CB Install
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From: Richmond, VA
CB Install
I Picked up a CB at a yard sale a while back on a lark, and now that I have sorted out most of my mechanical issues, I thought it would be fun to install it. The CB needs constant power, switched power and ground. I was thinking I could tap into the radio for switched power and the cigarette lighter for constant. Would those be OK to splice into, or will I risk blowing a fuse? Are there better places to tie in?
Post Fiend
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From: Northern California
Can you tell me what wires are at your radio power plug?
1: Yellow/Black hash: This is for radio switched power. Some of these trucks will have a yellow wye type rubber connector with three connections coming off of one wire that you can use for accessories.
2: Light Green/Yellow stripe: Constant 12 volt. This will either be located in the radio power plug, or in the courtesy lamp and clock connector to the right of your heater control panel.
These should be the wires used for your CB. Or you can try to hook it up using the factory way.
1: Yellow/Black hash: This is for radio switched power. Some of these trucks will have a yellow wye type rubber connector with three connections coming off of one wire that you can use for accessories.
2: Light Green/Yellow stripe: Constant 12 volt. This will either be located in the radio power plug, or in the courtesy lamp and clock connector to the right of your heater control panel.
These should be the wires used for your CB. Or you can try to hook it up using the factory way.
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I won't be able to get back there until tonight to have a look. It's the factory AM/FM stereo receiver. Since it's not a digital radio, I hadn't even considered that it would have constant 12v, since it doesn't have to remember presets or anything. Assuming I have the wires you describe, that should make life pretty easy.
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It's an 83 F100. There were 3 wires running to the radio, the yellow/black, blue/red for the ilumination and orange for who knows what. The green/purple was in the bundle to the right of the HVAC head as described.
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Post Fiend
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From: Northern California
Light Green/Purple is for the A/C evaporator thermostat and the Carburetor throttle solenoid if equipped. This could potentially cause problems with the A/C or the CB.
The Light Green/Yellow stripe wire should be in the clock and courtesy lamp connector just to the right and in back of the HVAC/Heater panel, attached to the dash metal. It's a 8 wire connector, but not all the spaces are used. It's either an open connector, or your clock and/or courtesy lamps harnesses are plugged into it.
I would look for the Light Green/Yellow wire and hook it to that instead.
The Orange wire on the radio connector is for the power antenna option not used on the pickups. Those Ford Radios were used in cars as well.
The Light Green/Yellow stripe wire should be in the clock and courtesy lamp connector just to the right and in back of the HVAC/Heater panel, attached to the dash metal. It's a 8 wire connector, but not all the spaces are used. It's either an open connector, or your clock and/or courtesy lamps harnesses are plugged into it.
I would look for the Light Green/Yellow wire and hook it to that instead.
The Orange wire on the radio connector is for the power antenna option not used on the pickups. Those Ford Radios were used in cars as well.
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Like the fact that the CB only works when the A/C is on? LOL, found that out this morning
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Yes, that would be a problem.
The connector will be on the lower support bracket of the dash metal towards the back right on the lower lip. Just to the right, in back of, and slightly lower than where the HVAC controls are mounted. It doesn't connect to the HVAC controls.
Here is a section of a post I made in another thread for someone looking for the same 8 space connector that you are, and should help pin it down.
Other wires in the connector in question are...
1: White/Purple: Clock switched Power
2: Light Green/Yellow: Clock Memory
3: Black: Clock Ground and ash tray lamp ground
4: Light Blue/Red: Ash Tray illumination
5: Brown: Clock Dimmer and Headlamp on warning buzzer from headlamp switch.
6: Red/Pink: Headlamp on warning buzzer from driver door jamb switch
7: Black/Light Blue: Underdash Courtesy Lights
8: Not used
You have the connector (C-326) and the wires, even if you don't have the options listed. The connector will just open and not plugged into anything without the options. If you have a clock or the courtesy lamp group, this is where those optional extras plug into.
The connector will be on the lower support bracket of the dash metal towards the back right on the lower lip. Just to the right, in back of, and slightly lower than where the HVAC controls are mounted. It doesn't connect to the HVAC controls.
Here is a section of a post I made in another thread for someone looking for the same 8 space connector that you are, and should help pin it down.
Originally Posted by 81-F-150-Explorer
Other wires in the connector in question are...
1: White/Purple: Clock switched Power
2: Light Green/Yellow: Clock Memory
3: Black: Clock Ground and ash tray lamp ground
4: Light Blue/Red: Ash Tray illumination
5: Brown: Clock Dimmer and Headlamp on warning buzzer from headlamp switch.
6: Red/Pink: Headlamp on warning buzzer from driver door jamb switch
7: Black/Light Blue: Underdash Courtesy Lights
8: Not used
You have the connector (C-326) and the wires, even if you don't have the options listed. The connector will just open and not plugged into anything without the options. If you have a clock or the courtesy lamp group, this is where those optional extras plug into.
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