Thread: How to install an IC-440 in a D3

If you don't have a bull bar you might consider this hood mount made by Lab Electronics in Australia. If you speak with him, I would also suggest he whip up a rail mount version for the roof as well. Aerial Bracket

It's important to remember that the roof rail is not grounded, so you will need to run a ground strap.

In the ideas department, I have the Traxide system installed so there are options. I installed the radio in the rear storage compartment, and drilled holes for the power and antenna runs out of the bottom. The radio head, and mic are installed up from with a remote head kit. All in all it's a very slick install.

The power is tapped off the rear Anderson Power Pole, as well as solar, fridge outlets, and so on.

I've taken quite a few pictures, if it helps someone else of the installation.

Seat Rail Mount Head
http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albu...8_095707-s.jpg

Antenna Base, ferrite, coiled coax, ground strap
http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albu...8_140334-s.jpg

Ground Strap Point at boot hinge point, when doing roof aerial
http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albu...P1020986-s.JPG

Power Control Center
http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albu...2_150543-s.jpg

Here is the Radio and a Bionics Tracker in the cubby. Radio has heavy duty Velcro, so it is quick to remove.
http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albu..._1633200-s.jpg

You can feed the coax in and there is a spot under the rubber molding to run the cable behind the trim, and up into the box. No cable is exposed this way. I consider it critical to do the 5 turns of the coax, and the snap on ferrite, as well as securing the cable neatly and snug, so it does not get caught on anything. There are no noise issues with this installation.

There are a number of flexible seat bolt mounts available, I'm sure you also have them there.

Annoying Link
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_10?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=seat%20bolt%20radio%20mount&sprefix=seat+ bolt+%2Celectronics%2C253"]Amazon.com: seat bolt radio mount: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31nzaDiiUdL.@@AMEPARAM@@31nzaDiiUdL[/ame]

Originally Posted by WhiteD3

Icom IC-440 + GME AE4018K1 aerial.

Install the aerial and run the coax around the engine bay to the driver's side, into the second battery compartment.





Remove the grommet in the fire wall and cut it from one side to the centre, cut out the centre to leave a hole. Poke a big screw driver through to put a hole through the insulation in the foot well.



In the cabin, remove the panel under the steering wheel by pulling out (toward you) from the top of the panel. Watch for flying clips; make sure you find them!

Remove the driver's side kick panel by pulling up the sill panel, then the dust seal. Pull the kick panel toward yourself, parallel to the side of the car.
Remove the panel above the pedals by undoing 2 retaining screws located at the front of the panel.

Remove the panel holding the driver's side vent and head light switch by pulling out from the top, near the vent, Watch the clips!

I couldn't find a spot where I could install the cradle and still slide out the radio.

With the cradle aligned so that the mic socket is toward you, bend back the 2 RHS semi-circular mounting thingies so they are at 90° to the base.



Pass the radio and base from the foot well up into the dash directly under where the head light switch would be. Align the 2 bent bits to the side of the hole in the panel. Drill 1 hole in the plastic dash frame on the LHS of the hole aligned to the top or forward mount hole of the cradle. Drill 2 holes into the (RHS) side of the plastic dash frame (you'll see where when you get there but the drill will be pointing towards the RHS door).

Fasten the cradle with the radio in situ with 3 cable ties.


You can see the mic lead plugged into the radio in the shot above.



At this point you can either pick up power from a wire off the head light switch or run back through the grommet to the battery. I chose to do the latter as I have a second battery and the IC-440 has an auto off feature which I've set to 1 hour. Also, the D3's annoying beeping when you leave the keys in the ignition may be a pain when you want to use the radio with the engine off.


Run the mic extension cable (comes with the radio) around to the centre console. You'll need to remove the centre console; pull one side at a time from the bottom of the console toward you. It need a lot of force and of course, watch for clips! Once the two bottom side are loose, the whole thing hinges up at the vents.




At this point I think I'll leave the mic free floating.

Just putting the first uhf into my D3 I just purchased.
best discription ever
cheers Bruce.
ps it took my a while to find the clip thingy that flew off up the dash