Antenna mystery - 88 Suburban

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tj43

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I need someone to help me decipher what I have, what is broken, and what is required to fix it properly.

The pics below show what is currently on my square. The hex piece is just pressed on to the knurled “nub” that protrudes from the fender. It looks like something was originally threaded, but broke off inside the hex piece. I assume this hex piece was used as a band-aid at some point, but I dont know what the factory setup was supposed to look like. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? Thanks.
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Snoots

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Someone really boogered that up. You'll have to replace the assembly. That 'nub' should be threaded for the antenna.
 

WP29P4A

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That style connector was mostly used for CB radio antennas.
 

bucket

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That antenna base is broken. On the top of that "nub" should be a threaded stud to accept a common GM antenna mast. The hex nut thing is someone's cobbled garbage.

The antenna base can also be found on Chevy Celebrity cars and the Pontiac 6000 too. However, they commonly break like that when you try to unthread the antenna mast, so finding a good one can be difficult.
 

tj43

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Thanks for the responses, guys. I appreciate it.

I have looked on LMC truck, and it looks like the part I need is blanked out (see pic below). Does anyone know of another vendor that might offer it?

Alternatively, do you think a new threaded stud could be tacked into the remaining “nub”? This pot-metal seems suspect for that purpose, but figured I would ask.

Thanks.
 

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AuroraGirl

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ford antennas are oK quality and exist in junkyards, all their 80s 90s f series should have this. but this wouldnt mount nicel on the fender prob
 

tj43

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Thanks for all the responses. I have searched all over and cannot find the correct replacement part. Before I try to modify something else, I think I will try to drill/tap the exposed end and use some all-thread in the correct thread pitch for the OEM antenna mast (does anyone happen to know that thread pitch?).
 

gmbellew

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LMC shows this, but they don't carry all the parts.
 

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tj43

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LMC shows this, but they don't carry all the parts.
Thanks for checking. Unfortunately, I saw that too.

I wish they carried it. I assume that, because it was only used in the final years of the square (Suburban and Blazer only) it is not a super-high-demand item.
 

bucket

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The stud should be M6×1.00, I believe.
 

AuroraGirl

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I need someone to help me decipher what I have, what is broken, and what is required to fix it properly.

The pics below show what is currently on my square. The hex piece is just pressed on to the knurled “nub” that protrudes from the fender. It looks like something was originally threaded, but broke off inside the hex piece. I assume this hex piece was used as a band-aid at some point, but I dont know what the factory setup was supposed to look like. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? Thanks.
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is it bolted in the side of the fender? the gmt 400 entenna is mounted in the similar spot, and the bolts are on the innter fender. I dont know if that is the same but they sell that
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AuroraGirl

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400(?), 350
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Can you take the black cap off? I am still able to be incorrect But it just looks the sme to me. If we know it screws down into the fender or if its screwed into a vertical sheet metal brace that changes the direction of looking for replacements.

just a thought.
 

bucket

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The black cap comes off. There are three screws that hold the base to the top of the fender.

It's an antenna that was used on a few styles of FWD GM cars that most people don't care about anymore, and was also used on the very late squarebody trucks. There's no hope of it being reproduced until more people are focused on doing 100% stock restorations on later squares.
 

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