[68ragtop]

Ordering some more parts for the 68 & looking for opinions on a few things.

#1 the antenna, Not sure if I should order the fender antenna with the original oval mast, or the round replacement. I can't find a good picture of either, but it appears the oval is the "correct" one for 68. they are about $40 difference in price.

#2 center consol lid, There are two available. one that is not correct but claims fit is fine.
second is supposed to be exact reproduction. I did some searching where guys had fitment issues with them. But, the posts are from a few years ago.

#3 does out supplier use ACC carpets? ordering a carpet & want to make sure its decent.

#4 did the original floor matts really have the Pontiac logo in the center of them?

Thanks guys....

[gtohurstjudge]

Yes, the oval mast is correct. I would go with the oval. If you don't have a good
original antenna base, be advised that the repros are of poor quality. I would recommend trying to find an original antenna base if you need the base. The repro masts are fine.
On the carpet, Ames sells ACC and the quality is good. yes the original floor mats have an
arrowhead in them with the word Pontiac printed on them as well. Ames sells the correct mats identical to originals and the quality is very good on them. On the console lid, nobody
makes one that is correct. The so-called "correct" ones are anything but. They have a urethane

top cover whereas the originals are foam covered by vinyl on a metal base, just like the dash pad. when they say correct, they mean it looks the same from ten feet away. If you have an original lid in bad shape, Just Dashes can recover it for you, or just use the incorrect "correct" repro. On an interesting note, even in 1971 you couldn't buy a correct console
lid from your Pontiac dealer. All they could sell you was a 1970 version with a rubber cover and a latch button on it. I know because I tried to buy a new correct one for my car back then. A hot tip.......when you install the lid leave the "spring" off of the hinge. It is this unnecessary spring that tears the hell out of your console lid. I found a correct used lid
for my car back in the 70's, and with the spring off the hinge it has stayed in perfect shape for over 40 years. The spring tore up my original lid in two years.

[68ragtop]

I had nothing in the antenna dept, so no existing base. I ordered the oval mast kit. I thought I read the base assembly was improved, but maybe that was from a different supplier? I hope it fits ok. was the problem with poor threads?


I do have an original counsil cover so I could just send it in.

leaving the spring out also seems like a good idea.

[gtohurstjudge]

I just had to put one of these bases in a customer's 69 Judge this week.
Here is the deal.....first of all on the original bases the antenna lead is part of the base
and can't come unplugged. On the repro the cable shoves onto the bottom of the base loosely and falls off if you breathe on it. On my customer's car I plugged in the cable all the way then wrapped the cable and base around and around with electrical tape so the cable wouldn't fall off going down the road. when you install the base in the fender, it leans back
farther than it really should compared to the way the antenna sits with an original base, like
the shape of the base is a little off. On the top of the base where the mast attaches, on the'
original base this threaded top piece is part of the whole assembly and can never come loose from the base. On the sorry repro, with the mast installed, you can easily yank the mast
off the base as the whole top threaded section is just shoved in there with a very loose press fit. I solved this on my customer's Judge by gluing the top section in with weatherstrip cement and letting it sit for 24 hours before installing the mast very carefully, avoiding twisting the top section when tightening the retaining nut for the mast. I had concerns about the radio reception, given all the problems with the repro base but I don't know if this is a problem since my customer had an inoperative radio. I do know I would never ever use one of these bases on my car. One other thing . the antenna cable grommet that goes in the hole in the cowl would not go in the hole no matter how hard I tried to pry it in. Of course, I was installing it with the door and fender bolted onto the car so I couldn't get much leverage. I wound up cutting the factory grommet off the old broken factory base and using it on the new cable....went right in the hole effortlessly.

[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

I just had to put one of these bases in a customer's 69 Judge this week.
Here is the deal.....first of all on the original bases the antenna lead is part of the base
and can't come unplugged. On the repro the cable shoves onto the bottom of the base loosely and falls off if you breathe on it. On my customer's car I plugged in the cable all the way then wrapped the cable and base around and around with electrical tape so the cable wouldn't fall off going down the road. when you install the base in the fender, it leans back
farther than it really should compared to the way the antenna sits with an original base, like
the shape of the base is a little off. On the top of the base where the mast attaches, on the'
original base this threaded top piece is part of the whole assembly and can never come loose from the base. On the sorry repro, with the mast installed, you can easily yank the mast
off the base as the whole top threaded section is just shoved in there with a very loose press fit. I solved this on my customer's Judge by gluing the top section in with weatherstrip cement and letting it sit for 24 hours before installing the mast very carefully, avoiding twisting the top section when tightening the retaining nut for the mast. I had concerns about the radio reception, given all the problems with the repro base but I don't know if this is a problem since my customer had an inoperative radio. I do know I would never ever use one of these bases on my car. One other thing . the antenna cable grommet that goes in the hole in the cowl would not go in the hole no matter how hard I tried to pry it in. Of course, I was installing it with the door and fender bolted onto the car so I couldn't get much leverage. I wound up cutting the factory grommet off the old broken factory base and using it on the new cable....went right in the hole effortlessly.

Thanks for your detailed response. Not sure I have much for options. I will start watching for a used base, & in the mean time I will give you a report on what this aftermarket one looks like. Guessing its the same as what you had in you hands. The good news is my cars is completely apart, so I can modify it to fit the fender if needed.

Thanks, 68RT

[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

I just had to put one of these bases in a customer's 69 Judge this week.
Here is the deal.....first of all on the original bases the antenna lead is part of the base
and can't come unplugged. On the repro the cable shoves onto the bottom of the base loosely and falls off if you breathe on it. On my customer's car I plugged in the cable all the way then wrapped the cable and base around and around with electrical tape so the cable wouldn't fall off going down the road. when you install the base in the fender, it leans back
farther than it really should compared to the way the antenna sits with an original base, like
the shape of the base is a little off. On the top of the base where the mast attaches, on the'
original base this threaded top piece is part of the whole assembly and can never come loose from the base. On the sorry repro, with the mast installed, you can easily yank the mast
off the base as the whole top threaded section is just shoved in there with a very loose press fit. I solved this on my customer's Judge by gluing the top section in with weatherstrip cement and letting it sit for 24 hours before installing the mast very carefully, avoiding twisting the top section when tightening the retaining nut for the mast. I had concerns about the radio reception, given all the problems with the repro base but I don't know if this is a problem since my customer had an inoperative radio. I do know I would never ever use one of these bases on my car. One other thing . the antenna cable grommet that goes in the hole in the cowl would not go in the hole no matter how hard I tried to pry it in. Of course, I was installing it with the door and fender bolted onto the car so I couldn't get much leverage. I wound up cutting the factory grommet off the old broken factory base and using it on the new cable....went right in the hole effortlessly.

Well, I am glad you warned me. Everything you said was true. Top slid out & the wire doesn't stay in. They used a tension pin as the center connector.

I can live with most of these flaws, but the triangle shape embossments on the base that are supposed to fit to the underside of the fender are waaay to shallow, they barely catch the edge of the sheet metal. I am pretty sure it will pull through when I tighten up the top nut. Pretty disappointed in that way more than the other issues. mast & the securing nuts look fine though.

Its funny when you order three pages of parts, it finally shows up, you spread it out on the floor and say to yourself "is that it?" Check the packing list & yup, its all there (except one washer this time)

I always seem to feel that way & I am guessing I am not the only one? Its excitement with a sadness at the same time.

[north]

Originally Posted by 68ragtop

Its funny when you order three pages of parts, it finally shows up, you spread it out on the floor and say to yourself "is that it?" Check the packing list & yup, its all there (except one washer this time)

I always seem to feel that way & I am guessing I am not the only one? Its excitement with a sadness at the same time.

Exactly!! I thought I was alone, I order hundreds of dollars of parts and when it's all unpacked it looks like it will fit loosely into a lunch pail!!

[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by north

Exactly!! I thought I was alone, I order hundreds of dollars of parts and when it's all unpacked it looks like it will fit loosely into a lunch pail!!

And sometimes into a pocket of loosely fitting jeans