Best way to remove antenna

['01SilverBullet]

Well I just got my new car cover and I want to do it right this time and get the hole perfectly lined up. So I'm going to remove the antenna so I can put the cover on and mark the its placement. What's the best way to get it off where I won't scratch the heck out of it trying to get it unscrewed, because I guess I'm a puss, there is no way I can do it with my bare hand. I tried. Suggestions?

 

[lostsoul]

you can use an open end wrench. righty tighty lefty loosie ;-)

 

['01SilverBullet]

Maybe I'll do it with a towel over it, just so that I am sure I don't scrape it. Thanks.

 

[WSD42]

May not help you right now but for the future....Sears Robo grips have a set of vinyl covers to keep you from maring up things like your antenna when you remove it.

 

[lostsoul]

theres nothing to scrape.. you just put one end of the wrench on it and twist it.. it will screw off with ease.. (like me) =-)

 

['01SilverBullet]

Well I remember when I did it on my '01 I scraped the hell out of it, and it looked crapola. I think I just have to be careful.

 

[REDFIRE VERT]

Maybe we can get someone to do a tech bulletin like the one on the valve caps.

 

['01SilverBullet]

This is a brilliant idea, good thinking.

 

[Sed]

Wrap some duct tape around the jaws of a crescent wrench.

 

[lostsoul]

The thing has maybe 1lbs of torque on it.. it sound not scratch anything up... unless your drunk while doing it. =-)

 

[3RD1]

If you're worried about scratching it, just tightly wrap a piece if masking or Duct tape around it a couple of times and use a cresent wrench.

I don't know what kind of cover you have or what came with it to keep the hole from expanding once punched. You can get an iron on patch to cover the hole and keep it from expanding or you can get a plastic gromet and secure it around the hole.

Cilik to enlarge

 

[OH1Snake]

Ya could take it to your Ford dealer, for $69.00/hr they should be able to git er dun!

 

[96vert]

Maybe we can get someone to do a tech bulletin like the one on the valve caps.

Here goes:
11MM open-ended wrench.
Turn counter-clockwise until loose.
Once loose, use fingers to continue removal.

Found this out today when I swapped my shortened antenna from the '96 cobra onto my '05. Looks much better shortened

 

[bleedingvayneAD]

Will anything bad happen if I remove the antenna and don't replace it with anything? (besides bad/no radio reception)

 

[CA Lightfoot]

Will anything bad happen if I remove the antenna and don't replace it with anything? (besides bad/no radio reception)

The only bad thing MIGHT be that the empty threaded hole might fill with rainwater and the threads MIGHT rust because maybe Ford didn't design it to be directly exposed to the weather.

 

[bleedingvayneAD]

What could I use to cover that hole that wouldn't be too visible/ugly?

 

[qutec2005]

I try to put my calk in any hole that needs protection

 

[3RD1]

What could I use to cover that hole that wouldn't be too visible/ugly?

Find a short black screw that will fit and screw it in. round top or flat head....your choice.

 

[Over's GT]

the Ford car wash guy used plyers and an old razer blade

I agree, the best method is a good adjustable wrench (cresent) and a cloth wraped aroun jaws or duct tape over jaws, both have worked for me.

funny story,
back in 1986 I bought a new Mustang GT, after all paper work was done and I was waiting for the car to be preped, I went into the shop area to find the kid who washes cars for min wage using a pair of plyers (bare) to put on the antenna! he had gauged and scrached the black paint and almost scrached the fender before I was able to stop him. 5 min later he started using a jaged old razer blade to remove window sticker! I stoped him before window was scrached

 

[FallujahMedic]

Do they still make those windshields with the antenna wires inside the glass? The Mustang sure would look nice with no "visible" antenna.