2012 Chevrolet Impala LTZ Install

[KK4LQX]

Hello All,

Yesterday I bought a 2012 Chevy Impala LTZ. I have decided to install a Kenwood TM-D710A. I'm looking for advice on how to run the power wires from the trunk to the battery and the control head, GPS and mic cable from the trunk where the transceiver will be located to the center column. I have already test fitted a friends RC-D710 and found it to fit perfectly over the in-dash storage compartment.

Also I would like to install another radio for dedicated APRS eventually. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to mount two antennas.

 

[WB4CS]

Congrats on the new car! I have a 2012 Chevy Impala 9C3 PPV I picked up last summer, so far it's a great car so I think you'll like it.

I can't give advice on the power cable since my radios are mounted in the center between both of the seats, so running power to the battery was easy.

As for the antennas, depends on how you want to mount them. I have a permanent mount NMO on the roof for a 1/4 wave VHF antenna. It was easy to install, just pop out the dome light cover and you'll see the metal of the roof. From there, it was easy to drill the hole for the NMO mount. The only part of the headliner I had to drop was a small portion in the corner by the drivers side door, just fish the coax from the center of the roof to the corner, then drop the coax down behind the plastic pillar by the windshild, and ran it behind and under the dash.

If you want to trunk mount an antenna, the trunk lid might be a little more tricky. On my car, there is a metal groove that ran right down the center of the bottom side of the trunk lid, so drilling a hole directly in the middle of the lid will require some work, but on either side of that groove is a flat spot that would be easy to drill. If your trunk lid has the protective carpet cover, that should pop off pretty easily and you'll be able to see the metal of the lid.

If you want to do a permanent mount but not comfortable drilling holes in a new car, check out your local commercial radio shop. The one here where I live services the local police departments radios, and they will drill and install antenna mounts for around $50.

 

[KK4LBX]

Can you do pics, please?

 

[KK4LQX]

I would love to but unfortunately I sold the car. My wife and I bought one each used from a dealer. I personally wasn't satisfied with driving a car. My new setup can be found under the topic of "2013 Toyota Tacoma (Work in progress)"

 

[WB4CS]

Can you do pics, please?

KK4LBX, I don't know if you were asking me to post pics of my installation, or if you were asking KK4LQX to post pics of his??

If you were talking to me, unfortunately I did not take pictures during the NMO/Antenna installation because I had those done professionally from a radio shop. The radio is mounted under the dash, I'm not using any kind of console. I did a very minimal setup since I'm only running 1 radio in the car.

 

[KK4LBX]

Well both I guess. Can you do pictures of setup?

 

[WB4CS]

Absolutely! Here's the pics of the final installation. The radio is a Kenwood TM-281. The antenna is a Larsen 150 NMO. I had the NMO mount professionally installed, so no pics of the installation or how the coax is ran under the headliner. But the NMO hole was drilled by removing the dome light and drilling above it.

 

[KK4LBX]

Nice job! I like how you set it up. I wish I could do that with my van but I can't but I'm working on my console. I'd like to get me a jotto desk off eBay and referb it but the lack of money and may space, I still need to go measure.

 

[W9WSS]

It's definitely refreshing to see a quality mobile installation with a permanent NMO mount antenna. No lousy magnetic mount; you did a fine job, and I'm sure you'll have many years of good operating!

 

[Rt169Radio]

Nice looking setup WB4CS.

 

[KK4LBX]

Yea I agree. I will be getting NMO mounts installed on my van.

 

[timkilbride]

Hello All,

Yesterday I bought a 2012 Chevy Impala LTZ. I have decided to install a Kenwood TM-D710A. I'm looking for advice on how to run the power wires from the trunk to the battery and the control head, GPS and mic cable from the trunk where the transceiver will be located to the center column. I have already test fitted a friends RC-D710 and found it to fit perfectly over the in-dash storage compartment.

Also I would like to install another radio for dedicated APRS eventually. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to mount two antennas.

Remove all seats/molding, and run power, control head, GPS, MIC cabling under carpet. Most front seats I have dealt with are only held down with two nuts and the back seats pop out with a little upward tug on them. Makes a world of difference running wires with everything out of the way.

Tim

 

[KK4LBX]

Well I just installed my NMO mount about 2 days ago on my van. I ain't got a connector on the coax yet due to me being out of solder and a connector, so I currently have a rain cap on it. I'll be either heading to my friend's house to put one on or he will come to my house. I currently have no pictures of the install but hopefully I can get some.