[GLTHFJ60]

As we all do, I broke off my stock manual adjust antenna on a tree at some point. For a long time I was looking for a way to set up my radio and CB, which, at the time, I thought was only possible with 2 antennas. Well Kevin Rowland told me different. He has a slick firestick setup, mounted in the stock location and grommet, using a CB antenna coupled with the Matchmaker FM / CB splitter to use the same antenna for both CB and FM. I bugged him and bugged him to make me a mount to do the same. Well he designed it and here is the kit!

The first pics are pics of what Kevin included in my kit, which came with the antenna, mount and Matchmaker splitter. Everything is Stainless steel, so I never have to worry about it rusting.





So to install it, you first have to remove the top bolt from the windshield washer resovior, and loosen the bottom two ( 10 mm bolts ). After setting that to the side next to the AC lines, you can see the stock antenna mount. It is attached at the bottom with one bolt, and then on top of the fender with a steel washer that needs to be unscrewed.




After removal of the antenna, you must unbolt the ground wire, which is connected to one of the windshield wiper motor bolts. You also need to remove the FM cable from the back of the radio and pull it through the grommet in the firewall. At this point, you are dissasembled.




To install the antenna, first bolt the mount you got from Kevin into the stock bolt hole using the supplied bolt, so that the flat portion of the mount is facing the top of the fender as pictured. Next, put the threaded rod down through the stock grommet and mount. Assemble the washers and Fire Ring as pictured.




Finally, clip the ground cable off of the stock antenna ( if not being sold or reused ) and run this cable from the mount's bolt to the original ground wire location. Screw the antenna onto the spring on top of the mount, and the antenna installation is done!



For the CB radio, I installed mine underneath the dash. I like it out of the way, so all my controls are in the microphone, and the in-dash unit is just for wire connections. I will not thoroughly document my install because there are so many ways to do it. Enjoy!

[JLH911]

Thanks for this...I've been wanting to do something like this also.

Let's see pics of your CB installed!

[NLXTACY]

Dammit, yet ANOTHER thing I need to get from Kevin. I didn't see it on the site but I'm sure he is going to offer this soon. I have EVERYTHING else already including the Match-Maker. Guess I should have kept my old pile of crap antenna

[VTCruiser]

very cool.

[kevinmrowland]

Think you could shout about it a little louder there Johnny?

My freakin inbox is stuffed this lovely holiday morning, had to come over here to see what was up. I think the bold text and huge thread title might have tipped folks off.....

Anyway, not sure if I would call it the "newest product" yet, more like the newest prototype. Johnny was heading to CMCC antenna-less (once again) and since I would not be there this year to lend him mine, I took pity and got my act together for the mount.

Everyone else, you are gona have to wait a bit longer.
I promise I will make a web page for it today.

or tomorrow....



Oh, and Johnny got ALL the parts from me since I used them to prototype, I will just be selling the mount and supplying the parts list for a Wallcott order. I am not a fire-stick dealer.

Install looks great though Johnny, nice job.
One thing I recommend is NOT pulling the radio antenna out if you can help it, but disconnecting it at the antenna then taping the new cable to it and pulling the whole thing through the grommet and up to the radio. That saves having to snake the cable around.

The mount is really very simple, I'll get the pictures posted and the parts list, I'm sure that most of us here could make their own version very easily if you want to copy.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Think you could shout about it a little louder there Johnny?

My freakin inbox is stuffed this lovely holiday morning, had to come over here to see what was up. I think the bold text and huge thread title might have tipped folks off.....

Anyway, not sure if I would call it the "newest product" yet, more like the newest prototype. Johnny was heading to CMCC antenna-less (once again) and since I would not be there this year to lend him mine, I took pity and got my act together for the mount.

Install looks great though Johnny, nice job.
One thing I recommend is NOT pulling the radio antenna out if you can help it, but disconnecting it at the antenna then taping the new cable to it and pulling the whole thing through the grommet and up to the radio. That saves having to snake the cable around.

I figured your newest prototype ( product ) needed some well deserved attention, kinda like how new gadgets or movies are announced months in advance to drum up enthusiasm. I think it worked

Good point on the radio cable. I had my dash apart so it was easy to get to. Had no problems.

I mounted my CB to the dash support just behind the spedometer, and the matchmaker is mounted right behind the inclometer / ashtray / HVAC controls. I did it that way so if I needed to adjust anything, I didn't have to take out the whole dash to do it. I love it!

Happy 4th everyone!!

[JLH911]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Think you could shout about it a little louder there Johnny?

My freakin inbox is stuffed this lovely holiday morning, had to come over here to see what was up. I think the bold text and huge thread title might have tipped folks off.....

Anyway, not sure if I would call it the "newest product" yet, more like the newest prototype. Johnny was heading to CMCC antenna-less (once again) and since I would not be there this year to lend him mine, I took pity and got my act together for the mount.

Everyone else, you are gona have to wait a bit longer.
I promise I will make a web page for it today.

or tomorrow....



Oh, and Johnny got ALL the parts from me since I used them to prototype, I will just be selling the mount and supplying the parts list for a Wallcott order. I am not a fire-stick dealer.

Install looks great though Johnny, nice job.
One thing I recommend is NOT pulling the radio antenna out if you can help it, but disconnecting it at the antenna then taping the new cable to it and pulling the whole thing through the grommet and up to the radio. That saves having to snake the cable around.

The mount is really very simple, I'll get the pictures posted and the parts list, I'm sure that most of us here could make their own version very easily if you want to copy.

First on the list! haha

[sirenmoses]

Originally Posted by JLH911

First on the list! haha

Maybe not. I e'd Kevin about this a few months ago.

Arm-wrestle ya for it!

[IrollwithTojo]

I wonder how well this would work with my 7ft firestik.

-Carl

[praetorian]

Kevin, you know what I want (in addition to all your other stuff?)

A high quality Wagongear t-shirt, in like forest green.

Cheers,
prat

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by praetorian

A high quality Wagongear t-shirt, in like forest green.

YES!!!

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by JLH911

First on the list! haha

Uh huh, I don't think so, no more lists.

No list needed for these little guys, I'll just make a batch and let you know when they are ready.
And CJ is right, his email is probably one of the oldest in my "antenna" file.

I got a jump on the web page today, might get it up tonight for more info, but it wont have an active "buy it" link just yet.

And I have been wanting a t-shirt myself.......

[sirenmoses]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

And I have been wanting a t-shirt myself.......

Swap ya 2 FD shirts for one-a yours... what size ya wear?

[kevinmrowland]

Ok I got a page together for more info, apologize for any typo's.
Should make things a bit more clear for the time being though.

Antenna Mount

Originally Posted by sirenmoses

Swap ya 2 FD shirts for one-a yours... what size ya wear?

Sweet!!!! Maybe I wont have a t-shirt list I'll have a you-send-me-one-first list.

[GLTHFJ60]

Sweet install page! Looks much better than this attempt :P

[sirenmoses]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Maybe I wont have a t-shirt list I'll have a you-send-me-one-first list.

Only if that's all you & yr plan on wearing for the next few decades...

Actually, that is a neat idea. Then when you get tired of wearing 'em, recycle into a t-shirt quilt for your rig.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

Sweet install page! Looks much better than this attempt :P

Thanks Johnny, you've got some info and photos here that I don't have though.
I linked this thread on the bottom of the page so we can get the best of both worlds.

Originally Posted by sirenmoses

Only if that's all you & yr plan on wearing for the next few decades...

Actually, that is a neat idea. Then when you get tired of wearing 'em, recycle into a t-shirt quilt for your rig.

That might be a problem I guess....
But you might be over-estimating the demand for a WagonGear t-shirt

[Randy88FJ62]

This looks like a great idea. While we’re on this topic; I’ve noticed that my old AM/FM antenna doesn’t perform anywhere near as good as newer cars. I can’t get radio stations from as far away and I get interference when using AM. Meaning that I can hear my engine revs through the AM radio interference. While installing this new setup with CB / radio splitter, is there anything else I can do to increase the range and clarity of my sound system? New speakers and head unit will follow in the future. Maybe I should take this to the electronics thread but I thought I would start here since some of the equipment is 60 related.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by Randy88FJ62

This looks like a great idea. While we’re on this topic; I’ve noticed that my old AM/FM antenna doesn’t perform anywhere near as good as newer cars. I can’t get radio stations from as far away and I get interference when using AM. Meaning that I can hear my engine revs through the AM radio interference. While installing this new setup with CB / radio splitter, is there anything else I can do to increase the range and clarity of my sound system? New speakers and head unit will follow in the future. Maybe I should take this to the electronics thread but I thought I would start here since some of the equipment is 60 related.

Longer, higher quality fixed antenna with a good ground will always increase your range. I can't comment on how well the matchmaker works because mine appears to be defective. I tuned my CB setup to a SWR on all channels of 1.9, but when I hook up the matchmaker, my SWR meter reads a short. I will pick up another unit when I get back from CMCC.

[OCHO4I]

Johnny & Kevin:

Could you guys possibly post the model number and size of the Firestick that was used on Johnny’s 60? (By the way Kevin, I’m heading over to Wagongear shortly in order to secure my place in line!)


H.S.M.

[beaufort-fj60]

looks very cool.. is the sheet metal strong enough to handle a tree branch hit on that antenna?

[MANUCHAO]

I belive Kevin has all the info posted on his website...

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by OCHO4I

Johnny & Kevin:

Could you guys possibly post the model number and size of the Firestick that was used on Johnny’s 60? (By the way Kevin, I’m heading over to Wagongear shortly in order to secure my place in line!)


H.S.M.

Antenna Mount

Antenna info is on the right side. I used the 4' model.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by Randy88FJ62

This looks like a great idea. While we’re on this topic; I’ve noticed that my old AM/FM antenna doesn’t perform anywhere near as good as newer cars. I can’t get radio stations from as far away and I get interference when using AM. Meaning that I can hear my engine revs through the AM radio interference. While installing this new setup with CB / radio splitter, is there anything else I can do to increase the range and clarity of my sound system? New speakers and head unit will follow in the future. Maybe I should take this to the electronics thread but I thought I would start here since some of the equipment is 60 related.

Yup. like johnny said, a good antenna will make a world of difference, even with my old 1981 push button radio the difference was night and day. For the interference noise you might want to check the little tiny black box attached to the passenger firewall with a small black wire running to the coil, it is an isolator meant to help with engine interference and the wires tend to rot off.
I've never had one that wasn't rotted off, so I can't vouch for it actually doing anything.

OCHO4I Johnny & Kevin:

Could you guys possibly post the model number and size of the Firestick that was used on Johnny’s 60? (By the way Kevin, I’m heading over to Wagongear shortly in order to secure my place in line!)


H.S.M.

Hey Hector, they are all posted on that new page.
You can't click anything to buy it yet, but soon. That's ok since you still owe me an email about your side panels from a ways back anyway.

beaufort-fj60 looks very cool.. is the sheet metal strong enough to handle a tree branch hit on that antenna?

Only if you run that spring I spec (bold print on the parts list page). The antenna will suffer more than the fender without the spring, but it would still be a risk.
I've beat the crap out of mine for two years set up this way, still rockin.
Without the spring it lasted all of one trip. (it was one hell of a trip though, about 8k miles worth.

[Randy88FJ62]

Kevin,
The black box that you're referring to...? I know that there's a circuit openening relay and a few other things inside the passenger side kick panel. Is the box you're talking about in the same place?

[Elbert]

How does regular radio reception work with the splitter? And also is CB performance adqate?

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by Randy88FJ62

Kevin,
The black box that you're referring to...? I know that there's a circuit openening relay and a few other things inside the passenger side kick panel. Is the box you're talking about in the same place?

No, this is in the engine bay, on the fender. It is a tiny little box, maybe .5x.75"?

Elbert How does regular radio reception work with the splitter? And also is CB performance adqate?

Great, and better. I am comparing the radio to an old, cracked, bent, wont go all the way up, OE antenna, so it would be hard not to be better. But the splitter actually lowers the SWR of the CB antenna. (that part surprised me since I figured CB performance would suffer). I consistently end up at the front or back of groups due to the fairly long range CB performance.

But then that might be because I actually tune my antenna.....gripe,mumble,gripe..

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

But then that might be because I actually tune my antenna.....gripe,mumble,gripe..

Hey, hey, hey, I tuned mine and after I got good results, we tuned Kenny's too. Now the reception is crystal clear

Now if I can only get that damn Matchmaker to work

[sirenmoses]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

...you might be over-estimating the demand for a WagonGear t-shirt

Oh, you're crushing me now. I couldn't sleep the other night cuz I was brainstorming a shirt 'thang'. (to be revealed in chat, later).

Most shirts have a dozen minimum order, plus 1time art set-up fee. I'm sure you could find 12 of us to swap with.

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by sirenmoses

Oh, you're crushing me now. I couldn't sleep the other night cuz I was brainstorming a shirt 'thang'. (to be revealed in chat, later).

Most shirts have a dozen minimum order, plus 1time art set-up fee. I'm sure you could find 12 of us to swap with.

Contacted a local place today about some shirts.
And a dozen!?!?! I was thinking a run of at least a hundred.