CB antenna question for an old timer

[Mmorgan32]

So back in the 70s maybe when the saddle bags where installed on my truck there was a CB in my truck. I was told by the previous owner ( who bought the truck in 76) the truck didn't have a radio it had a CB mounted in the dash. The handset holder clip is still mounted to the dash. My antenna is mounted to the roof.

My question is does anyone know where they might have run the cable? I can't find it under the dash and I'm afraid of messing with the mount because it doesn't leak at all. Any ideas of where to look?

Btw there is no more CB radio or antenna just the mount. I'd like to put an old looking one in

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mmorgan32

So back in the 70s maybe when the saddle bags where installed on my truck there was a CB in my truck. I was told by the previous owner ( who bought the truck in 76) the truck didn't have a radio it had a CB mounted in the dash. The handset holder clip is still mounted to the dash. My antenna is mounted to the roof.

My question is does anyone know where they might have run the cable? I can't find it under the dash and I'm afraid of messing with the mount because it doesn't leak at all. Any ideas of where to look?

Btw there is no more CB radio or antenna just the mount. I'd like to put an old looking one in

Is there a hole in the inside roof panel, maybe under the mirror bracket or above it? Also check around the visor mounting brackets. If not the cable had to run down one of the "A" pillars I would think. Check really good with a strong light at the base of each "A" pillar under the dash where the cable would have to exit.

LockDoc

[Mmorgan32]

Nope no hole. Thanks I'll do that

[geunther]

Also, if the PO had a long enough coax, then it could have been run to the back of the cab, then up the B pillars. That would have been an easier fish, other than the increased length needed.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Usually with a stubby CB mount you wanted a coax length of 16' for better waveform resonance.
I have a '68 C/10 Stepside, which was once a fleet truck for a municipality, commercial entity, railroad or even CalTrans. It once had a VHF 2-way radio. It has a rubber grommet in the center of the roof where the short masted antenna was. There are old screw holes running from just over the cab light, past the passengers' head and down behind the seat. It would then be run under the rubber floor mat to behind the radio. The radio was mounted under the heater controls.
I bought the truck in 1973. In 1977, I mounted my own CB. I cut a 1" hole on the rear of the drivers side step fender for a ball mount and M3AD heavy duty spring, and ran my coax from there, along the lower frame and came into the cab thru a 1/4'' hole in the floor, under the rubber matt and into the back of the transceiver. Antenna was a Hustler fold-over mast with a load coil and a 3' or 4' "radiator" [whip]. Rig was a Realistic TRC 421 with a Plus-modulator mike. Got out real good, barefoot. My mast was retractable [manually] so I could get thru low overheads when necessary. It was about the same length of a 1/4 wave whip.
My old coax is still in place.
I just hooked up an SSB/AM CB rig that I'd bought in '96 to put in my [then] new '71 Jimmy and then totally forgot about [ after I got the first cell phone that year.]
I bought a pair of ''Rabbit Ears" [Twin Trucker Mirror mounts] to finally put them on the Jimmy. Right now it's temporary in my '92 Subaru, with a stubby magnet trunk mount.
Needs final tuning of radiator* whip length for optimization.
* We're not talking about the cooling system. Top or whip is called the radiator since it radtates your signal.

[Mmorgan32]

Thanks everyone. I'll start digging more. Does anyone know where I can find an old looking CB. Not that I would use it very often I just think they are cool and smokey and the bandit was always one of my favorite movies and I still love the Dukes of hazard lol

[hamjet]

If you want 40 channel, you'll have to find one 1977 or newer. prior to that they only had 23 channels. alot of flea markets have them or e-bay. just be careful, alot of finals were burned out from people keying down with no antenna hooked up. they recieve fine but won't xmit.. PS, catchya on the flipflop, 10-4?

[Mmorgan32]

Ok so I shined a light and stuck my arm up around the a and b pillars. Stick no sign of a cable. Maybe in the cowl?