How to - "No Holes" CB Radio Installation

[Homestar]

This should probably be in the 'Projects and Tutorials' forum, but I thought it may be more relevant here.

Well, as the sun was out I thought I'd bung the new radio in the car today. Was a much easier job to do than I first thought. I wanted to make sure there were no holes drilled into anything that would show, and as there is a distinct lack of space to mount anything on or near the dash, this is what I did.

Started with a Uniden UH7760NB radio that I bought up at the 4WD show the other week. I chose this as all the controls, speaker and mic are all in one, and the main unit can be mounted under the dash and is compact. Antenna is a 6.5Db spring mount unit.

Started by making a stainless mount for the antenna. Again, I didn't want to drill holes anywhere that would show, so the braket goes between the louvers on the grill.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/759.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/760.jpg

I had to mount it 'upside down' from what I originanlly planned, as I couldn't get the grill to go back on again without risking breaking it when I had it the other way - oh well...:p It is quite strong and it doesn't wobble around when driving.

Next mounted the main unit in the kick panel in the passenger footwell - this allowed easy acces to run the antenna and power connection. The unit comes with a 2 metre extension lead for the hand piece, and this was more than long enough to run up the passanger A pillar, and accross the top of the windscreen into the sunglasses holder. SWMBO isn't thrilled about loosing this space, but tough luck, the hand piece fits in there well when not required, and sits in a small bracket when it is down, and is in a great spot to use.

Hidden away...

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j443/Bacicat2000/Photo0737.jpg


And in place, ready to use...

http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j443/Bacicat2000/Photo0738.jpg


All ready for next weekend...

Cheers - Gav:)

[jx2mad]

Hi there. How did you get power and coax to the radio? Jim

[Homestar]

Hi there Jim, the main unit that the power and antenna run to is behind the passanger side kick panel. The handpiece wiring is all that runs up to the overhead console. This is really easy to run. Take the cover off the 'A' Pillar - there is one screw under the "Airbag" cap, and then it just clips off. The wiring can easily be run with existing wiring behind where the airbag itself sits. From there, it is just tucked under the headlining and then runs through a hole I drilled inside the sunglasses holder - this just clips out as well, but is a bit of a bugger to get back in - there is a little spring that engages in a clip. undid one more screw on the passenger sunvisor so I could more easily run the wire between the sunglasses holder and the windscreen. If you stick your hand up between the headlining and the windscreen, you will notice that there is plenty of room just to shove a wire up there.

Power came straigh from the fuse panel, which is inside the glovebox and can be easily accessed with the side dash cover and trim off - RAVE is your friend here, there are a few hidden screws, and you could end up breaking something if your not careful, but all in all, not a difficult job. Antenna cable runs up through the engine bay, and through the main wiring boot in the firewall - on the passenger side next the the battery - fairly easy to get the cable through, and it comes out in the right spot in the cabin.

Do what I did and have a poke around see where things will go.

Cheers - Gav

[Landover]

I saw one just like this in Sunbury yesterday, must be a pretty common mod;). This one had "L"Plates on the back though:eek:. Could not see anyone around though.

[Homestar]

I saw one just like this in Sunbury yesterday, must be a pretty common mod;). This one had "L"Plates on the back though:eek:. Could not see anyone around though.

:D Yeah, SWMBO seems to think it is a good idea to let our dear daughter learn to drive in it - I'm personally not a big fan of this idea...:p If you looked around, you probably would have found them both in the nearest coffee shop. If you see it with the 'L' plates on, it is unlikely that you will see me around with it...:p

[sniegy]

My Wife said the same thing & i quote, "What a waste of a good sunglass holder":p

[jsp]

Hmmm I picked up the same uniden unit yesterday and am looking at your setup with glee. I am just not sure about mounting the antenna though. I would prefer to mount it at the back of the car but that breaks all the rules about not having it close to metal and on a open flat surface.

[Michael the Nomad]

That looks great! Unfortunately, I do not have the skills or equipment to make one.

[p38arover]

Started by making a stainless mount for the antenna. Again, I didn't want to drill holes anywhere that would show, so the bracket goes between the louvres on the grille.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/759.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/01/760.jpg

When do you go into production?

[Homestar]

If I end up selling the car (still deciding...:angel:) you can have this one, as the cb will be coming out of it in that case.

I did that bracket with my arc welder and stainless rods - way back before I had a TIG. Not that hard to make with a bit of patience and a grinder to make it look good.

[p38arover]

Thanks for the offer, Gav, but I think I'll be OK. I made a similar bracket for the P38A and poked it out the grille, too. That was, in a way, a mistake. If I ever needed to remove the grille, I had to unsolder the aerial cable from the aerial.

I'm looking for ways/places to mount the new 80ch UHF CB and my 2 metre/70cm detachable head amateur radio transceiver. So I need to make up 2 antenna mounts.

[Russrobe]

Hey Gav, how do you rate this radio? It's now 4 years on and they're still selling the same unit for $190 which is a good price, $40-$50 cheaper than similar units with the speaker in the hand piece.

Speaking of which, is the speaker loud enough?

Cheers

Russ

[jx2mad]

Can we lobby the car manufacturers and ask they provide at least two antennae mounts in the design? :):)

[hpal]

http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=178&t=104844

[Homestar]

Hey Gav, how do you rate this radio? It's now 4 years on and they're still selling the same unit for $190 which is a good price, $40-$50 cheaper than similar units with the speaker in the hand piece.

Speaking of which, is the speaker loud enough?

Cheers

Russ

Hi mate, sorry, I missed this before. I've put this CB in the RRC now, and not that it gets a lot of use, it is a great radio. Used it plenty in the L322 - clear and loud, no dramas. There is a headphone jack on the base unit if you wanted to put a remote speaker, but in my opinion, it isn't needed. The speaker in the hand piece is quite loud enough. :)

[Russrobe]

Thanks mate. I ended up with the 8080s which is very similar so good to know. I got a speaker just in case we can't hear anything on corrugations will plug it in(they're only 30 bucks) now the fun job of mounting 3 switches a traxide controller and a radio... bound to butcher something.

[2nd Rower]

I'm looking at the Uniden UH8020S to carry me til I do a full intstall - has anyone got experience?