[Mobile-Portable] Prepping My Chevy Astro Van For Ham radio

[doc]

I own a 1991 Chevy Astro van which I am modifying for 
Amateur Radio, especially emergency communications.
here are some of the things I hope to do and for which 
I'd appreciate helpful advice.

1.  Change the short stock broadcast aerial to a longer one
(screw on 1/8 female at the base of the whip), then insert 
an a/b switch prior to the broadcast radio and add a BNC 
jack on the dash.  This would allow use of that aerial for 
BC or a scanner ... and in an emergency for HF use via 
a tuner.  Anyone done this?  Advantages, disadvantages?
(No space inside the fender to install a power antenna or 
even a AM-FM-CB/HF combo-type antenna.)

2.  Mounts for hamsticks on the left and right rear sides just 
before the rear bumper.  Install 75m and 20m sticks for 
most common use and switch as desired when other bands
are desired.  Makes for an inexpensive, simple and rugged 
setup and 75m & 20m are the key HF bands for emergency
work.

3.  I'd like to add a second large battery, preferably a 
deep cycle that I own, and put some sort of device in line
so it remains fully charged but cannot be discharged due
to a failure in the regular charging system.  Also want to 
be able to conveniently bypass that protection and start 
from it should the regular battery fail.  Any recommendations
as to the physical placement of this battery and the 
charging protection device?

4.  I installed better quality spark plug wires that are supposed 
to help to kill some of the RFI (engine static) I hear on the 
AM-BC radio, little help.  Where is the next place I should look?

That's all for now!  Thanks for the list and thanks in advance 
for any helpful hints!

Thanks! & 73, doc KD4E  ARRL-WCF-SEC
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