before, looks like a "custom" install. When I pulled the charcoal canister off I grabbed the bracket that the power antenna is mounted to and it was incredibly loose. I looked in there and only saw a single stud and nut holding it in:
46184 46185 46186

I took the nut off and tugged on the assembly and there was something still holding it down. I realized that there was some old rusted iron pipe strap holding it to the bottom of the compartment:
46183

I'm wondering if this is stock or custom. If this is a (bad) custom job, how should this thing be mounted so that it isn't completely loose? It doesn't look like any of the holes in the mounting frame line up with anything else in the compartment...

What's your VIN if you don't mind my asking? My car (4456) pretty much has the same thing so I'm pretty sure it's factory.

Cheers
Steven

[DMCMW Dave]

What's your VIN if you don't mind my asking? My car (4456) pretty much has the same thing so I'm pretty sure it's factory.

Cheers
Steven

Looks like the one in my car (5429) as well.

[spikeygg]

What's your VIN if you don't mind my asking? My car (4456) pretty much has the same thing so I'm pretty sure it's factory.

Cheers
Steven

My vehicle is 4796, I just picked up a universal replacement power antenna from Napa (https://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p/BK_7307003/BK_7307003). I think it's the same one that DMCH sells but it was ~$60 and I drove to the store and bought it tonight. :)

I'm currently reading through the old threads to determine the best course of action for wiring it up. Based on a post you made it sounds like I need to bypass the clear relay behind the driver's seat.

EDIT
Did you end up grounding it within the pontoon or did you extend the black wire and run it into the passenger compartment?
Nevermind italicized, I was halfway through reading your post when I jumped to this response. I see that you connected the ground to the white wire which is tied to the ECU mounting tray. :)

[David T]

The relay may have already been bypassed because that power unit you took a picture of was not original. Just about all antennas now have the relay built in so you don't need the one behind the driver's seat. Just make sure you fuse the power to the antennae.

[mluder]

My vehicle is 4796, I just picked up a universal replacement power antenna from Napa (https://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p/BK_7307003/BK_7307003). I think it's the same one that DMCH sells but it was ~$60 and I drove to the store and bought it tonight. :)

I'm currently reading through the old threads to determine the best course of action for wiring it up. Based on a post you made it sounds like I need to bypass the clear relay behind the driver's seat.

EDIT
Did you end up grounding it within the pontoon or did you extend the black wire and run it into the passenger compartment?
Nevermind italicized, I was halfway through reading your post when I jumped to this response. I see that you connected the ground to the white wire which is tied to the ECU mounting tray. :)

Yeah... That was a puzzler at first. Sounds like you got it sorted.

Cheers
Steven

[DMCVegas]

6585 Has the same exact setup too. Although in my case the inline fuse for the relay was missing. So until I took ownership of the car, the antenna never worked.

Eventually the mast did break, but I just purchased a replacement one from Darryl Tinnerstet and fed it back in without ever having to remove the assembly. So there might be a couple of solutions to consider looking into.

[BLWNAWY]

6585 Has the same exact setup too. Although in my case the inline fuse for the relay was missing. So until I took ownership of the car, the antenna never worked.

Eventually the mast did break, but I just purchased a replacement one from Darryl Tinnerstet and fed it back in without ever having to remove the assembly. So there might be a couple of solutions to consider looking into.

That had to be over 12 years ago - and you remember that???

[DMCVegas]

That had to be over 12 years ago - and you remember that???

It was more like 14 years ago ;)

Absolutely I remember that, AND the Toby Tabs I bought from you. Hell, I even remember that other Vegas owner, Ron, who had to put a replacement radiator on layaway with you. I also remember the BS you were going through when someone decided to have that similar name to yours, and caused you all sorts of problems. Which sucked because you had the name first.

46245

Still disappointed I wasn't able to get an input coupler from you. Gonna have to shell out for a single-piece input shaft when the time comes for my engine swap.

[BLWNAWY]

Still disappointed I wasn't able to get an input coupler from you. Gonna have to shell out for a single-piece input shaft when the time comes for my engine swap.
I think Toby still sells those couplers I designed.

[DMCVegas]

I think Toby still sells those couplers I designed.

Back in 2005 Matt Olans inquired about them, and Toby said he was out of stock then with no plans to ever remake them. At least according to what Matt said he was told.

[spikeygg]

For some reason, I opted to get the bracket that DMCH sells. I went to put the antenna on it and the big hole for mounting the mast is too large. I cannot get the mast mounting pieces to sandwich the metal of the bracket. Do you guys have any suggestions on how I can make this work?

New with and without sandwich piece
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New vs. Old (old on bottom)
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Old with and without sandwich piece
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The original piece has a 0.75" hole while the new piece has a 1.25" hole.

I sent an email to DMCH last week asking the same questions with these attachments and no one responded so I thought I'd try the forum... :disapprove:

[David T]

Some large washers or I can sell you a bracket.

[spikeygg]

Some large washers or I can sell you a bracket.

Very helpful David.

[FABombjoy]

I would just take tin snips to the old bracket and cut a bit square out around the original mounting hole. Do the same to another section of the old bracket and holesaw it.

Then use those pieces to make an adapter for the new bracket. The $free.99 equivalent of David's washer solution.

[David T]

I would just take tin snips to the old bracket and cut a bit square out around the original mounting hole. Do the same to another section of the old bracket and holesaw it.

Then use those pieces to make an adapter for the new bracket. The $free.99 equivalent of David's washer solution.

This works IF you have the snips and the hole saw. Any large hardware store will have the washers you need without having to make them. They can't be expensive.

[FABombjoy]

This works IF you have the snips and the hole saw.
Well, I guess that is hard to argue with. :D

Other prerequisites include
-One working hand and/or foot gripping skills
-Vice or gullible friend with insufficient sense
-Eyeballs or suitable adaptive equipment

Admittedly I envy your hardware store if you can walk right in and find a metal washer with .75" ID and > 1.25" OD. McMaster has very limited options, the cheapest being 98370A036, 0.781" x 1.625" @ $2.80/each plus UPS (you'd need 2).

Further economical alternative mounting adapter solutions:
-Plastic milk, laundry detergent, or other HDPE plastic jug. Sharp scissors. Cut and stack rings until suitable thickness achieved.
-Lucky Charms (has to be Lucky Charms) cereal box, shellac, dull scissors. Cut into rings as above but use shellac to waterproof adapter ring stack.
-Plastic pipe strapping and stapler. Cut and staple pipe strapping to close gap. Attach antenna.
-Coffee can, rocks. Stand in front yard, visibly smash coffee can with rocks until concerned neighbor offers to help. Accept offer.

[spikeygg]

I got it! I looked through all my loose hardware and I actually found a couple of gigantic washers that were almost exactly what I needed, I also found some fender washers and an extra nut which I needed. I used my hand drill to ream out the big ones a little and voila, installed! I tested it out, it's perfectly aligned and it's vertical, YAY!

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Thanks for the help DMCTalk.

[Metastophales]

The relay may have already been bypassed because that power unit you took a picture of was not original. Just about all antennas now have the relay built in so you don't need the one behind the driver's seat. Just make sure you fuse the power to the antennae.

Is there any way to test the relay to see if it is good? I have the original antenna but the radio that was in the car didn't have an antenna lead. the interior is all apart with open wires everywhere so i cant really put the battery in. any ideas on testing if the relay is good?

[David T]

Two wires feed that relay, a red one and a green one. The red one has power all the time from the door lock module circuit breaker. The green wire gets power from the radio antennae output wire when the radio is on to tell the relay to put the antennae up. Make sure the red wire has power first. It should. Disconnect the green wire and jumper it to power. The relay should click and if it works (and the antennae works) the antennae should go up and when you remove power from the green wire the antennae should go down. If the relay doesn't click you can also make sure it is grounded. The relays don't usually fail. If you don't have an antennae feed you can add a manual switch to put power on that green wire or you can put the green wire on ignition power so the antennae goes up when the key is on and down when the key is off.

[blueshark66]

Is there any way to test the relay to see if it is good? I have the original antenna but the radio that was in the car didn't have an antenna lead. the interior is all apart with open wires everywhere so i cant really put the battery in. any ideas on testing if the relay is good?

I just replace my antenna. The new one didn't need that relay so I took it out. If you need my old one (which works) you can have it. Just let me know.

Chris

[hippieman9]

What's your VIN if you don't mind my asking? My car (4456) pretty much has the same thing so I'm pretty sure it's factory.

Cheers
Steven

My car 6668 Has the same flimsy bracket. The top bolt just broke in two and you can hear the antenna bouncing around.
Ryan

[Dontilgon]

Does it matter if I use a glass tube or spade type for the inline antenna fuse . Also what would the proper amp?

[David T]

The short answer is to check what the specs are for the power antennae and size accordingly. The longer answer is to use the smallest fuse that won't blow all the time. A fuse is a fuse, the body of it doesn't matter, only the rating. NEVER use a fuse with a rating higher than the wiring it is supposed to protect. The whole principle is that the fuse will blow BEFORE you set the wiring on fire!

[peternikkiskinner]

I will need to take a look at my Antenna too. I can hear the motor working but the mast does not go up or down. When removing the charcoal canister does this require a turn before pulling out?

[Dontilgon]

There is a bit of maneuvering but pretty straight forward. I used a plastic flathead to help get peel it away from the car. It was the original antenna so its been on there awhile. Waiting to hear back from DMCH on the proper amp to use. I'm going to use 14GA wire and a spade fuse type. Hopefylly get to it this weekend. Ill photo when done.

[peternikkiskinner]

Thank you for the advice. Hope the job is easy for you.


There is a bit of maneuvering but pretty straight forward. I used a plastic flathead to help get peel it away from the car. It was the original antenna so its been on there awhile. Waiting to hear back from DMCH on the proper amp to use. I'm going to use 14GA wire and a spade fuse type. Hopefylly get to it this weekend. Ill photo when done.

[DeLorean Wingman]

wondering if anyone has some knowledge on this


I put in new antennas. Removed relay. I have original radio and there are two wires to the relay area. Red and Green. the antenna has a red and blue wire.

wired red to red and blue to green one nothing hqppens. antenna won't raise when radio is turned on. is this the correct way to wire it?


what do i do with he ground wire, that is part of the antenna

are their any other issues that my be preventing it from working?

any help is appreciated.

[hippieman9]

60719

This is an idea I’ve been toying with, these are hidden antennas for Harley Davidson’s, and I think it would work well under the rear window behind the carpet at the parcel shelf. Powered too. Just a thought .

[hippieman9]

wondering if anyone has some knowledge on this


I put in new antennas. Removed relay. I have original radio and there are two wires to the relay area. Red and Green. the antenna has a red and blue wire.

wired red to red and blue to green one nothing hqppens. antenna won't raise when radio is turned on. is this the correct way to wire it?


what do i do with he ground wire, that is part of the antenna

are their any other issues that my be preventing it from working?

any help is appreciated.

At the power antenna, the red wire is the power, the blue wire is the signal from the radio that tells the antenna to go up and or down, the black wire is ground and you should just connect that to the bracket that the antenna mounts too. There is a pink wire coming off the radio that is power for the antenna, (red wire).
I’ve noticed new power antennas don’t have a relay mounted on them, they are now internal of the antenna.

[adam_knox]

Is the antenna supposed to go up only when the fm radio is playing or is it any time the stereo is on (like when playing a cassette)?

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

[bueller]

Depends on the deck you are using. Many of the ones I looked at send power to the antenna anytime the stereo had power but some higher end ones are a bit more intelligent and only do it when FM is selected. Since the deck I wanted sent power all the time, I added a small push button switch in the path to the antenna and now I can control it as desired.

[DMC1890]

what do i do with he ground wire, that is part of the antenna



The mounting points for my original antenna were not grounded. So I had to run the new antenna black ground wire to a good metal ground. I ran it back to the area where the original relay was mounted.