>> If you are up for a challenge and know some blue words, you could
>> install a power
>> antenna and no one will ever be able to break it again. Of course,
>> Trixie will have to
>> find a new place to "hang out".
>> I installed one in my '90 years ago, and it worked great until the
>> tape inside broke.
>> Found exact replacement at Checker. Replacement for the whole
>> antenna, that is,
>> impossible to find the repair part.
>> But, it does involve cutting of sheet metal, drilling, running
>> wires, band-aids, etc.
>> And my radio had a connection for a power antenna, so it is all
>> automatic.
>> Well, OTOH, maybe sticking with a manual one is best, and as Rob
>> said remove the ash
>> tray and instrument cluster for better access.
>
> anybody who does want to install a power antenna, here's my older
> version of it ... mine wasn't toooo difficult, but like jerry said,
> it does involve a bit of cutting ... i had to cut a notch  in the
> metal shelf, behind and above the headlight bracket, on the driver's
> side of the bus. not a biggie, just like 1/2inch x 1/2 inch, and it
> was just to enlarge the already-there hole where the original
> antenna went through ... the power antenna had a bump on one side,
> so the notch was needed.
> here's my old write-up about it ...
>
>
> power radio antenna:  started with an ad in a magazine for Fuba
> antennas. 1-800-637-0222 for info. turned out to be a place called
> Antenna World. they sell wholesale only. so i had to get my local
> parts place to special order it.  the part you want (might want to
> phone again to double check) is SJ-3FB Antenna (black), and D-57
> Head Kit 57 degrees (to accommodate the angle of the Vanagon front).
> when it came in, it was less than the fellow had told me to expect:
> he said about $80 for the antenna ... it was $60. only modification
> i had to make on the car was to file out a little notch on the side
> of the hole in the sheet metal (behind the headlight) to accommodate
> a little bump on the side of the antenna. then 'just' wire it up and
> connect to radio. i put a on-off switch on the dash (down under the
> 'lip') so now i can raise or lower it when i want ... like for car
> washes or leaving it parked for a while. note: all this assumes that
> your antenna is the standard vw and is mounted on the front of the
> car. mine was on the drivers side, but i can't see why this same
> antenna would not work on the passengers side. you could also do
> without the D-57 Head Kit if your vanagon has a factory antenna
> already. i just used the vw parts off the old antenna.
>
> good luck!
> unca joel