Replacement for the Elan aerial

[djwazza68]

I want to replace the entire aerial unit on my Elan and was hoping that there is a perfect aftermarket unit which is an almost identical replacement? Mine was replaced with a horrible chrome unit some years ago and doesn't seal to the wing properly.

I am living in optimistic la la land?

[alan e]

No you are not living in optimistic la la land if you check the Wikilec under aerial also if you are not able to get one I have a boxed new one in my garage I was keeping just in case I needed it but they are not cheap if you find one.

[Fredjohn]

I am living in optimistic la la land?

Put your location in your profile and we might know where you live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In answer to your question, do you mean the aerial stub or the whole circuit? Either way look on ebay or Amazon to see if anything similar pops up.

[djwazza68]

I'm after the whole assembly. It doesn't need to be authentic just needs to be look-a-likey.

[MarkP]

Hi, I also need some help with aerials but am just after the aerial mast. I have what looks like an original base and mast compared with the parts manual, although I am prepared to be challenged on that. The mast was a bit floppy and I wanted to put a cover on the car so I unscrewed and removed the mast. My mast lower three inches is wrapped in many layers of black tape which when I removed I found the mast was actually broken into two parts. The upper part is the wound mast. The lower part is a spring with threads of slightly different sizes on each end. The upper part has no thread which is I guess the bit that broke. From the factory it looks like this is all covered In one layer of plastic / rubber.
So I ordered, using the part no from the parts manual, a new mast from one of the usual suppliers. It looked a bit different on arrival but the real issue is that the new mast has a 4mm male stud to screw into the base which has a 4mm hole, but it is a different (coarser) thread from what I already have. Not wishing to strip the thread I returned it. eBay throws up lots of aftermarket masts but they all look like what I already received.
What do I need to order to get the 4mm stud with the fine thread? All suggestions welcome. I could just tape it all back up and put it back on but that’s just a bodge. However the radio did work so it’s doing something!
Oh, the car is a 92 SE so it’s the Bosch unit as far as I understand it.

Thanks
Mark

[Saltire]

Mark

I believe I have a spare original mast in the garage. I seem to remember when I bought my replacement base there was some discussion about the Lotus mast having a non-standard thread pitch, and I kept the old mast thinking it might come in useful.

If you wish, I can look it out and you’re welcome to try it and see if it fits your base. Are you going to Castle Combe at the end of May?

[MarkP]

Hi Jonathan,
This is what I am after. If yours looks like this then I would be interested in yours if you were thinking of parting with it. I am not sure how good quality the image in the post will be so if it’s not clear then PM me with an email address and I will send some better quality images. I guess in the original all the spring area you can see is covered in black plastic of some sort.
Regards
Mark.

[Rambo]

Just a suggestion for a simple and cheap fix....

Go down to your local motor factor and buy some shrink tube to cover the ugly spring and the rest of the aerial. No one will ever notice the repair

[MarkP]

Thanks Rambo, the issue is that it is physically broken between the top of the spring and the mast. In the photo I just pushed them together so perhaps that’s not clear from the picture. When I got the car it had many layers of black insulating tape wrapped around the join to keep it together, so cosmetically it was all black. But not straight and somewhat floppy. There is not enough metal left at the bottom of the mast to tap a thread into it to give it the strength it needs. I’m guessing that is how it was manufactured but years of fatigue destroyed that part of the mast and it’s just not there any more.
I do like your thinking though as my first thought was to solder the two parts together and then shrink wrap over the top but there is not a lot to solder to and I could see me arriving somewhere having ejected the mast off the back of the car on the way as the soldered joint failed!

[Rambo]

Thanks Rambo, the issue is that it is physically broken between the top of the spring and the mast. In the photo I just pushed them together so perhaps that’s not clear from the picture. When I got the car it had many layers of black insulating tape wrapped around the join to keep it together, so cosmetically it was all black. But not straight and somewhat floppy. There is not enough metal left at the bottom of the mast to tap a thread into it to give it the strength it needs. I’m guessing that is how it was manufactured but years of fatigue destroyed that part of the mast and it’s just not there any more.
I do like your thinking though as my first thought was to solder the two parts together and then shrink wrap over the top but there is not a lot to solder to and I could see me arriving somewhere having ejected the mast off the back of the car on the way as the soldered joint failed!

OK, I see. Worth a try anyway. I will have a look in my parts bin and see if have a spare if J doesn't come up with one

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Won't this one on eBay work?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Whip-Antenna ... 3301512475
It says it comes with an adapter stud of 6mmx6mm and 6mmx5mm but it would be easy to get a brass or stainless stud made that is 6mmx4mm.

If it will work but nobody will make a "special" stud, I can probably do it for you. I just need the correct size,thread pitch and length of each end and if it needs a small section without threads in the middle.

I don't know it it is too long or ugly looking, I just looked at the options on eBay.

Amazon UK might have similar options too...

[Saltire]

Mark (Bucks not Borders!)

Aerial mast in the post to you today, so try it out and see what you think.

When you receive the parcel, there’s an outer cardboard tube, then a wrap of corrugated cardboard, then a piece of white electrical conduit. The aerial mast is inside the white conduit! Can’t be too careful with the Post Office.

Please confirm safe arrival and let me have it back if it doesn’t fit for any reason (although it was taken directly off an Elan, so it should do).

Bank details are in the parcel if you need them.

Good luck

[MarkP]

Thanks Jonathan, will update in due course.

[MarkP]

Won't this one on eBay work?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Whip-Antenna ... 3301512475
It says it comes with an adapter stud of 6mmx6mm and 6mmx5mm but it would be easy to get a brass or stainless stud made that is 6mmx4mm.

If it will work but nobody will make a "special" stud, I can probably do it for you. I just need the correct size,thread pitch and length of each end and if it needs a small section without threads in the middle.

I don't know it it is too long or ugly looking, I just looked at the options on eBay.

Amazon UK might have similar options too...

Thanks for the offer. I have sort of been down that route with one I purchased but the body shape was wrong and the 4mm adapter had the wrong thread. I did consider finding a metal shop to fabricate an adapter the right size but hopefully with Jonathan’s help I have a more original solution. Also I believe these aerials were “powered” although I haven’t checked yet if there is any power in my base and have no idea if any old mast will do if it is. The earth strap appears loose and I need to loosen and realign the base anyway as it’s canted sideways rather than backwards so I will deal with all that then.

[MarkP]

I want to replace the entire aerial unit on my Elan and was hoping that there is a perfect aftermarket unit which is an almost identical replacement? Mine was replaced with a horrible chrome unit some years ago and doesn't seal to the wing properly.

I am living in optimistic la la land?

Sorry about the thread hijack!

[GeoffSmith]

Sorry about the thread hijack!

Don't apologise. It used to be an LEC rite of passage.

[djwazza68]

Interesting hijack so don't apologise, I'm still a noob anyway! I eventually bought a powered aftermarket DAB and FM aerial.from Eightwood, but I was wondering where the power cable normally runs from to the original aerial and how it is earthed?

[Saltire]

I can’t remember where the power cable runs, but the earth comes through the RHS of the boot bulkhead behind the washer fluid reservoir, into the battery compartment, and then up to an earth bolt on the inside of the door pillar (accessed by taking off the RHS battery compartment cover). And while you’re in there, check the condition of the box sections under the doors and splash in some Dinitrol or equivalent.

[MarkP]

Mark (Bucks not Borders!)

Aerial mast in the post to you today, so try it out and see what you think.

When you receive the parcel, there’s an outer cardboard tube, then a wrap of corrugated cardboard, then a piece of white electrical conduit. The aerial mast is inside the white conduit! Can’t be too careful with the Post Office.

Please confirm safe arrival and let me have it back if it doesn’t fit for any reason (although it was taken directly off an Elan, so it should do).

Bank details are in the parcel if you need them.

Good luck

Jonathan, it arrived safely today.

The packaging itself was an excellent feat of engineering. It was like playing pass the parcel with a big sense of anticipation to see if it fits. Anyway, it fits perfectly! Thank you very much. Money on its way to you now.

And the electrical conduit makes a perfect custom fit storage case to keep the mast in when it’s off the car.

Oh, if anyone needs a mast broken in two pieces you know where to come!

Much appreciated,

Mark.

[Saltire]

Mark, it’s better on your car than sitting in my garage. And sooner or later I’ll need an unobtanium part for my Elan, and someone on LEC will have one.

Glad to help