Today I decided to pull the headliner out and get serious about installing the CB. I have a Cobra 148GTL that I modded for freebanding, added a variable dead key, and shunted the choke to clean up any possible warbling. I also have a 100W Silverado amp I will be adding later, after i get an appropriate antenna on the roof. The plan is to mount the brackets and punch small holes in the headliner for the brackets to poke through.

148GTL


VDK on the left, and freebanding switches ton the right.


Sliverado 200 100W linear amp that will mount behind the seat.

 

I went to True Value and picked up two Simpson Strong Tie TP37 7X3" plates. I bent a 90* at one end making sure they were mirror images of each other. The mounting surface in the cab is roughly 68*, so I marked and drilled mounting holes for the radio at roughly 22*. I need to trim the excess off the bottoms and spray them gloss black (it's what I have, gotta keep it cheap). Then i will mark and drill the cab. I will be using pop rivets to attach to the cab because I already have them.

 

Rounded the corners and painted the brackets today. I made another cardboard template, drilled the holes in the cardboard out, center punched, pulled the template off, and drilled. Attached each bracket with four 1/8" pop rivets. I also violated the visors with a box cutter and hacksaw.

 

Radio is now wired with a 10AWG fused wire from the battery, through the firewall and running up the passenger side A pillar. Will run the amp feed tomorrow maybe. For the Linear, I built a 14' stretch of 6AWG red cable with a 20A circuit breaker I will attach to the firewall mounted "Starter Motor Relay".

 

Went to the wrecking yard today and picked up a couple things for the install.

Larsen NMO-27 for $5.


Chevy van power block for the amplifier power feed. $2


The Amp is mounted to the back wall of the cab, just below the top of the seat back.


Power feed for the amplifier is in place.


The wrecking yard junction block is soaking in vinegar to remove as much rust as possible.

Larsen NMO-27 is mounted in the top of the cab.

 

Larsen NMO-27 mounted.


junction block mounted and power connected to Silverado 200 amplifier.


I tested the SWR yesterday without the amp and got 1:1 on the one channel I happened to be on. I will test further. but the whip is stuck pretty well and I dont think I could adjust it anyway.

I just need to connect the amp power feed under the hood, and reinstall headliner and interior trim.