need help - antenna cable on '78

[BarryK]

hi guys
i was replacing the aftermarket POS crappy radio a previous owner put in and the antenna cable fell apart in my hands at the end where it plugs into the radio.
How difficult is it to replace this cable.
I see where it runs thru the center console, behind the rear seat, up along the drivers side rear wheel well and than goes behind the rear speaker into the bulkhead area.
How difficult is it to pull and feed thru a new cable behind that bulkhead in the rear?

I looked under the car and see where it somes out and than plugs into the power antenna but i'm not sure how difficult this is going to be to pull the old cable out and feed a new one in.

also where the cable exits the car to the outside underneath shouln't there be a rubber gromment there? my car has no gromment that I can see. From under the car all I can see is a big hole that the cable comes thru from the inside bit no gromment in that hole.

thanks for any help.

 

[kiwi vet]

Hey BarryK
Before you pull it out!
I would try to put another plug onto the existing cable first (its just co-ax) if theres enough slack to work with, as thats far easier than replacing the cable I would think.
Yes I would put a gromet to protect the cable.

Good Luck
Grant

 

[BarryK]

Grant
yes, I've thought of that but I can't seem to be able to reuse the original end that came off. I'm about to run out to radio shack to see if they may have a new male plug end to try soldering on or even one of those antenna cable extentions and see if splicing it on may work.
Replacing the cable doesn't look like fun. It doesn't look bad until you get to the bulkhead and than it looks like that may be a real b*tch to deal with.

 

[Dave L.]

I replaced that cable on my 81 several years ago. If I remember correctly I started by removing the drivers seat for easy access to the console and right rear quarter area. Starting to feed the cable from the rear,I duct taped the end of the new cable to a metal rod and forced it through the hole in the body. You need to pull the carpet back from the right rear quarter area and pull the cable through. From there it snakes up under the console (can't remember if I removed console trim plate..probably did) to the radio. I think it took about an hour to install.

 

[kiwi vet]

Grant
yes, I've thought of that but I can't seem to be able to reuse the original end that came off. I'm about to run out to radio shack to see if they may have a new male plug end to try soldering on or even one of those antenna cable extentions and see if splicing it on may work.
Replacing the cable doesn't look like fun. It doesn't look bad until you get to the bulkhead and than it looks like that may be a real b*tch to deal with.

Sorry, thats what I meant, a new plug to the existing co-axial cable.
Hope this works for you!
Grant

 

[BarryK]

Dave, If I can't make a new end plug work that's what i'll have to do. It's getting it thru the rear hole that looks hard but I considered doing as you mentioned fishing a rod thru with the cable taped to it or even taping the new cable to the end on the old one and pull both thru at the same time. Thanks!

kiwi, yes, I understood

 

[mkapp7879]

Barry, I've got a grommet, also. Mike

 

[BarryK]

Mike

you have everything!

 

[mkapp7879]

Nah, not really. A few years ago I rebuilt a 78 power antenna for a friend down in Florida. He had searched ebay for one and saw how expensive they were if you could find a working one. He started buying up any 78-e79 antennas and sending them up to me to fix. Some were junk but some turned out to be real nice. He'd resell them on ebay and I'd ship em out. I just have some leftover parts now. Mike

 

[jdp6000]

I'm sure a new end can be put on that cable. Go to a stereo shop. If your antenna is factory you may not be able to find a new cable that screws into it.

I just spliced in the 2 section just behind the drivers seat. It wasn't that tough.

Jim

 

[BarryK]

i got it working.
I bought an antenna extension cable, cut off the female end and spliced the two together.

Thanks all