Marty,
Don't worry about breaking that black plastic base piece b/c it gets
replaced when you replace the antennae.  Just get the old antennae and base
out any way you can (hacksaw, dremmel...).  That thin nut gets stuck all
the time just cut it off.

More about anennae replacement:
There is a antennae replacement how-to on the ftp section of the
vanagon.com site.  I just replaced mine and used an antennae from a toyota
(not sure which model).  Just go to a good car stereo place and they'll
find one that fits.  Mine was $13 new and works great, it unscrews at the
base for easy removal and is solid not hollow like the vanagon stock one.
One more tip on antennae removal:  I was unable to remove my stereo b/c i
needed a special key (not a din key) made by the manuafacturer.  Instead i
bought a motorola antennae splicing kit at radio shack for $1.45 and was
able to keep the existing antenna connected to the radio and splice the new
one behind the insturment cluster, also great for extending an antennae
wire.

Good luck
Andrew Fox

                    marty
                    <ricin@MEDIAONE.N        To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
                    ET>                      cc:
                    Sent by: Vanagon         Subject:     broken antenna
                    Mailing List
                    <vanagon@gerry.va
                    nagon.com>

                    03/24/01 10:21 AM
                    Please respond to
                    marty

Hello Listers!! I got my battery in, ordered a Bentley's (not here yet) and
parts for a tune-up. I'd like to start working on the antenna that appears
to have been broken off at the base. The only thing left is the black
plastic antenna base piece and the rubber seal (which is cracked and
falling
apart). I notice 2 flat surfaces on the plastic piece that appear to be for
removing it and I tried turning it a little with a wrench only to have the
rubber crack a little more. I thought I'd consult the wisdom of the list
before I continued any further.

Marty
85 GL 1.9
(status: needs tune-up & exhaust BAD)