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2007 Impala 9C3: looking for tips, tricks, etc.

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:53 pm
by motorola_otaku
I am well-versed in the '00-'05 line, but this will be my first with the new body style. Anything I need to look out for as far as removing the seats and trim goes?

Also, I just discovered today that it has side-curtain air bags above the B-pillars. Couple of questions regarding that:
-Can I safely remove the B-pillar trim and head liner without adversely affecting them?
-Can I safely mount transmit antennas in the roof? All my high-power stuff is going on the trunk, so the most I'd be working with is 12W on 900 and 5W occasionally coming from an AVA, with everything else being receive-only.

Re: 2007 Impala 9C3: looking for tips, tricks, etc.

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:13 pm
by tvsjr
The trim should be removable - careful, some vehicles use clips which are one-shots (designed to blow the trim when the airbags go). Someone versed in the Wimpala can tell you more.

As far as antennas, I've talked with someone who's a technical manager for one of the major auto manufacturers - his job is to figure out what happened when things go wrong with their vehicles. His recommendation was double-shielded coax like RG-400 or LMR-240UF.

Re: 2007 Impala 9C3: looking for tips, tricks, etc.

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 3:36 am
by fineshot1
motorola_otaku wrote:I am well-versed in the '00-'05 line, but this will be my first with the new body style. Anything I need to look out for as far as removing the seats and trim goes?

Also, I just discovered today that it has side-curtain air bags above the B-pillars. Couple of questions regarding that:
-Can I safely remove the B-pillar trim and head liner without adversely affecting them?
-Can I safely mount transmit antennas in the roof? All my high-power stuff is going on the trunk, so the most I'd be working with is 12W on 900 and 5W occasionally coming from an AVA, with everything else being receive-only.
I have done all of the above to new Ford Expedition SUV's and they have full length side-curtain air bags above the B & C-pillars.

This is what I did as precautions while I worked around the airbag system.

1 - Before any work is done disconnect the vehicle battery and wait about a half hour so as to turn off the airbag sensors
and deployment capability.

2 - Removed the entire headliner so I could see everything above and I would know what was mounted where
before I started my installs.

3 - After work was done I re-installed the headliner and moldings and double/triple checked everything as far
as going back together and the fit.

4 - Reconnected the vehicle battery and tested everything in a worst case scenario - IE: With all lights of the
light bar on, all other lights on, siren on, radio transmitting, vehicle flashers on, head lights on etc. etc. Made
sure the cables connected to main power under the hood did not heat up excessively.

Re: 2007 Impala 9C3: looking for tips, tricks, etc.

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:12 am
by FireCpt809
Ive done alot with the 06-09 Impala's The routing of the antenna cable is probably the most important. Just make sure that the cables run behind the curtains or along with some of the factory wiring. We also dont mount anything other than low power VRM's or CDMA on the roofs. All 2 way go in the trunk lid

Re: 2007 Impala 9C3: looking for tips, tricks, etc.

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:33 am
by motorola_otaku
It also just dawned on me that Dallas PD has a bunch of '06 and newer Wimps in service with their 40W UHF radios run to antennas on the roof, so I should probably be okay in that regard. I'm surprised Terry didn't point that out. ;p

So seat and trim removal is pretty straightforward; no hidden screws or airbag sensors to look out for?

Re: 2007 Impala 9C3: looking for tips, tricks, etc.

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 3:08 pm
by FireCpt809
everything is pretty much snap together.. It has to be to for the bags to deploy. Some of the clips are easily breakable so use of a trim tool to pop the trim clips

Re: 2007 Impala 9C3: looking for tips, tricks, etc.

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:28 am
by Mraudio
I just got my 06 two weeks ago from Wyoming HP, everything is pop clip except for the A and C pillar posts along with with visors and hand grab rails. This have screws still. Dash shroud around radio pops out and theres lots of room around the radio to run cables up through to the dash face if need be. I have 50mhz-Vhf-UHF all under 75w and normal MOT antenna cables run. Spectras are remote mounted in trunk, GM300 is actually a Maxtrac
Heres mine with 12" jotto and antenna placement. Scanner is on roof top.

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