MGB: Anyone with Experience with Flush Antennas?

I want to change my fixed antenna, and wondering how people feel about the flush antennas. Also does anyone have pics on their MGBs?

If you mean the retracting ones, be prepared to drill a bigass hole in your car.

Mike Moor of Angola, IN has a "disappearing electric antennae" on his MGB Tourer.

Dude, aren't you in Vegas?

I got mine from Moss 15 years ago and it fit the original antenna hole. It isn't an electric one and pushes down nearly flush with the top of the mount. No pix on hand and the car isn't here.

[quote="John D. Weimer"]
I got mine from Moss 15 years ago and it fit the original antenna hole. It isn't an electric one and pushes down nearly flush with the top of the mount. No pix on hand and the car isn't here.[/quote]

Where was your antenna placement on the MG?

Mine in original hole. About $15 from O'Reillys.

Another. This non-electric.

Right here.

That looks like mine, got a little rubber gizzy you can put on top.

I have one on mine, its manual type. Been on 20 yr. Can maybe get a pic tomorrow. Excellent for car cover application.
RS

You know, it's interesting how many different places you see the antenna holes drilled.

Thanks for posting pics guys.

Jim, Wow that antenna is sure close to that windshield!

[quote=kaduku]
Thanks for posting pics guys.

Jim, Wow that antenna is sure close to that windshield![/quote]

Yep, but perfectly placed such that the cable doesn't have to be threaded awkwardly thru fenderwells and firewall like the one on my '71.

I use a bit of wire hidden inside the passenger side seam of the softtop. Coax from the radio to the softtop mounting then a bit of wire soldered to centre core of the coax, along the flap along the top that runs parallel to the edge of the side window, I grounded the shielding at the softtop hinge.

Works a treat and completely hidden! I'll take a pic later when I go out for lunch.

Stainless fully retractable antennas are available most everywhere and cost around fifteen bucks.

All of the radios and antennas were installed at the dealer level as a radio was an "option" so you will find some variations in exact placement one car to another.

Drilling the mounting hole in the wrong place can end up being a real PITA for the rest of the life of the car. You MUST have sufficient space directly below the mounting to receive the retracted portion of the antenna. If you drill over another internal panel things get messy really fast.

The "correct" placement is about five or six inches forward of the right WS pillar and MOST IMPORTANTLY it must be OUTBOARD of the interior foot well box. That is easily determined by opening the door and looking at the vertical panel to the right of the passenger's legs from the inside of the car. For safety sake place the hole about an inch outboard of where you figure the web is.

There is a small rubber grommet filled hole for the cable to pass through in the side of the box. Remove the interior trim panel and find the grommet up high on the panel, about even with the horizontal center line of the dash.

If you have to, remove the splash panel from inside the wheel well so you can see what you are doing.

A flashlight shining from one side of the foot well panel or the other helps to see where thing are located.

Thread a messenger wire through the hole in the box from inside the car over to the hole that you have drilled in the fender.

Tape the messenger wire to the end of the cable and draw the cable into the passenger compartment.

Mount the antenna mast and base and follow that with a mild tugging of the cable to get the slack out of the fender cavity.

Jack

[quote=scottydawg]
Dude, aren't you in Vegas?[/quote]

Yes. :drinking:

An alternative to drilling a hole in the bodywork to mount a standard antenna is to use a powered antenna. I picked one up many years ago after my restoration where I just didn't want to make a hole in my pristine, new fenders.

This antenna requires a 12vdc feed to work an internal amp, and it tucks right up between the metal post in the center of the windscreen and the windscreen itself. It's also covered mostly by the rear view mirror so you don't really notice it. It consists of 2 small blades that extend out from the center block to make it a total of about 8 inches wide. It works very well for both AM & FM signals but is very inconspicuous. I'll try to post a picture of the installation on my car later if anyone is interested.

Absolutely Earl!

Jack

I filled the hole for the antenna on mine. I lived in wet and soggy South Florida. I layed the antenna (extended) in behind the dash and zip tied it to the lower crossbar. Works great, never see it, been there for ten years. It runs all the way from right side to left side. I put clear flexible plastic tubing over it to keep it from rattling, etc.

[quote=comart45]
I filled the hole for the antenna on mine. I lived in wet and soggy South Florida. I layed the antenna (extended) in behind the dash and zip tied it to the lower crossbar. Works great, never see it, been there for ten years. It runs all the way from right side to left side. I put clear flexible plastic tubing over it to keep it from rattling, etc.[/quote]


great idea peter, I would have figured the steel surround would Impede signals, I'll try that myself on the Gt.

Here's a pic of the powered antenna I installed on my B. The cable, which I should have tied off using black wax cord instead of white tiewraps, contains both the power wire and the coaxial cable that connects to the back of the radio. The white strips are the backing for the adhesive pads which I didn't have to use as it fit perfectly between the post and windscreen. It's on my list of rainy day to do's to paint them black, but I always forget about it.

from the inside

I have one like Earl but not in my MGB (yet - still restoring). However, in my car I have it mounted on the windshield, just parallel to the side of the A-pillar on the passenger side. In the car that I am using it, the inside of the A-pillar is black, so that helps to hide it as well. Not sure if it would fit like that in the B since the windshield is so short, but if it does, that might be another location to try.

I mounted an electric flush mount on my Midget in the rear, comes up automatically when the radio is turned on. I like that feature as I don't have to worry about it being damaged when the car is parked and I don't have to think ahead about raising the antenna when I decide I want some sound on the road.