Radio Power Antenna Mast

[Izzmo]

Isn't the mast on the 97 radio (power one) the same as the years before?

On my last SHO, I was able to find a mass for it no problem, but all these damn auctions now are saying it's for all except year 97.. wtf?

I'm looking at the pictures and can see nothing different..

am I wrong?

~Nick

 

[luigisho]

When I bought mine a few years ago on ebay it seemed pretty common to all GenIII's.

 

[JoesSHO]

The Gen II (92-95) and Gen III (96-99) mast tops are different. (I converted my 99 to a power antenna, they were not available in 99) Gen II has a "diamond" shape on the end, and the Gen III has a flat top design. I an not positive about the motors, but I think they are the same, maybe the mountings to the car are different.

However, the Gen II mast will work in the Gen III housing, only difference is it will retract about 1/2" below the level of the housing when fully retracted though. I had installed one in an extra Gen III antenna I have and used it before finding a spare Gen III antenna at the boneyard. The Gen II mast'd antenna is still in my garage on the shelf, I put the Gen III mast'd antenna in my car.

Someone will say in the next day "get a xxxxxxx fixed mast antenna and you won't have to worry about that anymore."

I prefer the power mast. I can remember to put it down if my car ever sees a carwash.

***WARNING*** There is a guy selling them on eBay from "calcar" do NOT buy from him. I bought a mast, never saw it, and he won't refund any money. I talked to three other people that bought from him, and one of them said it took EIGHT MONTHS to ship a mast. He doesn't have them, and waits until he gets his hands on one- one of them was even apparently used.

If you need a mast, get it from Bridgewood Motorsports- they're also on eBay, great sellers. The Gen III masts however, are difficult to find.

 

[Izzmo]

Well.. I found Gen III masts.. just they are saying it's not for a 97.. eh?

All I need is the mast.. and I replaced my old mast on my last SHO with a GEN II one.. and like you said, it just goes below a little bit. I personally like it how it goes inside the fender.

So, I might just do that.

 

[SHOZ123]

I bought one for Ford a few years ago. It was not expensive at the time. Have you tried Fast Parts Network?

 

[Izzmo]

Wow... Fast Parts Network price: $196.89.. WTF? Wow, **** no on that one.

Where did they get that price from? That's just for the mast, not the motor.

And for another I found.. $52.24. Hmm, way too expensive.

RockAuto doesn't anything either.

 

[Izzmo]

Okay, bought the genII mast, lets see how it turns out. Hopefully like my last one.

 

[SHOZ123]

I guess I should have said I had the inner plastic part that pulls the mast up and down.

I went to a fixed mast base and use the short rubber one because I got tired of the unreliability of the powered antenna.

 

[Izzmo]

Well, that plastic part shouldn't cost that much.

I bought one for $12.99 on eBay and it's a simply tearing down of the mast motor to replace it...

Hmm, who knows.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

You realize that the correct mast is available all over the place for short money (under $20), right?

 

[Izzmo]

URL please? I have searched a lot of places, just not Ford, if that's what you are saying.

I just bought a Gen II mast for $6, and that works fine.

But, if you can find me a GenIII mast, please show me!

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Well, here's one on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110260449372

Or you can just source the Metra replacement locally, P/N 44-PWRFD261 which usually runs about $12.

 

[Izzmo]

Well how about that.

Screw eBay's search. The very first search I put in was Taurus Antenna and it came up with 1 page featuring listing for the genII...

Thanks Mr. A!

 

[JoesSHO]

Holy ****! Nice!