I made the decision on the weekend to install an aftermarket power antenna I have. As much as I like the original power antennas from the 60's, I've had this new one around here forever and decided to use it up.
It is wired wrong for a factory switch though. An original power antenna is grounded to the body. There's 2 leads from the switch back to the antenna. One lead is for up, one lead is for down and the ground is through the body.
Most of the aftermarket units are like the one I have. It also has two leads but if you hook up power and ground on a battery one way, it goes up. Reverse the leads and it goes down.
I wanted to use the original switch to make it all appear stock. It's simple enough to do with 2 little relays. I now have a late model power antenna that will run off the original dash switch. I got as far as mounting the antenna tonight and running the leads to the front. Then it was time to come in, do my 1/2 hour on the exercise bike and read on my favourite forum for a while!
And I just noticed the blue on my antenna switch. No, that is NOT one of those cheap crimp connectors! That's blue heat shrink where I soldered a connection. Those blue crimp connectors (or any colour of those things) are not allowed on my cars!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
think there would have been a factory rear power antenna available on your car Mark. I actually parted out a 67 GP 2 dr ht 396 car years ago that had the remains of one. I am pretty sure it was available on the 4 dr ht as well.
Part 2 of the install may only be in a day or two. My family is complaining they don't see me after supper until they poke their heads into the garage to say good night when they are heading for bed!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
