Headliner Removal & Fuse Panel Question

ColoradoSkiCountry · March 3, 2010

I need to install a dual band ham radio antenna on the roof and will be needing to pull down the headliner so that I can drill a hole in the roof for the antenna mount and to run the coax down one of the side pillars, under the carpet and into my center console. I know how flimsy the headliners are in general, however I've never taken one off in any of my trucks before, just a car. Is there a correct procedure on how to pull down the headliner on the GMT-900 trucks (HD) so that I don't damage anything? Has anyone ever done this?

Next question: I would prefer not to run any cable thru the grommet in the firewall and up to the battery if I don't have to. Has anyone ever tied into the fuse panel before to power up something? There is a power outlet (cigarette lighter style) inside my center console, could I simply tie into this power lead, or would you not recommend this?

Last question: I'll need to remove the trim around the factory radio/GPS screen so that I can run a remote cable down the dash and under the center console to where I'll be mounting my radio. Any tricks on doing this?

Thanks in advance

slj2008 · March 3, 2010

I need to install a dual band ham radio antenna on the roof and will be needing to pull down the headliner so that I can drill a hole in the roof for the antenna mount and to run the coax down one of the side pillars, under the carpet and into my center console. I know how flimsy the headliners are in general, however I've never taken one off in any of my trucks before, just a car. Is there a correct procedure on how to pull down the headliner on the GMT-900 trucks (HD) so that I don't damage anything? Has anyone ever done this?

Next question: I would prefer not to run any cable thru the grommet in the firewall and up to the battery if I don't have to. Has anyone ever tied into the fuse panel before to power up something? There is a power outlet (cigarette lighter style) inside my center console, could I simply tie into this power lead, or would you not recommend this?

Last question: I'll need to remove the trim around the factory radio/GPS screen so that I can run a remote cable down the dash and under the center console to where I'll be mounting my radio. Any tricks on doing this?

RYAN: i installed my ant. right above the dome light (remove dome lite before you drill) fish wire down rear pillar of cab, ran wire under still plate to front of dash. Fuse box under the dash (remove cover, you will have 12v, to power your radio- this box is for a trailer harness for large camping,ect. Trim used a small screwdriver and lift up nice and slow. This how i did it on a 2008 tahoe with a remote head next to A-pillar driver side. Good Luck.

Thanks in advance

Bob D · March 3, 2010

..drill a hole in the roof for the antenna mount...

Drill holes? Ouch.

I would investigate glass mount or mirror mount.

That said, headliner replacement for '03 (GMT-900 I suspect is similar):

Remove all trim panels, overhead console, dome light, sunshades, coat hooks, assist handles.

Disconnect headliner wire connectors from junction block (near brake pedal).

Service manual states: for crew cab remove rear window! (?)

Remove headliner by grasping headliner on left and right sides near front of cab.

Re: tie in to fuse panel:

What I did for my radar detector is find a blank switched fuse receptacle in dash driver's side fuseblock.

Put in a Littelfuse Add-A-Circuit, ran wire behind dash. They're the best option.

ColoradoSkiCountry · March 4, 2010

Awesome ideas, both of you! Thank you very much. I'll let you know how things work out this weekend. Can't use a glass mounted Antenna for Ham Radio, as glass mounted antennas performance is cut drastically (especially on the Amateur Radio Bands) as compared to mounted antennas. I don't like the idea of drilling a hole either, but the higher the antenna, the better performance it will provide. When I am on road trips, I use a long 4ft whip, otherwise I have a small foot and a half dual band antenna that works great so won't be too big of an eye sore.

ColoradoSkiCountry · March 9, 2010

Thanks to Bob and Steve for your suggestions. Last night I finally got everything done. On Saturday I tackled getting the antenna mounted, did just as you said Steve, took the dome light out and drilled thru the roof at that point. It was pretty much dead center on the top of the truck so it worked out great, other then going thru 2 drill bits (The sheet metal in today's trucks may be thin but it sure is strong!) Got the Diamond MMO mount installed, then spent about 30 min fishing the coax thru the headliner (that took only 5 min) with a bent out coat hanger. The tough part was getting the coax under the carpet and sound/floormat into the console, then taking apart part of the console, drilling holes to run the coax into and such.

I went to PEPBOYS and got me one of those Add-A-Circuit things however when I got home I realized that it is only rated for 10 Amps and not to be used with anything over 10 Amps. I unfortunately was going to need a 20 Amp fuse because of the power draw and usage of the radio (up to 75 Watts) so last night I ended up spending a few hours running some 12 guage wire from under the dash, thru the rubber grommet that takes all the other wires from the cab into the engine compartment. That was a royal pain in the butt. That rubber is about as thick as tire rubber and I scraped up my hands pretty good with all the pushing and pulling as I tried to thread the thick wire along with my coat hanger thru the rubber. It is definitely more thick than what was used on my 07 GMT-900 1/2 ton! Got it thru finally after fearing I had probably poked thru a few of the wires from the cab running thru. Ran the positive and negative directly to the terminals on the aux battery, cleaned things up a bit and fired her up. Radio works GREAT along with the truck so no damage done to anything important! Photos to come in the next day.

cvfd1615 · November 29, 2010

Where is the photos?

I am needing to drill a NMO into my 07 LTZ Silverado

Sounds like you had it easy... Any advice where, how, etc to do it?

ColoradoSkiCountry · December 1, 2010

I'll try to get some photos tomorrow but basically I did exactly what Steve suggested minus the electrical work, I had to run separate leads from negative and positive battery terminal.

RYAN: i installed my ant. right above the dome light (remove dome lite before you drill) fish wire down rear pillar of cab, ran wire under still plate to front of dash. Fuse box under the dash (remove cover, you will have 12v, to power your radio- this box is for a trailer harness for large camping,ect. Trim used a small screwdriver and lift up nice and slow. This how i did it on a 2008 tahoe with a remote head next to A-pillar driver side. Good Luck.