66 antenna and cable replacement

[Dennis B.]

I am upgrading the radio and sound system in my 66 Coupe. I want to change out the antenna and cable. I can see what is involved in the antenna but what kind of trouble can be found to run a new cable from the radio back.

[Kevin M.]

Re: 66 antenna and cable replacement

Just did that last night on a 67. Follow the lead from the radio back. Remove radio side cover, remove kick carpet trim, remove sill plate, unclip the carpet cover plate push down. Here's the hard part the lead now goes under the carpet it's glued and taped along the wiring harness in a grove and can't be pulled through. It comes out by the hinge you have to peal back the carpet to see it. Then it goes back to the rear bulkhead and through a grommet. In the front by the wheel well I pulled up the carpet and used my hand to pry along the path separating the lead from the harness and glue pushing the carpet up and tearing it away from the glue .I did the same thing from the back by the bulkhead forward. Once I had the path of the old lead freed up I cut the connector off and tried taping my old lead to pull through the grommet this did not work. I then pushed the new slightly greased lead thru the grommet from underneath the car you can reach it easy once you see it the hardest part was finding the hole for the lead. You kind of work blind on this. I only got the tip pushed thru but grabbed it from the inside of the car with pliers and gently pulled it thought the grommet. I then pulled almost all of it except a loop the same size as the old one inside the car. I then feed the new lead up to the radio threading it thru the back of the dash following the old one and found a Z clipped on the brace and clipped the new one in. At this point connect the lead to the antenna and the radio and make sure it works. I then worked backwards to the bulk head putting the new one along the path. I adjusted it back and forth till there was some slack at the radio and a small loop back where the antenna attaches. Put it all back together and it works great for the first time in 20 years. I did loosen the muffler to reach the grommet better and just loosened the antenna and pushed it down thru the frame to attach the lead instead of reaching up.

Kevin

[Dennis B.]

Re: 66 antenna and cable replacement

Thanks Kevin now I have a picture of what lies ahead. I have a pipe car so the mufflers are out of the way.