Hello, all!

I'm new to both the forum and truck ownership... I'm excited to learn all I can!

That said, I was hoping you could help me out. I'm a little confused with my radio antenna. I just bought an '08 XLT that's been decently modified. You can tell the previous owner took great care of the truck... however, the antenna they put on it seems to be more for show than function (when seeking through stations, it doesn't actually pick up any).

When I took it down, this is what I found. The top (actual antenna) has a female end that receives the threaded peg/stem. Beneath that was an individual peg/stem that is threaded on the top end, but not on the bottom. That stem can then be removed to leave the unthreaded base that sits in the fender. I've attached pictures to show you for clarification. The reason I'm confused is because I looked up a replacement (normal) antenna on the Ford Parts website and the search came up with the "regular" type of antenna that I've only ever known... a standard metal antenna with a threaded male stem at the bottom (to be received by a threaded female base in the fender).

Is this (what I have) the normal antenna set up on 11th gen F150s? Or is the entire antenna assembly on my truck aftermarket?

Any thoughts or advice you can provide me with would be greatly appreciated... I just want to listen to the radio!


Unthreaded antenna base connected to the fender.

Unthreaded antenna base connected to the fender.

Stem (unthreaded bottom w/ threaded top) that sits in the base.

Antenna on the Ford Parts site that shows the replacement antenna w/ a threaded stem to screw into the base.

 

That stud was an adapter used to thread the aftermarket antenna into the Ford antenna mount. The factory antenna mast has a male threaded end.
From the looks of your pictures, the male threads from the stud adapter snapped off in the base so you will need the replace the entire
antenna assembly.

 

Well that's a bummer (but I think that theory makes a lot of sense). I may try to tap the base to accept a replacement OEM antenna... but will probably mess it up and have to replace the whole assembly anyway.

Thanks for your reply!

 

Just to clarify. I just did mine and all of the threads and videos I found called for running new cable through wheel well and behind glove box. When I removed my old stock one, the cable pulled out of the base. The new part (GL3Z-18A984-B) comes with a cable attached. I just wiggled the crimped end of cable with pliers and it came right out. It just looks like an RCA plug. Super easy. Not sure why they sell the cable with the mount, but it's not necessary.