Antenna Placement for 1968

Q: Antenna Placement for 1968

Where does the 68 antenna go? I have seen front and back. How do I find out the correct placement for that?

A: …The Front Fender (RH) Antenna was the standard location on ’68 Firebirds Optional, was a Rear Quarter Mounted Antenna (RH). This will be noted on both the Body Broadcast Sheet (if you find it in your car) or on the Billing History. Parts are available (repro) for both applications. As far as antenna location… I use the Camaro assembly manual. It gives the exact dimension for the proper location (I assume Firebirds were located using the same).

A: To take you back to our original discussion, someone requested information on the factory location of the rear mounted antenna. Someone volunteered to measure some of his cars to determine the factory mounting location and send them to me. I, in turn, was to verify that his measurements and the factory drawing from a 68 Camaro assembly manual were the same. The confusing part was that the factory drawing listed the location at 114.25″ PV and 28.94″ PV with no description of what PV was. I suspected that the 114.25″ was from the firewall back and 28.94″ PV was from the centerline of the car.

I have confirmed that this is mostly true. The 28.94″ is indeed from the centerline if the car. The 114.25″ is from the front edge of the air box where the heater-A/C fan motor is located. This seam sticks out approximable one inch beyond the firewall. So if you want to use these measurements, use 113.25 from the firewall back.

He measured from the back of the car forward on three cars and got measurements of 14 1/2″, 15 1/4″, and 15 1/4″. He also noted that along with the 1.12″ diameter hole there is a small notch. This notch corresponds with the notch on the antenna base (called the bezel key) and I suppose it’s used to insure the correct rotation of the base.

The measurements for this notch is 0.14″ wide by 0.12″ long (approximately 1/8″ by 1/8th”) and rotated 75 degrees from horizontal (i.e., if standing behind the car while looking down at the hole it would be in approximately the 5 o-clock position.

He also noted that, although the hole and the notch were the same size in all cars, the notch was at a slightly different angle. This, along with the slightly different hole locations, gives reasons to believe that the factory used a hand punch and measureing tape to make the hole and not a machine.

The bottom line is this; if you mark the location for the hole approximable 15 1/4″ from the back and 27″ from the centerline of the car, drill a 1 1/8″ hole with an 1/8″ notch at 5 o-clock, you’ll do as good as the factory.

A: View the Camaro Assembly drawing for this which is the same application for the Firebird (Did not verify if the part numbers are the same for the Firebird):

A: I double checked my previous dimensions for locating the ’68 Firebird Rear Antenna Hole in the RH Rr. Qtr. Panel since some questions have come about differences seen with other originally equiped First Generation Firebirds:

1.125 dia hole
1.875 CL to Qtr. Edge at Trunk Gap
1.750 CL to Qtr. Character Line (outboard)
15.375 CL to Btm Edge of Qtr. Panel (at Trunk Edge Line)
(CL = Center Line)

As far as a “correct” measurement, there is no true correct answer. I’ve measured four Firebirds with rear antenna and no two were exactly the same. The process on the assembly line was not a true science but instead involved the placement of a template to roughly guide the location to stamp the hole for the rear antenna. It was a hastily done process like a lot of other processes on an assembly line during that era.

Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.