Making Ms Liberty mine thread

[CactusJacked]

Aaaah, Midland. I still have my Midland unit from the mid-late 70's, just when the 40 channels came out. Equipped with a Turner Sidekick modulated mic and the resistor "snip mod" that makes the radio signal boom!

 

[02redKJ]

I can't find my SWR meter. It is around here somewhere. We moved since I used it last, so it will take some looking to find it. I did read on the package that the antenna is tunable, however it came pretuned. I am guessing that is because it is a groundless antenna. Not quite sure how the groundless antenna works differently than one with a good ground plane. I may take it up to our local radio guy and see what he'll charge me to tune it. I want to add a spring to it and a removable red flag so I can use it on the dunes.

 

[profdlp]

I bought one at Amazon for about $20 and it works fine. I needed to buy a short patch cable separately. The nice thing about buying one is that you're almost guaranteed to find the old one right after you order it. :icon_lol:

 

[02redKJ]

The nice thing about buying one is that you're almost guaranteed to find the old one right after you order it. :icon_lol:

Ain't that the truth. I'm going to keep looking though. :shrug:

 

[02redKJ]

Well, Ms is in the shop. It ain't what you think. They are finishing up the engine swap, by evacuating the AC and recharging it. He's had it all day but wanted it to evacuate longer, so he's keeping it on the machine overnight and will charge it in the morning.

 

[Porkchop]

Little Liberty shy is he now. Glad to hear every thing is working out for you now big man says there's a reason for every thing.

 

[02redKJ]

Yes he does and there isa reason for everything. I think part of that reason is right here on this forum. I may or may not have ever met all you fine folks, had this not happened...

 

[02redKJ]

Went and got Ms. a little while ago. Now I can call her frigid! LOL Sure blows cold now!

I am sooooooo Happy! No more major engine rebuild stuff pending, so now I don't have to go to the dealer, unless I don't want to use a stamp for the payment.

 

[02redKJ]

Installed a new CB system. I got a Midland 5001z and mounted it on the center console vertically on the passenger side. Bought a 102" stainless steel whip and an "L" bracket. Drilled 4 holes in front of the right rear tail light to match the ones in the "L" bracket, and mounted the antenna there. I got a heavy duty spring at the base of it, so it won't break if it hits a tree or something. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow. It was raining today, so not good lighting to see it, and it was getting dark too. Still need to button up the cable install and work on the SWR a bit. Otherwise I should be good to go for a run.

Next, wiring for a trailer. Got the hitch, need the wiring for it.

 

[profdlp]

I'll be curious to see what you do for the hitch wiring. I'm probably going to bite the bullet and pay for the OEM kit, since a lot of the snap-on ones look like junk. Let me know what you end up with. (And enjoy the CB!)

 

[02redKJ]

I am thinking of getting one of those types that plug in behind the tail light with a through socket. If I can find what I am talking about, I will post a link. That may even be what you are talking about, as an OEM kit. Or are you thinking something Mopar?

 

[tommudd]

I got the best one that etrailer had several years ago , it goes up into the cabin and plugs into the KJs wiring harness. No issues with it at all

 

[profdlp]

I am thinking of getting one of those types that plug in behind the tail light with a through socket. If I can find what I am talking about, I will post a link. That may even be what you are talking about, as an OEM kit. Or are you thinking something Mopar?

Any of them which use the existing wiring via a plug and don't involve splicing and dicing will work for me.

I got the best one that etrailer had several years ago , it goes up into the cabin and plugs into the KJs wiring harness. No issues with it at all

Got it on my list now - thanks!

 

[02redKJ]

I ended up working on the SWR reading for the new CB all afternoon. I ended up fabricating an extension 6" long, which really only extends it 4.5", because it screws in 3/4" on each end. The SWR was up around 1:3 when I started, and is now 1:1.6 on ch 1, 1:1.4 on ch 19, and 1:1.8 on ch 40. I will need to shorten the extensiona little bit tomorrow. I should get 19 down to 1.2 or 1.3, with 1 and 40 at 1.4 or 1.5 and both the same.

Found out the Ford's CB was out of tune as well. I ended up shortening that antenna about 2.5" to 3". Got that one a little more even than mine. Our range, from yesterday to today, has more than doubled by doing this.

 

[CzarKJ]

I ended up working on the SWR reading for the new CB all afternoon. I ended up fabricating an extension 6" long, which really only extends it 4.5", because it screws in 3/4" on each end. The SWR was up around 1:3 when I started, and is now 1:1.6 on ch 1, 1:1.4 on ch 19, and 1:1.8 on ch 40. I will need to shorten the extensiona little bit tomorrow. I should get 19 down to 1.2 or 1.3, with 1 and 40 at 1.4 or 1.5 and both the same.

Found out the Ford's CB was out of tune as well. I ended up shortening that antenna about 2.5" to 3". Got that one a little more even than mine. Our range, from yesterday to today, has more than doubled by doing this.

Awesome! Kinda thought that's what the problem was

 

[02redKJ]

Finished buttoning up the CB install. Got SWR down to 1.4 on 1 and 40, and 1.2 on 19. Perfect! Routed the cable so it is completely hidden, and made a permanent connection at the fuse panel for power to it. While I was at it, I took apart the swing gate and adjusted the latch as profdlp so kindly recommended. Closes perfectly now.

Now I can take some pictures, after I finish putting up the tools and cleaning things up. Will do that after church tomorrow.

 

[02redKJ]

Here are the pics I promised of the CB.

This is the mount prototype I made to get it tuned. Now all I have to do is measure overall length an make a permanent one.

Overall pic ofCB mounted on the center console.

This is the short antenna that I tuned to match the 102" whip. I'll use this one around town.

The following are just different angles of the above pics.

 

[CzarKJ]

Nice work! I mounted my mic up higher to get it out of the way. My cb is much smaller as well haha

 

[profdlp]

Looks good! :cheers:

Is there much CB activity out your way? Here in the Cleveland area it's mostly a bunch of wannabe disc jockeys trying to sound cool. When I get a little closer to one of the Interstates it gets a little more useful.

 

[CactusJacked]

Nice work! I mounted my mic up higher to get it out of the way. My cb is much smaller as well haha

Mine is too, it's a hand held model. Remember, it's not always size that matters. But I do wonder what ol red is compensating for with his 102" whip?