Toyota Repair: 1993 Toyota Antenna, antenna line, coat hangers

Question
Dear Ted,

The antenna recently snapped off my 1993 Corolla.  I'm not a
big "car guy," but I am pretty handy and do lots of "do it
yourself" jobs, so I figured, "No problem replacing a simple
antenna!"

So I went out and ordered the exact replica antenna made for
this car.  I figured it would be something I could easily access,
like by just unscrewing the top part and replacing that, but it
seems like it's all one unit molded together at the top (wire,
metal part, and "block" that screws into the external body).  So, I
resolved to having to snake the whole thing through, and--man,
I'm having difficulty with it!  My goal was not to take the entire
dashboard apart, but little by little, I've got more and more
pieces removed.  Here's where I'm at:

I rermoved the radio and followed the antenna line from there
over towards the steering column.  I then removed the
dashboard plate around the odometer/speedometer/
temperature gauge section and was able to follow that antenna
line through the clips there and over towards the corner of the
vehichle, where I found a female-ended plug that the existing
antentenna went into.  I was able to pull the male-end out and,
therefore, remove the old brroken antenna by pulling it straight
up the channel.  So all I need to do at this point is plug the new
antenna in that female-ended plug (or just pull that extender
line out and run the new one directly to the radio if it's long
enough).

The only problem is, I can't for the life of me get that new
antenna down the track (where it enters the body) and snake it
to someplace that I can reach and/or see.  I've tried coat
hangers, I've laid on my back, I've removed the driver's side
heating vent cover--nothin'!  It just seems the wire goes down
that track and needs to go to make a right angle somewhere and
I can't get at it.  I've got the "moulding" track down in that area
and I'm just about to the point where I'm ready to
unceremoniously drill a big hole in the metal so I can get the
antenna into the car and drape it externally across the corner of
the dashboard for a few inches before it tucks back out of sight.  
Obviously, that would keep the trim from laying properly and
would look cruddy, but I'm getting desperate.

Can you offer and help/advice?  I'm starting to get to the point
where I feel uncomofrtable with the amount of dashboard I'm
pulling apart for a stinkin' antenna.  I will take more apart, if
need be, but I don't want it to be trial and error.  I want to know
that the piece I'm removing, if need be, is the one that's gonna
help me out.

Any advice?  Thanks!  And I hope this was detailed enough! :-)

--Steve

Answer
I understand your frustration, I have replaced a couple of these myself, the best way is to remove the antenna again, remove the two phillips screws and pull the antenna out, tape the antenna lead to the plastic rod, have someone lower the antenna slowly into the pillar while you watch inside the left kickpanel for it to appear, as soon as the male portion of the lead shows through the opening grab it with a pair of needlenose pliers and pull it through, cut the tape with a razor blade and pull the lead out all the way until you can route it over to the radio, give it a try and let me know.