installing antennas on 2004 Impala

[blueangel-eric]

I have a 2004 Impala and it doesn't have a dome light to remove for installing a hole mount antenna. i want to get one antenna on the roof for good height and reception. it looks really difficult to drop the headliner. any tips? has anyone done it or just say the heck with it and mount on a truck lid? i have mag mounts temporary till i can get my hole mounts installed. On my Malibu before this car i just removed the dome light to do it.

 

[wb6uqa]

Antenna 2004 Impala

I had the same problem before. I went to a taxi meter shop. They install antennas in all types of cars.

 

[teufler]

usually you can , after you have drilled a hole, pull the headliner down at the door frame, an using a stiff wire, like a coat hanger straightened out, with a hook on the end, you can grab the coax and pull it to where you can go down the door frame then comeout and route to where your radio is at. The headliner will snap back in to place.

 

[wb6uqa]

2004 impala

I have used a Motorola punch. Makes a perfect hole.

 

[profiledescent]

usually you can , after you have drilled a hole, pull the headliner down at the door frame, an using a stiff wire, like a coat hanger straightened out, with a hook on the end, you can grab the coax and pull it to where you can go down the door frame then comeout and route to where your radio is at. The headliner will snap back in to place.

Do it in the reverse order in the quoted post. Pull the headliner down at a door FIRST, peek in there with a flashlight to insure you won't drill into some sructure or other undesired part, then stick something in there to keep the headlined propped down a bit. A piesce of wood, rooled up shop rag, etc. THEN drill the hole.

 

[R8000]

We use old VHF 5/8 wave antenna rods as pull sticks for headliners/firewalls. They work great. Use the static ball at the top of the antenna rod to slide through things without snagging, tape your wire/coax to the bottom end.

 

[cmdrwill]

We use old VHF 5/8 wave antenna rods as pull sticks for headliners/firewalls. They work great. Use the static ball at the top of the antenna rod to slide through things without snagging, tape your wire/coax to the bottom end.

Poor man's snake.....

And yes I still use the old 49" antenna rods.

 

[blueangel-eric]

Do it in the reverse order in the quoted post. Pull the headliner down at a door FIRST, peek in there with a flashlight to insure you won't drill into some sructure or other undesired part, then stick something in there to keep the headlined propped down a bit. A piesce of wood, rooled up shop rag, etc. THEN drill the hole.

how would i stick my hand in there to hold the mount when i tighten it with a wrench or pliars?

 

[cmdrwill]

how would i stick my hand in there to hold the mount when i tighten it with a wrench or pliars?

First you do NOT use pliers. And NMO mounts install from the outside, so you do not need to have access to the bottom of the mount. When starting the threaded ring, hold the mount up so the tabs will bite into the underside of the roof.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Always check before you drill.

Sent from my Venue 7 3730 using Tapatalk

 

[SCPD]

If it was me ...

... I'd take the car to a body shop, see how much they want to drop and put back the headliner for you.
Then go home, put a few NMO mounts in the roof since you have the headliner out, even if you're just gonna go with one antenna. Run the coax real pretty with the headliner out of the way. The other mounts can have those $2 plastic caps you can get at any ham swap. At some point, you'll may want another antenna (or two).
Really shouldn't cost much, even less if you walk into the back door of the shop and ask one of the techs to do it for you on the side.

 

[FFPM571]

Its not that difficult to drop a headliner. Most of the plastic trim pops off You can find out exactly how by google Impala headliner removal. No need to go to a body shop. Use a hole saw designed for NMO mounts or it will leak.

 

[wb6uqa]

2004 impala

Other options are a trunk lip mount, a mag mount and through the glass mount.

 

[wb6uqa]

One more option is a hole in the center of your trunk. Better for branches and underground garages.

 

[exkalibur]

^^ What he said. I'd go the trunk method. There's not THAT much of a performance difference between there and the roof. Plus, it is much lower profile, and you can put a larger antenna on and not have to worry about setting off fire sprinklers in a parking garage (from personal experience - this sucks).

 

[PACNWDude]

I use a Laird (VHF) whisker antenna on a trunk lip mount. Has been there for about 11 years now. Almost the same vehicle too.

Right in front of it is an Antennex Phantom UHF. I had them one on each side of the trunk, but State Patrol pulled me over to ask who installed my antennas. Theirs are half wave whips flipping all over the place.

 

[blueangel-eric]

I want my 900mhz antenna on the top so it receives better. I am doing my scanner antenna and 2meter antenna on the trunk just the same as before.

I guess i'm stuck with a mag mount on the roof for now. it seems to be a pain to drop the headliner. i fooled with it for an hour but don't feel like taking so much stuff off.

When installing the NMO in the trunk tonight i held it from the bottom and used a wrench to tighten the NMO ring. i can't see how to do it without holding it from the bottom like some suggest. if you don't hold it it will fall through the hole and then you can't put the ring on it.

 

[wb6uqa]

MINI HARD LINE

The candy store has mini hard line low loss coax.

 

[blueangel-eric]

The candy store has mini hard line low loss coax.

I am using a RG8X foil shield that is rated about the same as LMR400 for my 900mhz antenna. at least if i drill a hole that is.

 

[wb6uqa]

2004 impala

Mini hard line is the same diameter as RG8x.