AU Fairlane radio antenna replacement.

Fairlane Al · 31-08-2015, 04:06 AM

Good morning all,

My Fairlane had a broken aerial when I brought it. I'm looking to replace it, but it seems they're hard to find. I know there's some aftermarket replacements made, but I haven't been able to find any that say they'll work in a Fairlane, and I'm unwilling to assume they just will.

Does anyone know what my best option for replacing the electric aerial is, is there an aftermarket aerial made that will suit my Fairlane, or am I stuck trying to find an AU Fairlane aerial somewhere-they've proven to be difficult to find like many AU Fairlane specific parts can be. I'm unsure if there would have been anything fitted to an E or N series that may be useful to me here either, and again, I'm unwilling to stump up cash just on a hunch that something may fit.

At the moment I've got a generic manual aerial which does the job but is somewhat awkward to work with, so there's no real urgency here but it would be nice to get it fixed.

Thanks, Alex.

**aussiblue** · 31-08-2015, 06:15 AM

See http://aerpro.com/vehicles/ford/ford...s_i_ii_and_iii AP3 should be OK. Also try Cov's for an original.

Bushbasher · 31-08-2015, 10:04 AM

AP3 will not fit. The Fairlane mast is thicker and was unique to AU Fairlane. There were some aftermarket units available on ebay but the nipple on the end of the mast needs modifying to retract flush and the rope needs to be shortened about 60mm, I have one of those in each of our Fairlanes. I just looked on ebay and didn't find them at the moment but I'm sure they'll pop up again.

Don't waste your money on any mast that says it will fit any Falcon or Fairmont as they are too thin. Your only other option is to buy OEM or find a used one.

Been there, done that, learned the hard way.

**aussiblue** · 31-08-2015, 11:04 AM

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AU-LTD-Ra...item2a56dc2dc0 ouch!

Fairlane Al · 31-08-2015, 02:34 PM

Yeah $150.00 for a second hand aerial is a bit much if you ask me.

How exactly does the AP3 not fit, is it a complete no go or could I possibly make it fit? If I did, would it plug in and talk to the car normally, as I know these are all computer controlled, not a simple up/down like some aerials are?

Bushbasher · 31-08-2015, 06:33 PM

Well, they are a simple up down actually except there is a half up function unique to high series cars. The AP3 mast won't fit the AU Fairlane/LTD aerial unit as it's too thin and will just push all the way out until it falls out completely. Also, a full Falcon electric aerial unit won't fit into place in the first instance and it doesn't have the top plate and lock ring that the Fairlane has because it's countersunk into the front guard in the second instance.

If you want your aerial to function the way the factory intended you either need a second hand unit from a wreck or wait till the aftermarket items show up on ebay again and modify it to fit like I did.

foxtrot3 · 31-08-2015, 07:15 PM

Hi. Rather than use the limit switches built in to fully auto antennas ford adjusted the time that power stays on to suit the required need and used an antenna without switches. When aftermarket antennas are used you tend to find that the 1/2 up only becomes a 1/3 up and full up about 3/4 up and never all the way down. Cheers MD

zdenko · 07-09-2015, 10:51 PM

I have one floating around in the boot of my Falcon.
Came from a 99 Series 1 NU Fairlane Ghia.
I will PM you as well.