If by little panels you mean the mesh under the cowl, then yes they come off with 3 Torx screws per side I think (its been a while since I took mine off and swapped the cowl from a 94 onto my 98).
And no pulling the inner fender off wont give you access to the area your looking at. I wanted to mount my cb antenna there but it looked like to much of a PITA so its on my rack. It looked like the fender and cowl would both have to come off to do the install right.

 

You're right. At first glance I thought he was thinking of using the same location but on the opposite side of where the antenna is. That you can see with the liner removed. Have to remove the cowl panel to access the area he has circled.

 

That piece is welded to the body/firewall/window frame. I can not confirm wether you'll be able to access it from the cowl area, I seem to think there might be a double wall there that will make it difficult to access.

 

2 wiper arms removed and about 8 screws and he'll know for sure.

 

On my 87 its WIDE open under there.

I can touch both fenders IIRC.

 

I seem to remember that, too. I was poking around in there shortly after a mouse decided to set up housekeeping in the HVAC system of my wife's 88 XJ. I saw his nose poking out around the hood hinges from the engine bay area.

 

It's possible, here's a picture with that cover removed bit it doesn't show under the area- you could be right and it's hollow.

 

Hmmm...so those metal covers (non-cowl vents) come off and there's more metal to go through? Interesting! Can't wait to go home and see what's underneath there. Thanks all!