CB ANTENNA mod and Cobra 75W install

[Tokyojoe1965]

I took someone elses idea and improved on it.

To see pictures, visit http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/718416

REPLACING RADIO ANTENNA WITH CB ANTENNA

Outside the vehicle

1. Disconnect the (-) battery cable from the battery
2. Remove radio Antenna
3. Remove plastic cover from mount
4. Place a rag over the antenna mount
5. Drill 5/16” hole into the metal mount – remember to use oil
6. Use 3/8” 24 thread tap and add threads to the mount hole (use oil)
7. File down raised metal near the mounts plastic ring
8. Cut out enough plastic from protective cover
9. Replace the plastic protective cover
10. Use lock nut and screw the spring into the mount
11. Screw the cb antenna to the spring mount

Inside the vehicle

1. Connect components
a. Firestik AR-1A to the splitter
b. Connect female connector to 3’ cable
c. Connect the Firestik to female-to-female connector
d. Connect other end of the female connector to the 3’ extension cable
2. Remove panels
a. Remove the bottom knee knocker panel on passenger side
b. Remove the passenger side kick panel
c. Drop down the panel under steering column
d. Remove fuse cover panel from just inside the driver side door
e. Remove mini panel above panel that’s on the right side of steering column.
3. Installation of the Cobra 75W CB and antenna cable setup
a. Install cable mount to inside of steering column panel
b. Run red wire over to the left side and through to the power/fuse box is located just inside of the door area (do not connect to power source yet)
c. Run ground wire to under the center console farthest forward
d. Crimp connectors to ends of wires
e. Connect ground wire as shown in picture
f. Run CB cable to under center of console and bring up through and connect to the cable mount and connect to cable from it
g. Run the 3’ Extension cable from the antenna through the center console to the cable mount box and connect to it
h. Disconnect the radio connector from the antenna cable
i. Connect radio cable to the Firestik AR-1A
j. Connect splitter to antenna cable
k. Replace passenger side kick panel
l. Replace Knee-knocker panel with Firestik on top of insulation (no good place to mount it or wire tie it to anything. (I about using Velcro)
m. Wire tie excess cable from CB cable mount)
n. Close steering column panel
o. Install CB Hand-held unit mount to mini panel
p. Connect ground connector and then connect red wire to power source

 

[Tokyojoe1965]

This is a great mod. AdamisAdam from LOST came up with the idea and I tweaked it a little. I don't touch the garage door but I also have stock tires. I have the 2.5" lift though.

The spring puts a lot of flex in the antenna when cruising along at 75 mph but that means a lot of stress is removed from the mount.

Anyone else try this mod?

 

[swyszomirski]

I was thinking of using the cobra 75, but using a 102 whip off the right tail light. How does the cb work? and how about the radio? Plus could you post some pics of where you mounted the mic on the KJ dash?
stephen

 

[Tokyojoe1965]

The CB works great and so does the radio reception. I still haven't tuned it. I went to Moab for the big LOST event and I had no problems. I had great reception for both. I did have a problem with the spring. All the intense bouncing BENT the spring. Yes, bent the spring. I took the spring off and ran without it. No problems. The spring had a permanent bend in it. Everyone was shocked to see a spring stay bent. It was a medium spring so I have purchased a heavy duty spring now. I haven't had a chance to install it yet. When I ran Kane Creek at Moab, there was lots of brush so I put the bent spring back on and tied the antenna to the roof rack so it didn't keep bouncing all over the place when the branches kept hitting it.

No issues with the mount itself. The placement of the CB is between the steering column and the radio. I'll gets pics as soon as I can.

 

[Whoanelli]

Hey Tokyo..

Great write up... I was wondering, instead of drilling out the mount, could a piece of stainless steel be turned out to the threads for the mount on one side and then tapped to the spring threads on the other end? Say an couple of inches long? Just a thought???