Anyone running CB's in their truck these days?

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

I was cleaning out the closest since the I got kicked out of the 3rd bedroom our 7 month old is moving more in lol. But I found this cb I bought it at the flea market with a couple others (there somewhere this the niceest) for $5 each. Decided to test fit it in my 71, tested it, and it works! Manufactured Sep. 75, might need to look for a vintage looking antenna if I use it.

Cool looking CB

[Rods]

I purchased this CB on the board a couple years ago from 70cst and I now have the truck I want to put it in. Not sure what all is involved or what is needed to get it up and going so been following this thread trying to figuring out all the different items needed......any advise would be great. To start with I will need a mounting bracket any available for this unit. Can someone advise proper power supply ? Should it come from fuse box ? Key switch ? Types of available antennas ? The truck I want to put the CB in apparently had one at one point as the ash tray has the microphone clip attached to it. (see pic) Thanks for any help.

[cherokeejohn]

This thread just brought a smile to my face, I was thinking I was the only one left out there in CB land. The CB radio still has it uses for things. As stated above at Bonneville, also Off Roading, Boating, Swamp buggies, Backwoods/Basecamp coms.,Even Air to bush supply drops. They are overlooked mostly in todays electronics world. But they are still available, and with free airtime, Also stated above about "SKIP" radio and sidebands, I have a hopped up old Galaxy with them, its been shelved for years but I used to talk all over the country and some over oceans with that radio, add a little Linear heat from top a big hill and the air waves would take you world wide at times I have a Cobra 29LTDW now. I'm an avid outdoors-man so weather comes in handy now and then. I had it peaked, and tuned back in the late 90's and it still works great to this day. I never power it by 12volt "socket", hard wired to + terminal of the battery and a sufficient ground also under the hood compartment. I used a HD inline fuse, that has a power kill switch also. For my antenna, I have to say, I love my Wilson's. I have a magnet mount 1000 on my 72, but have a "Lil Wil" mag mount for other Vehicles,ATV's, Boats, etc... There are alott of aftermarket gadgets, doo-dads, decals, noise toys, all over flEbay for the 29. The magnet mount antenna are great as you can place them anywhere metal, for paint protection, Just put a scrap of silk between the mount and the surface. all the Wilson antenna's are very easy to set SWR's by a pair of set screws at the base of the stainless whip. "FWIW" on all my vehicles, toys i also use a simple Red/Black quick 12 volt disconnect and have the same end pre wired/installed, and several mounting brackets for the Cobra 29 so I can just swap the radio and the antenna if needed from one ride to the next. If I Buy another one, It will be this one. IMO i think it still has a Nostalgic look to it, and the night colors go good with the factory gauges in our trucks.

[paulspickupparts]

Got this one from a neighbor . Not real sure of application. He said it was from a 70's Chevy pickup. Kind of cool with 8 track AM FM and Cb all in one.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by paulspickupparts

Got this one from a neighbor . Not real sure of application. He said it was from a 70's Chevy pickup. Kind of cool with 8 track AM FM and Cb all in one.

Very cool! Even better if you get it up and running.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by cherokeejohn

This thread just brought a smile to my face, I was thinking I was the only one left out there in CB land. The CB radio still has it uses for things. As stated above at Bonneville, also Off Roading, Boating, Swamp buggies, Backwoods/Basecamp coms.,Even Air to bush supply drops. They are overlooked mostly in todays electronics world. But they are still available, and with free airtime, Also stated above about "SKIP" radio and sidebands, I have a hopped up old Galaxy with them, its been shelved for years but I used to talk all over the country and some over oceans with that radio, add a little Linear heat from top a big hill and the air waves would take you world wide at times I have a Cobra 29LTDW now. I'm an avid outdoors-man so weather comes in handy now and then. I had it peaked, and tuned back in the late 90's and it still works great to this day. I never power it by 12volt "socket", hard wired to + terminal of the battery and a sufficient ground also under the hood compartment. I used a HD inline fuse, that has a power kill switch also. For my antenna, I have to say, I love my Wilson's. I have a magnet mount 1000 on my 72, but have a "Lil Wil" mag mount for other Vehicles,ATV's, Boats, etc... There are alott of aftermarket gadgets, doo-dads, decals, noise toys, all over flEbay for the 29. The magnet mount antenna are great as you can place them anywhere metal, for paint protection, Just put a scrap of silk between the mount and the surface. all the Wilson antenna's are very easy to set SWR's by a pair of set screws at the base of the stainless whip. "FWIW" on all my vehicles, toys i also use a simple Red/Black quick 12 volt disconnect and have the same end pre wired/installed, and several mounting brackets for the Cobra 29 so I can just swap the radio and the antenna if needed from one ride to the next. If I Buy another one, It will be this one. IMO i think it still has a Nostalgic look to it, and the night colors go good with the factory gauges in our trucks.

Interesting post cherokeejohn, thanks for sharing. It highlights the need for a 'hop up your CB' thread (or this thread could become that in addition to what it already is if OP is good with that - CG, I don't want to hijack - this is an awesome thread already, so maybe this idea would be good to start anew - over to you my friend). I recall the 70's & 80's out of the box CBs were nice, but to make one really effective (and extend the range), it took some work and a little money. Would be great to have a thread that outlines what was available then/now, and how, for CB upgrades. Antenna rundown also.

Originally Posted by paulspickupparts

Got this one from a neighbor . Not real sure of application. He said it was from a 70's Chevy pickup. Kind of cool with 8 track AM FM and Cb all in one.

That's a square radio Paul - I really like them also. Difficult to fit in a 67-72 without dash mods that you may find difficult to make work with the 67-72 dash indent for the stock radio that is really sized to be proportional to and wrap the face of a 67-72 radio. I wish they were a direct fit, that would sure be nice wouldn't it? If you EVER think you might buy a squarebody, I'd get that thing working and horde it away. I never thought I'd buy a square - but then I changed my mind I'd be curious to see if anyone else has successfully integrated a square radio into a 67-72 and how they did it, etc. We really never see these in 67-72's, and if it were an easy swap, I bet thousands of folks would've done it in the 70s and 80s.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by cherokeejohn

This thread just brought a smile to my face, I was thinking I was the only one left out there in CB land. The CB radio still has it uses for things. As stated above at Bonneville, also Off Roading, Boating, Swamp buggies, Backwoods/Basecamp coms.,Even Air to bush supply drops. They are overlooked mostly in todays electronics world. But they are still available, and with free airtime, Also stated above about "SKIP" radio and sidebands, I have a hopped up old Galaxy with them, its been shelved for years but I used to talk all over the country and some over oceans with that radio, add a little Linear heat from top a big hill and the air waves would take you world wide at times I have a Cobra 29LTDW now. I'm an avid outdoors-man so weather comes in handy now and then. I had it peaked, and tuned back in the late 90's and it still works great to this day. I never power it by 12volt "socket", hard wired to + terminal of the battery and a sufficient ground also under the hood compartment. I used a HD inline fuse, that has a power kill switch also. For my antenna, I have to say, I love my Wilson's. I have a magnet mount 1000 on my 72, but have a "Lil Wil" mag mount for other Vehicles,ATV's, Boats, etc... There are alott of aftermarket gadgets, doo-dads, decals, noise toys, all over flEbay for the 29. The magnet mount antenna are great as you can place them anywhere metal, for paint protection, Just put a scrap of silk between the mount and the surface. all the Wilson antenna's are very easy to set SWR's by a pair of set screws at the base of the stainless whip. "FWIW" on all my vehicles, toys i also use a simple Red/Black quick 12 volt disconnect and have the same end pre wired/installed, and several mounting brackets for the Cobra 29 so I can just swap the radio and the antenna if needed from one ride to the next. If I Buy another one, It will be this one. IMO i think it still has a Nostalgic look to it, and the night colors go good with the factory gauges in our trucks.

10-04 There Cherokee John, That's a pretty-looking rig. Is the green/white paint job a special deal, or did you leavethe truck parked in the summer where the passenger side was exposed to direct sunlight, and it bleached?

I had [have still] a string of Johnson Messenger transcievers. I [''Whiteface''] and II [''Blackface''] are tube-type and as big and long as mailboxes. Then the Messenger III [ or 123?] is solid state and about the size of yours. Not sure if any of them work, but those tube rigs really broadcast it out, even barefoot. They were built with 5 watts final out, not the 3.5, later mandated by Uncle Charlie. With a good base location [Burbank side of Hollywood Hills] and a HyGain CLR omni antenna, I once got out with my Whiteface on the north/south skip layer [E or F?] and QSO'd with a YL on the south slope of Mount Saint Helen's. It was about midnight and it was 1967.

I have a Radio Shack SSB mobile on a tiltstand I can place in the passengerside footwell, that can switch between vehicles. It works, but with the magmount stubby, the SSB effect is wasted. Also need to trick up the glaring white early model LED screen with some translucent blue gel.

Well threes and eight there Buddy, the OrangeSunshine is over and out.

[CG]

I say keep it rolling with CB info here instead of splitting it up. This can become the "official cb in your truck" thread =)

Ive already learned a lot.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by CG

I say keep it rolling with CB info here instead of splitting it up. This can become the "official cb in your truck" thread =)

Ive already learned a lot.

Back in the day, [I first logged on in 2002] on 67-72ChevyTrucks,com, we used to have CB-related posts on the Truck Audio forum, but CB interest on there died off as audio/video/onboard computers and other witchcraft-like stuff got more popular and sophisticated. Also cell phones took over the mobile-to- mobile comm role.
For my part, I don't care where they put the CB-related threads, as long as we keep the QSO going. We can keep it here or the Mods could move us over there, but most folks don't think of CB as an audio device anymore. It seems more like it's a quaint, obsolescent vintage accessory to them, since they have no working knowledge of the 2-Way medium and its traditions.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by CG

I say keep it rolling with CB info here instead of splitting it up. This can become the "official cb in your truck" thread =)

Ive already learned a lot.

Me too. THANKS!

[RPOZ11]

Gonna have to pull out some of my stuff for sharing

Built in slider for extra channels

[BugzC10]

Breaker breaker good buddy...what's your 20? Catcha on the flip flop!

[Rods]

Great info thanks ‘68OrangeSunshine.......

[Noah96]

Have a new to me 1969 GMC C2500 looking for a vintage 70/80s cb to put in my truck any idea where to start looking for one?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Noah96

Have a new to me 1969 GMC C2500 looking for a vintage 70/80s cb to put in my truck any idea where to start looking for one?

Swap meets, C-list, yard sales, flea markets, flea bay, truckstops, guy down the alley. Where-ever. Being vintage specific is getting picky. I would just want one that worked. The early ones just had 23 channels. Not so fun if your Buddy's up on 40 and you got no ears that swing that way.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by Noah96

Have a new to me 1969 GMC C2500 looking for a vintage 70/80s cb to put in my truck any idea where to start looking for one?

eBay

Put in Vintage CB

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up until about 74 all the CB's were 23 channels. Some might have had Upper Side Band and Lower Side Band.

After about 74 CB's went to 40 Channel.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Rods

Great info thanks ‘68OrangeSunshine.......

Hey Rods. You're welcome. User CP never let me know you shouted, so I'm getting back to you 2 weeks later. Go figure.

['68OrangeSunshine]

How much juice does that Varmint kicker push?

[70cst]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

How much juice does that Varmint kicker hold?

If you are talking power - about 100 watt

Amp Draw - I am guessing about 30 amp max

['68OrangeSunshine]

I aways got out barefoot. But power is its own reward.

[Ironhorse]

Late to the game on this but I did the CB bit in mid to late 60s when actually HAD to have a government issued FCC Part 95 license and call letters. Lots of folks ran outlaw style, no license, just a CB "handle". Kinda like the user ID of today on the internet. If caught on the air and broadcasting by local FCC monitor always heard it meant big fines and loss of equipment? Don't know if that was true or not, didn't want to find out tho, LOL.

Used to do the CB " Coffee Breaks" with the locals. Get together at local coffee shops and compare notes. Exchange QSL cards, sort of like a buisness card with name, call sign numbers and such. Actually remember one night here in Kansas, shooting "skip" and talked to a shrimp boat operator who was in the Texas Gulf. Talked for about 20 minutes or so before lost contact when clouds and weather pattern changed. Used to be bragging rights about how far you got shooting skip.

Actually my board name here "Ironhorse" is a throw back to those days. When I came home from Viet Nam in 1970 I purchased a '69 Mustang Mach 1, 351 4spd. Went back to doing CB and became " Ironhorse Moblie" with my call sign numbers. Registered on the board years ago and searched for a user Id and decided on using Ironhorse, riding in a pickup instead of on back of a horse seemed a lot more comfortable.

[jocko]

THAT is a cool history of your username. If I'm not mistaken, no license required these days? But not completely certain of that. I do recall all the paperwork coming in the box back in the day. Was kinda fun to fill out - a sure sign I was stepping into some "new" gee-whiz technological world.. Ha. Yes, I know I could just use my cell these days, but now THAT'S illegal in most states while you're driving! CB, you don't have to look, you just have to talk and listen, the latter rapidly becoming a lost art it seems (ok, cynical old man off his podium). I like CBs I guess, what can I say...

BREAK BREAK

(or should I say "Breaker Breaker.." ha). I have not used a newer SSB outfit before, only pre-SSB CBs. I'm curious how much better, if any, they work than older non-SSB setups. Most of the vintage stuff is NOT SSB, but some of the very end of the era stuff is - mostly I've found Realistic models in the TRC-450 and up range to be SSB and their fetching price (on ebay anyway) is through the roof compared to non-SSB. I ALMOST bought a pristine NIB TRC-452 (I think it was) SSB version - but decided that was a little too pricey ($350) - but am starting to second guess that decision because I'm seeing others in similar new condition for upwards of $700. So, if anyone has used both old school and SSB, I'd be interested in knowing if you felt the performance, clarity, etc was better than pre-SSB. Thanks!

[70cst]

Originally Posted by jocko

THAT is a cool history of your username. If I'm not mistaken, no license required these days? But not completely certain of that. I do recall all the paperwork coming in the box back in the day. Was kinda fun to fill out - a sure sign I was stepping into some "new" gee-whiz technological world.. Ha. Yes, I know I could just use my cell these days, but now THAT'S illegal in most states while you're driving! CB, you don't have to look, you just have to talk and listen, the latter rapidly becoming a lost art it seems (ok, cynical old man off his podium). I like CBs I guess, what can I say...

BREAK BREAK

(or should I say "Breaker Breaker.." ha). I have not used a newer SSB outfit before, only pre-SSB CBs. I'm curious how much better, if any, they work than older non-SSB setups. Most of the vintage stuff is NOT SSB, but some of the very end of the era stuff is - mostly I've found Realistic models in the TRC-450 and up range to be SSB and their fetching price (on ebay anyway) is through the roof compared to non-SSB. I ALMOST bought a pristine NIB TRC-452 (I think it was) SSB version - but decided that was a little too pricey ($350) - but am starting to second guess that decision because I'm seeing others in similar new condition for upwards of $700. So, if anyone has used both old school and SSB, I'd be interested in knowing if you felt the performance, clarity, etc was better than pre-SSB. Thanks!

The old Philly made Uniden Grant and Cobra 148 are highly after as they are very quite RX radios ... compared to todays standard radio. The President 2510 is also highly sought after. The Galaxy 99V and 88 are also in high demand. SSB were normally found on the higher priced radios. I don't think the quality is as good now as it was in the 80's.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I got an FCC license in the early '70s. Still have a blue Dymo tape label strip on my ash tray door KBLU4105. I almost always used a handle, though. ''Bluejay'' in high school, ''Agent Orange'' evolved into ''Orange Sunshine'' [when running my '68 Stepside in 516 orange] and ''the Walrus'' later on -- because of my furry grey fu manchu mustache.
When I bought my '71 GMC Jimmy in 1995, I also got a brand new Radio Shack SSB rig, but then didn't mount it as I got my first cellphone shortly after that.
A couple of years ago I 'found' my NIB SSB and hooked it up to the ground plane base antenna that's still on my house. I tried the sideband channels but concluded there was no intelligent life out there. Indeed no life out there.[No intelligent lifeforms on AM].
Right now, the rig is mounted on an adjustable pedestal that I put in the passenger footwell of whatever vehicle I'm using [usually for road trips ] and use a stubby mag mount. It doesn't get out very well with that antenna. I also found my RS noise-cancelling amp mike. It took some searching to find a replacement battery for it, as the OEM mercury batts are now forbidden. If I gang up 5 A76 coin batts I get the 7.5 vdc.
If this CB reboot craze gets bigger, I'll permanently mount it in the Stepside, since I still have the ball mount and HD spring sticking out of the butt of the drivers side fender. I never pulled the Mic clip from over the cigar lighter. It was too handy to hang a plastic litter bag from it.
I tried running a 48'' Shakespeare fiberglass stick on top of my Hustler break-over mast on the spring, but the Highway Patrol stopped me on I-10 one Sunday, and said it was too tall to be legal. Over 13' 6". So I'll have to do some adjustments.
WALRUS CLEAR

[jocko]

thanks!