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Generic Power Antennas - Worth It?

S

Scorpion8

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Jul 10, 2008
Messages
1,681
Location
Juneau, AK
I don't have any junk yards or auto salvage yards in my area but in the never ending quest to do incremental improvements to my peppy lil' GL 'tour I spy generic power antennas available on eBay for various all-Ford models. Are these worth it? Anyone have any experience? I was looking to scavenge one at a salvage yard this summer back east but the lot had a dearth of Fords with power antennas.

Any thoughts or suggestions?
 
I'd post in your region's WTB thread and see if anyone has a stock power antenna local, or try some of the michiganders, they usually have a stock pile of parts laying around. Honestly though... a power anteanna vs a fixed antenna... it's going to sound the same for reception... besides the fact that one goes up and down... and other doesn't...
 
well mine just broke due to ice. the motor is no longer connected to the antenna. i guess it is best to find a ford part, new or used.
 
CSVT_2004 said:
How so? Just clean it off before you turn on your radio... Or put a switch on it like I did...
Click to expand...

The antenna would be "down" all night or day when not in use as the snows here build-up on the car. With the fixed antenna you get a lot of build-up regardless of if the radio is on or not. Since the antenna would be "down" 99% of the time, there'd be no ice or snow buildup on it during the winter months.
 
Scorpion8 said:
The antenna would be "down" all night or day when not in use as the snows here build-up on the car. With the fixed antenna you get a lot of build-up regardless of if the radio is on or not. Since the antenna would be "down" 99% of the time, there'd be no ice or snow buildup on it during the winter months.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind a power antenna motor will flat-out break if it attempts to open (or close) when there is ice on the car. If you're concerned about ice buildup, a fixed antenna really is the way to go. Otherwise, you should also install a switch to manually control your power antenna.
 
Not a concern. I lived thru a power antenna on my 280ZX for many years, but I didn't live up here then. This area has so much moisture and ice-fog in the winter that I'm more concerned with ice buildup on the fixed antennas than anything else. I clean snow and ice off the car before driving, but even my Dodge Ram (used to be the daily driver) had ice buildup as you drove in the wintertime. If the radio is off (and thus antenna is down) then that concern vanishes with a power antenna.
 
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