Hello all. Recently purchased an 88 GTA that the power antenna was replaced with an ugly 2 foot rubber one which has to go. The car did come with the original antenna with which I am planning on replacing the cord to rebuild. Question is though, included in the box was the following parts pictured and most scary, an antenna cable that looks like it is from the back of the radio running through the car to the power antenna. It has been cut on the power antenna side. Car came with original radio which sounds like crap with the speakers but does get radio stations. Planning on replacing that next.
1. Does this look like all the parts are here to reinstall after I rebuild?




2. How worried should I be that this cable is in this box cut. I can see where the antenna is supposed to mount to the unit and the screws are there. What kind of trouble am I looking at before I take the car apart? Thanks for the insight!

 

The connector sticking out of the antenna body is exactly the same one as what's on the radio end of the cable. The end of the cable that plugged onto the antenna looked just like the one made into the back of the radio, except it had a sort of flange made onto it, that was curved so it could wrap partway around the antenna body, and it was built so it could seal to that rubber boot you can see, to keep it from getting water into it. Which is something that drastically reduces the effectiveness of an antenna cable.

Problem is, AFAIK you can't buy that connector separately, and even if you could, there's no way to install it onto that cable, in the field. The factory of course used automated assembly eqpt, very much a single-purpose-built tool thing.

Best course of action is to hit a JY and pick up another, INTACT, antenna cable. Doesn't have to be from a Firebird or Camaro. Virtually ALL GM cars w electric antenna in the 80s used that same cable setup.

 

You will need an original Power Antenna cable.

BE SURE that you get the correct replacement cable ! Check to see if that Antenna plug in the pics will work with your existing radio. There are 2 types of power Antenna cables for Thirdgens: 82-88 and 88-92. If you have a problem finding the correct type of cable you could still use the other type,... but you would also need to use an antenna cable adapter so it's compatible with your current radio.

Looks like just about everything else you need is there; there is 1 more ( 90 degree bend ) bracket used but that thing is almost always left screwed to the body (hidden behind the fender) The bracket I'm describing screws to the body at one side and the rod-type bracket in your pic then screws to it with the grounding/washer style 10mm screw shown. But - it' looks like (just about) everything other than a un-cut cable is there.