Radio Antenna Hook-up for 914-4?

[Windisch]

Amazing how simple things like installing and plugging in a simple radio antenna on a 914 can turn into a seemingly impossible, Herculean task!

My 74 914 has a very nice custom radio installed in it but no antenna. Where the antenna is supposed to live (on the left front top cowl) there's just a gaping 1" hole.

OK, sez I, this is a no-brainer. Just buy an antenna and plug it into the radio, eh! Except that the radio is buried behind a large mass of 'stuff' inside the trunk! How to get to the bloody radio's antenna plug-in without gutting all that crap that blocks access to it from the front trunk?

I am hoping that some equally benighted soul out there with a 914 has confronted this perplexing problem before me and can proctor me through the process! Any antenna wizards in the audience?

Ironically, I NEVER listen to music while driving my cars. I'm one of those odd techno-heads who would rather listen to the engine so as to detect any gremlins at work before they engage in any skullduggery...just want to 'restore' the system to its showroom condition.
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1973 Standard Beetle, 1974 VW/Porsche 914-4, 1.8 liter
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Der Volkswagen ist ein Ausdruck der deutschen Kultur der Allrad Art ...

[The only irrefutable evidence we have that intelligent life truly exists elsewhere in the Universe is the fact that so far it has NOT contacted humanity...]

[Wolfgangdieter]

OEM the radio was installed in the dash just to the left of the glove box. If you can't to the back of it from the passenger's side you could try removing the glove box or the front radio dash panel. To remove the dash panel - remove the knobs, then the nuts holding the tuning controls (ie where the knobs were), the trim, and the dash plate (with waffle vinyl) should come out then. There may be a support/ground post/nut/strap on the back - that will need to be removed to pull the radio toward the interior of car allowing you to insert an antenna cable. This is for a period correct radio - new radios probably don't have classic knobs - in that case, the face gets removed - there may be a slide-in collar that the radio then slides into and requires a release tool for it to slide out.
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CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy

[Windisch]

Hallo Wolfie! Vielen Dank für diese hilfreichen Informationen.

The back of my radio appears to be accessible from under the dash, as you say, with the antenna slot clearly indicated at the left rear of its chassis. My main problem really is how to snake the antenna's coax cable through the bodywork from its site on the left top front cowl. Is there an orifice or passage through which I may slip the coax cable, or must I drill a hole so as to access the instrument panel's underside? That's mainly what I'm sehr unklar darüber!
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1973 Standard Beetle, 1974 VW/Porsche 914-4, 1.8 liter
----------------------
Der Volkswagen ist ein Ausdruck der deutschen Kultur der Allrad Art ...

[The only irrefutable evidence we have that intelligent life truly exists elsewhere in the Universe is the fact that so far it has NOT contacted humanity...]

[[email protected]]

there is a template for precise location of the factory antenna at the back of the drivers fender and there is a hole behind the original radio location for the lead to poke through without any fuss. EASY

[Windisch]