Does anyone know how to get the top part of the antenna base off without damaging it? It looks like there is a special tool that would go in the 4 slots on the outside edge but I'm not sure where to get it. Here is what mine looks like:



I replaced the antenna mast already. It is the top part of the base that I cannot get off w/o damaging.

I know that my Eclipse has almost exactly the same kind of top part except it is metal and stays in better shape when it's removed so I may end up going to the junkyard to get one. Of course my Eclipse's is no longer perfect because something stupid happened where it got stuck completely and then getting it off actually broke it off at the base and it was a PITA.

 

It is a special antenna socket. It has 4 prongs on it that engage with the slots on the nut.

 

Where can I get one?

 

Well none of the auto stores I went to had that tool nor did Radio Shack. I ended up goin to a Chevy dealer and they had the tool. I got another antenna base that looked perfect from the junkyard, but it was stuck in place also. The paint did get damaged a bit when the dealer removed it although the slots still look MUCH better than on my old one. The paint shop clearly did not have the tool and mine must have been stuck on there pretty good. So I sanded this new one down to repaint it.

Should I just spray it with black auto paint? Should I spray it with primer first?

 

I got a different antenna mast for my Camaro from Autozone. I like it cuz it's shorter than stock, but still straight thin metal. The bottom part is also equivalent to stock size which I like better than the other new antenna I got. Both the new base thing I had to get removed with a tool and the new antenna mast are both silverish.

I want to paint them black. The guy at Autozone thought I should just rough them up with 1500 grit sandpaper then paint them so that's what I'm planning to do at this point. Does that sound like the best way to paint them?





I put the antenna on late last night cuz it was gonna snow today (started snowin like a **** at 8:30am)

 

I got my sockets from Snap-On. I used to work in body shops and the truck came weekly. As far as painting the antenna parts, I would go a little rougher than 1500. Try 800 or so.

 

For everyone else thats needs to know, Harbor Freight Tools carry them.

 

I just cut my factory one and put a new top on it

 

to remove it. get a flat head and a hammer. and just tap the heat bolt careful. and when it get loose. just twist it off by hand!

 

That's probably what the paint shop did to my old one. Also that's what I attempted to do to the new one when I couldn't find the tool but it was damaging the slots like on my old one so I ended up goin to the dealership before I damaged it too much. Ended up causing one tiny gouge on the bottom of one of the slots but it seems to mostly have disappoeared since I sanded it. I'm gonna go see my car tomorrow and check on it again