Stealthy antenna & cable routing for a 2004 Grand Marquis

[n4jri]

Is anybody aware of a cowl-mount broadcast antenna (non-motorized) for the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic? I'm trying to start with a fairly 'clean' look this time after having a minivan that was a busier radio platform. Haven't had much luck Googling.

Current game plan is a single 144/220/440 tribander on the trunk, and one external scanner antenna primarily for air band. My car has no external broadcast antenna, but I'm thinking that one in the normal right-front spot would serve most purposes for a scanner listening to air, rail & marine, while avoiding the 'two-way radio' look.

Any other scanners are functioning just fine inside with their stock rubber ducks. So...my primary questions:

1 - Is there a cowl-mount broadcast antenna that would fit my body? (would rather have this an a NMO on an L-bracket)
2 - What would be the most and least desirable places to pass cable thru the firewall. I plan to run a double-fused 10 gauge power cable with powerpole connectors, and whatever antenna I manage to put on the cowl.
3 - What's the most preferable way to route cable from the trunk into the car interior? I haven't found anything obvious so far, even after looking at where at least come cables seem to be running from the drivers side of the trunk.

I'm not that anxious to go digging under the floor right now, except where absolutely necessary. Not sure what kind of stuff might be under there. Should be able to route things fairly neatly under floor mats, and possibly with flexible plastic conduit.

But any advice appreciated from folks who've mastered the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic, which I'm thinking would be very similar.

(ironically, I had all kinds of radios in my Toyota minivan, mounted in a surplus Troy console taken out of--you guessed it--a Crown Vic!)

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[FFPM571]

A front fender mounted antenna would look out of place as the only year of Mercury that had an external antenna was the 2005 and it was on the passenger rear fender. To bring power in to the vehicle from the battery drill a hole next to where the factory harness comes in there is a flat spot just to the left of it and it exits just below the heater core and will go right up the fender liner to the battery. The easiest way to get wires from the trunk is to remove the back seat and run them over the rear wheel through the opening follow the factory harness.. Those are the simplest vehicles to work on as a 30 year upfitter

 

[n4jri]

Might be out-of-place in terms of MGMs or CVPI's but I'm thinking it'd look a lot less odd to the average Joe than some sort of 2-way or dedicated scanner antenna. Right now, I'm experimenting with an antenna on my rear shelf cut for 300 MHz, but the jury's still out in terms of performance.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[FFPM571]

Might be out-of-place in terms of MGMs or CVPI's but I'm thinking it'd look a lot less odd to the average Joe than some sort of 2-way or dedicated scanner antenna. Right now, I'm experimenting with an antenna on my rear shelf cut for 300 MHz, but the jury's still out in terms of performance.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

Your using an Am/FM style antenna.. no one for sure will give it a second look if you put it where the factory did in 2005

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

STICO makes disguise antennas.

 

[FFPM571]

STICO makes disguise antennas.

Factory style are $400 +

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Factory style are $400 +

The hidden cost of stealthy antennas. An NMO mount on the roof, $45....Priceless...

 

[n4jri]

A front fender mounted antenna would look out of place as the only year of Mercury that had an external antenna was the 2005 and it was on the passenger rear fender. To bring power in to the vehicle from the battery drill a hole next to where the factory harness comes in there is a flat spot just to the left of it and it exits just below the heater core and will go right up the fender liner to the battery. The easiest way to get wires from the trunk is to remove the back seat and run them over the rear wheel through the opening follow the factory harness.. Those are the simplest vehicles to work on as a 30 year upfitter

I was hoping there might be an existing grommet, but have had no luck finding one. Will definitely check the spot under the heater core. Most of the internet seems to agree with that.

 

[FFPM571]

I was hoping there might be an existing grommet, but have had no luck finding one. Will definitely check the spot under the heater core. Most of the internet seems to agree with that.

Just to the left and down of the factory grommet on the passenger side. You will see the flat spot on the firewall.. You will have to cut away a little bit of the insulation to see the actual firewall. I upfit CVPI's for 12 years and occasionally work on them. That is the spot we used.