I am in the process of cleaning the cowl area of my 70ss and when I removed the lower windshield chrome, I noticed the rubber boot that connects the windshield wires to the antenna plug is deteriated and the wires have rotten away. The plug still seems to be good that connects down to the radio. Anyone have an idea on what I can do to get decent radio reception? Is there some sort of hidden antenna I can plug into this? By the way, I have an aftermarket FM radio installed.

I feel your pain. I've never been able to get decent reception with my windshield antenna, even a new windshield didn't help. If I disconnect it and plug in a cheap/Kragen mast antenna I get perfect reception. Tried all kinds of interior antennas, boosters, etc. Nada.

If I could get some good info on precisely where to drill my '70 El Camino fender for a mast antenna, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

My wires were broken off my windsheild antenna so I just bought a cheap universal Auto Zone antenna and put it under my dash pad, it worked great. Later I replaced my windsheild and hooked up the windsheild antenna, it didnt work as well as the cheapie under my dash pad.
Ron

My car when I got it had a hidden annena box on top of the glove box. It work well also. I have since been redoing the car and plan to rehook it up to the windshield annena.
Ray

My wires were broken off my windsheild antenna so I just bought a cheap universal Auto Zone antenna and put it under my dash pad, it worked great. Later I replaced my windsheild and hooked up the windsheild antenna, it didnt work as well as the cheapie under my dash pad.
Ron

This is one thing I have not tried. I still have the cheap/universal antenna I mentioned in my earlier post. This sounds like it's worth a try. Just so I understand, you removed the pad, laid the mast antenna atop the dash in such a way as to not interfere with the replacement of the dash pad?

Did you ground the antenna as it would be when installed on a fender?

This is one thing I have not tried. I still have the cheap/universal antenna I mentioned in my earlier post. This sounds like it's worth a try. Just so I understand, you removed the pad, laid the mast antenna atop the dash in such a way as to not interfere with the replacement of the dash pad?

Did you ground the antenna as it would be when installed on a fender?
I didnt purposely try to ground it but I suppose it was grounded because it was laying on top of the dash brackets. Just remove the dash pad and lay the antenna down and zip tie it in place and replace the dash pad
Ron

I'm surprised at all the negative feedback on the windshield antenna. My 69 didn't have an antenna at all so I hooked up a cheapie under the dash. It sucks there is no AM reception and weak FM reception. I purchased a replacement windshield with the antenna in it but haven't installed it yet. I checked many previous posts on the subject and most were very happy with their windshield antennas.

From my experience, it appears as though most do not have this problem. However, I've never had a factory radio in my El Camino, just three aftermarket units. I suspect there could be a quality issue with the aftermarkets.