Installing new antenna on '73 280SE 4.5

[HeelnToe]

Okay, I'm stumped.

I bought a new antenna for my '73 280SE. I've been scouring these forums and a few other boards for information on how to install it. Wondering if anyone here has any advice?

A few posts said that you get at the antenna by removing a covering panel in the passenger front wheel well. I was able to remove two bolts, but there are a few exposed screw ends that seem to come from inside the front fender that hold the panel in place. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get to these without taking off the entire fender. Surely that's not how it is done?

Advice, anyone?

[sjefke]

Clear any undercoating on the lower part of the panel, or wherever you feel resistance (meaning a potential hidden screw) There should be a couple of screws at the lower part screwed in the sill, but the heads may be covered in dirt and tar. If some dumb PO indeed screwed it in with fender removed from inside, take a welding clamp, put it on the thread and start rotating the screw inward by rotating the thread. The panel may be sticky. Worst case, some PO or body shop has welded it (accidentally?) to the body.

Bert

[thorsen]

Here is the passenger side of my 1972 250C minus the passenger-side fender. the black panel is the one you need to remove. On my car, there are three screws - one at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle that hold it in place. Mine had a thick layer of undercoating glueing it to the chassis as well.