Just how do you replace that antenna?

[Sunroof]

I recently purchased a standard replacement antenna (manual) and noted that their is no way to remove it unless you remove the drivers door!

The antenna on my 73.5T is just a few inches north of the gas filler cap toward the windshield. You can see the mast and cable through the slit between the door and body. Because of the slight curvature of the door, it appears the mast cannot come through that area.

Does anyone have any experience with the same problem. The only logical way I can see getting to it is by taking the door off!!
That I hear is not a fun time..............

Regards
Bob
73.5T

[BlueSkyJaunte]

My wife has very small hands and managed to get it out for me. You have to hold the door partially open (giving you the largest gap) and sort of slide the antenna assembly out downwards and towards you (stand in the obtuse angle created by the front fender and the door, i.e. outside the car).

DON'T drop the antenna once you've detached it! You'll never get the door closed again until you remove the antenna completely, otherwise!

Make sure you attach some twine to the end of the old antenna wire, to give you something to feed the new wire in.

Good luck! It takes a lot of patience and understanding of n-dimensional geometry.

[Sunroof]

Thanks blue, but its looks like that mast is a wee bit too big to get through that slot from where I stand. Its like getting a square peg in a round hole.

Any way through the gas filler area?

Bob

[john walker's workshop]

door off. what a wonderful idea they had, putting it there.

[Sunroof]

Well when the master talks, I listen..............

So, just what is the best way to take off a door without screwing everything up? It looks like it would take more then little Martha's kitchen screwdriver to get those screws out! Six screws and one small pin is all it looks like, but what of realignment? Scroll the old pencil line around the hinges? My biggest concern is the difficulty of getting those screws loose.

Suggestions, ideas, help?!!!!

Thanks
Bob
73.5T

[SteveF_911]

I bought a non porsche antena that was more compact than the one that was in there.

I just mangled the old antena to get it out.

The new one i got from the local parts shop was real thin so it fit through that gap between the gaurd and the door.

Allow three hours and keep small children and animals at a safe distance.

[RoninLB]

I did the manual antenna act on my car.. it sure is a wonderful design idea..

mine was to tight to remove and install the same.. so the easiest, and most efficent is the door removal... but.

my doors slammed so nice.. really nice alignment that I didn't want to lose.. so I did the fender act.. my old car needed an eyeball in there anyway.. installed with new body cauk.. long string from fender going to new ceiling eye bolts.. no scratches/ solo. ............Ron

[Ray 911s]

I just replaced the antenna on my 1970 911T. If yours is the same design, you can hold the antenna from above the fender and manipulate the swiveling anchor to get it to come out from the top. One side is more narrow than the other. I know it doesn't look like it, but examine it carefully when you are in a patient mood. It will come out through the hole from the top with minimal minipulation. Swivel the narrow side up and hold it vertically while lifting slowly.

Getting the new one in was a bit more challenging. I used electrical tape to fasten the end of the new cable to the cut-off end of the old and pull it through the hole into the interior. Your new [Hirschman] antenna has a weather seal tapered grommet on the cable that works great. Here's the trick: feed the end of the new cable UNDER the fender brace. Once the cable ends are taped together, feed the antenna assembly through that same route.

I did the whole job in about 40 minutes. No scratches, no door removal.

[Aussie]

I replaced my antenna without taking the door off. It was a non genuine antenna and I had to get the door on exactly the right angle for the gap to be big enough for me to fit the antenna through. It took a bit of fiddling but I got there in the end.

Aussie

[RandyF]

I'm also thinking about replacing the old bent manual antenna on my 78 911SC, and I'm facing the same issues. I don't really want to take off the door if I can avoid it! Also, I know the old one's attached to the body by the door, but it looks like you also need to unscrew it from the top of the fender too. I've tried various tools on the top ring and it doesn't want to loosen much. Is there something more to this than unscrewing it in a counter clockwise direction? I don't want to damage the fender just replace the antenna.

I would think the Hirschmann Antenna offered by P.P. would be a good replacement, no?
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/autocat/load_page.cgi?page_number=5&bookmark=16&model=911E&currsection=exteri

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by RandyF
I don't want to damage the fender just replace the antenna.

I would think the Hirschmann Antenna offered by P.P. would be a good replacement, no?
[

I can't find a pic of the PP antenna.. but my Hirschman orig & replacement had a large lower mounting bracket that made it impossible to remove or replace as a single piece with the door and fender attached.. Removing the fender solo was doable for me.. and I did Not want to disturb the great door alignment.. good luck

[Hetmann]

When I bought my car it had a broken antenna, so that was one of my first fixes. I took it to a local stereo shop and they couldn't figure it out so then I took it to a local Porsche specialist. He took the door off and got it in there, but the door has never hung right since. I have fiddled with the door a couple of time since then and its better, but still not perfect. Getting the door realigned is a project for this winter. Ugh.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Man, we should start a business: "911 antenna replacement by Blue's wife".

[TMH]

The automatic antenna on my '87 failed, but fortunately mine was in a much easier location to get at. But thinking about your problem, what about an alternate solution. Leave your old antenna in place and instead hook up an interior "on the glass" antenna up to your stereo. I don't know how good a level of reception you want, but some of these seem pretty good. After a quick Google search, I found these guys:
http://www.custom-autosound.com/prodList.php?FamID=13

Anyway, you could try that, or go to an MP3 player (and forget AM/FM), or just listen to that music played by your flat six engine...

Tom

[Zeke]

I removed the fender bolts and was able to pull the fender out a little to help with the access. It's still a tough job. My car needs paint, so I wasn't worried so much about scratches on the edge of the fender or the door. It still took a couple of hours. I had to walk away a few times.

[RandyF]

TMH,

Regarding; "what about an alternate solution. Leave your old antenna in place and instead hook up an interior "on the glass" antenna up to your stereo."

To be honest, for the purposes of this car I don't care very much about reception. The stereo has a CD player built in and I'm more interested in hearing the sounds of the engine anyway.

The real problem I'm attacking is I can't get the darn antenna down, so I can't put the cover I bought on it. I could just cut the antenna off and be done with it, but I would like to do this "right".

Thanks for the feedback anyway, it's helping me weigh my options.

[john walker's workshop]

door removal is done by removing the hinge pins. that doesn't screw up the alignment. not that they want to come out easily or anything.

[Evans, Marv]

Again, John is right. Removing the hinge pins doesn't alter the door alignment. I have removed them with a long, thin punch and a hammer. Good chance to lubricate them. I replaced a couple of antennas using one of those long, thin flexible grippers with the thumb plunger on the top to get the old antenna out. I don't know the name of the tool, but I bet a bunch of you have them. You just have to be a little careful not to scratch the paint.

[aj88cab]

Stop moaning guys....... if you had a later model (my 88 for example)with the antenna in the windshield the only tool you'd need is a hammer. To quote my Bentley Manual "if the radio antenna fails you must replace the entire windshield"....ouch!

Reminds me of an old (bogus) public service announcement on my college radio station. "For the best reception of WPSU extend your radio antenna to 26.5 inches, for those with the new in glass antenna....(the sound of shattering glass). Maybe you had to be there.

Sorry guys it's late Friday, its been a long week, and I'm about to get the hell out of the office. The UPS boxes have been arriving all week, and while my neighbors think it Christmas presents, I know better, its Porsche parts. So this weekend I'll be doing what Bob and the rest of us will be doing ...playing with (fixing or driving) our toys!

Have a good one.

Andrew

[JV44HeinzBar]

Hi,
I have a broken antenna on my '70' 911T. There is only a small amount of the antenna protruding above the fender. Several folks have indicated how they were able to access the antenna, but something is still missing. Just how, exactly, is the antenna removed from the body? Does the antenna pull straight out? Does one have to turn it counter clockwise to 'unscrew' it? What toos were used in the antenna's removal?

Thanks,
Brent