Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

[Joe C.]

Ahoy! When I first installed the $550.00 factory power antenna in my '65, I remember that it was just about perfectly vertical. I had to remove it , and now reinstalling it I am having trouble getting it to set vertically. It is ship-shape fore-and-aft, but athwartships, it is listing about 10 degrees to port (the top of the mast leans toward the drivers' side). Been through it 3 times now, but maybe I'm not seeing something here. Then again, maybe it's not supposed to be vertical when viewed from the back. I'll try a fresh start this morning.
Thanks in advance.

Joe

[Michael H.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

Is it possible that you're taking on sea water and the whole car is actually listing to port?

[Joe C.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

Mike:

No, actually installed reconditioned bilge pumps during restoration, and the torpedo hit only flooded the chains locker . Seriously, that did occur to me, but the car is sitting straight and level. The top of the antenna is definately tilted outward by about 10 degrees.

Joe

[Michael H.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

I don't understand what might have changed. If the same antenna assy is installed in the same manner as it was originally, that would almost have to point to a bent lower mounting brackey? If the antenna main body is rotated slightly, it would cause the problem you describe exactly.

[Joe C.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

Everything is straight, and new. The AIM shows the orientation of the body of the motor/gearbox as normal to the long axis of the car. This is not true, as in my case, I remember that it was at approx 45 degrees to the long axis. If I rotate it any more, it hits the wheelwell splash bulkhead. If I pull the bottom outboard to get it vertical, then the mount hole, next to the drain doesn't line up. There is only one way to install this thing. I'll just take a few deep breaths and try again in a little while. Thank God it's a sidepipe car!

Joe

[Michael H.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

Joe,

One more question about the antenna assy. We are talking about a rectangular motor with vertical armature, right? Not the round case version with horiz shaft? If it's the round case style, that would cause the exact problem that you have. If you have the original box and the part number is something like 3991xxx, that would be the round version.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

Joe -- just checked my '65, and it agrees with the AIM orientation (ie. antenna cable attaches to rear of mast; motor is to the left of mast and at 90 deg to the longitudinal axis of car. Did you get the spacer on the upper antenna shaft (below the ground plane) in its correct orientation ? It'll fit two ways; sounds like this might be your problem.

[Joe C.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

Mike:

The motor/transmission/spool assembly is a rebuilt original unit that I got from OEM Glass 4 years ago for the BIG BUCKS. It has the right top piece, all the right grooves in the mast sections, etc. etc. ad nauseum. The upper part of the case is rectangular, and the lower part is the cylindrical cable spool, with radial ribs on both sides. It also has the crummy wax weatherproofing, as original. The orientation of the case is now almost perpendicular to the long axis of the car.
I have fu...d with it most of this morning, and now have it dead vertical fore-and-aft, and less than five degrees listing to port. I am now satisfied, and have buttoned up the project. Rear bumpers and valence panel is now installed. Rear portion of car is now reassembled, with no going back.

Joe

[Joe C.]

Re: Antenna Mast Normal To Ground

Thanks Wayne. Yes, I did. The flats have been aligned so that the downward slope matches the upper angle of the qtrpanel. The case is now normal to the longitudinal axis of the car.
There are lots of variables here. It is a slight possibility that the hole in the quarterpanel was drilled slightly off spec. It is also possible that the rear wheelwell splash panel was installed slightly off spec. I believe that there are probably some variations in orientation out there, and it now seems to me that the owner of a 65-66 Corvette with an exactly plumb power antenna is very lucky, indeed.

Joe