Member Build Threads
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Threads
- 162
- Messages
- 4,044
- Location
- Hillsboro, OR
- Website
- www.cascadecruisers.com
hey mike to you mind measuring how far that Hydroboost set up extends out from the firewall?
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Threads
- 162
- Messages
- 4,044
- Location
- Hillsboro, OR
- Website
- www.cascadecruisers.com
nevermind...
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Threads
- 162
- Messages
- 4,044
- Location
- Hillsboro, OR
- Website
- www.cascadecruisers.com
....
I don't know what you've been looking at. The Unidens are nice, big or small. The 520Pro little one is cheap and has an RF gain knob that comes in handy. The big ones have an SWM built in to let you tune your antenna live (could be detrimental to your CBs health too). Finally the Cobra with the front-firing mic is nearly DIN-sized and a nice package (can find on CL with patience).
Antennas- firestick makes a very cool box to split out signals from your CB antenna to CB and FM. Also has tuner for each signal type built into the box (use after SWM calibration).
I also found a 3-channel 12V mixer at parts express to mix in CB/HAM/Ipod to my aux stereo input and allows level adjustment per channel. Nice unit but the cables are kind of rare to find (ins/outs are mono 1/4" female so you need things like dual mono 1/4" male to mini stereo kinds of cables). Hope to try it out in a couple weeks to see how the sound quality works out.
My rough draft platform is really basic, but I like it a lot. I think you've seen it before, but if not we could meet up if you wanted to get an idea of what issues exist.
aside-
I've been watching my EGTs and they drop below 350 without any waiting. I'm guessing a good push up to Roger's camp might be a different story but they seem to drop really fast after the load is gone. fwiw
Cobra 75 WX ST. This is one of the units with all of the controls in the hand microphone and a small remote mount box to be mounted somewhere discreet. They're cheap at about $80 on fleabay and can be hidden pretty well. I'm planning on mounting my remote box under the dash with my AR1A Matchmaker splitter ( the one esh was talking about ) as soon as kevinmrowland gets his antenna mounts from his laser cutter. Good reception, hidden installation and if you want more volume, you can mount a cheap remote speaker under the stock amp location on the dash ( looks like a speaker hole in the dash pad ). For the antenna, get a Firestick flexible Firefly with tunable tip. Lots of signal adjust ability with the tunable tip. For the length, they say that for best reception, the top 1/3 of the antenna should be above the roof line.
- Thread starter
- #888
Thanks Esh and GLTHFJ60 for chiming in on CBs. Eveything you both said coincides with the research I've been doing so it's great to have that confirmed without asking yet!
For the antenna I really do like the flexible ones even if they're not as powerful as the more solid ones so I've looked at Firestik, Wilson, and KD40s. Each has a flexible antenna that I like. I plan on mounting a 3' one where my broken FM antenna was on the passenger front fender. I'll need to make a base to support the antenna but I've already got some plans for that. I did read about the vital importance of tuning. Esh do you have an SWM tuner and would you be willing to help me tune mine when I get a setup?
I will get an AM/FM/CB splitter.
As for a radio I'm just looking at basic models; however, I do like the front firing boxes and am interesting in the weather channels so I'll probably go with the next level up from basic. I've read that the difference in radios is not the power since that's regulated but the features are what you are buying. It's the antenna that plays a bigger factor on transmitting and receiving. So far I've been looking at Uniden Bearcat Pro 538W and Cobra 18 WX ST II but am open to other suggestions. I'm still sitting on the fence about the all-in-ones, can they get as loud as the boxes? With a loud diesel I'll need a little more volumn.
For the antenna I really do like the flexible ones even if they're not as powerful as the more solid ones so I've looked at Firestik, Wilson, and KD40s. Each has a flexible antenna that I like. I plan on mounting a 3' one where my broken FM antenna was on the passenger front fender. I'll need to make a base to support the antenna but I've already got some plans for that. I did read about the vital importance of tuning. Esh do you have an SWM tuner and would you be willing to help me tune mine when I get a setup?
I will get an AM/FM/CB splitter.
As for a radio I'm just looking at basic models; however, I do like the front firing boxes and am interesting in the weather channels so I'll probably go with the next level up from basic. I've read that the difference in radios is not the power since that's regulated but the features are what you are buying. It's the antenna that plays a bigger factor on transmitting and receiving. So far I've been looking at Uniden Bearcat Pro 538W and Cobra 18 WX ST II but am open to other suggestions. I'm still sitting on the fence about the all-in-ones, can they get as loud as the boxes? With a loud diesel I'll need a little more volumn.
- Thread starter
- #889
That's nice, sounds like you've got good flow from your intake and exhaust. I bet cool down times will lengthen a little if you decide to give it more fuel. Mine will cool down to 400F fast but the last 50F takes longer. Since my gauge sits above 0 with no power I suspect that I'm cooling it lower than 350F before I shut it down. If it's normal driving it usually takes close to a minute to cool down but when I work it the cool down time goes up, however, I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes to shut down.
Last edited:
As for the mount, kevinmrowland is setting up a kit to do just that with a stainless bracket and walcottcb.com components and I'll be getting his first "production" kit shortly. That will be a slick install.
For the volume issue, why not set up a remote mount speaker?
I have an SWM when you're ready to tune it.
For the antenna mount, just went with a standard stainless antenna bracket over the oem antenna location. I was joking with Kevin last winter in Canada telling him I setup my antenna just like his. He was disappointed when he saw I didn't quite go to the same lengths as he did.
Good to know about the 1/3 above the roof thing. Most people have commented my radio seems to get out really far, and I think it might be partly due to just that factor, and probably that it was tuned. I have a pretty stiff firestick tunable and the 520 Pro little Uniden right now. I'd like to move it forward to the bull bar and put a stiff spring on it because the bracket mounts just suck.. keeps loosening up. Might try a mount to the rear tire carrier.
For the antenna mount, just went with a standard stainless antenna bracket over the oem antenna location. I was joking with Kevin last winter in Canada telling him I setup my antenna just like his. He was disappointed when he saw I didn't quite go to the same lengths as he did.
Good to know about the 1/3 above the roof thing. Most people have commented my radio seems to get out really far, and I think it might be partly due to just that factor, and probably that it was tuned. I have a pretty stiff firestick tunable and the 520 Pro little Uniden right now. I'd like to move it forward to the bull bar and put a stiff spring on it because the bracket mounts just suck.. keeps loosening up. Might try a mount to the rear tire carrier.
Hahaha, leave it to kevin to over-engineer just about everything. That's alright though, I really like how his design mounts and he's never told me about it loosening up.
I can't remember for the life of me where I read it, but that seems to be the rule of thumb. Maybe I read it on the forum somewhere or on one of the many CB sites I've been reading lately. Either way, results tell the story.
- Thread starter
- #893
April Video
I forgot about the footage I grabbed of wheeling after the clean-up event so I threw it together and uploaded it. Creepersleeper is in there along with other local club members. Only a small clip of myself but I thought I'd include it here.
Wheeling TSF 4-09
I forgot about the footage I grabbed of wheeling after the clean-up event so I threw it together and uploaded it. Creepersleeper is in there along with other local club members. Only a small clip of myself but I thought I'd include it here.
Wheeling TSF 4-09
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Threads
- 162
- Messages
- 4,044
- Location
- Hillsboro, OR
- Website
- www.cascadecruisers.com
I think you have some new pics too dont cha?
)- Thread starter
- #898
Weekly update
I went wheeling with Dirtgypsy to test out his SOA. We made it a family day and kept it mostly mellow. We hit some local trails out in Brown's camp.
There were just three in the group
I like how this one turned out
Posing, but it's on the trail so that's alright.
Found a little mud hole and my little girl kept telling me "One more time Dad" but it was too slick to get up.
This one is called the Waterfall
Tried the far right side but no rear locker kept me from climbing. Ended up on the far left side needing a little "assistance"
My son was inside the whole time sleeping but finally woke up when my butt slid down hill. We fried some contacts on the Kyle's winch so they doubled up and easily pulled me up the hill.
After that it was time to head back. The winch was the only causality and it ended up be some inexpensive contacts and is now working again.
Aside from the trip I retubed my front driveshaft the next day for more spline engagement. I got my Poly axles but they were for a FJ40 and one wasn't painted so I send them back and should get my size next week-ish. I got my Johnny Joint but it was missing the bolt so I called them up and they'll send it out. I got my aussies locker for the rear so I tried installing it in my spare third to swap over the whole thing (it's in better condition than my current rear 3rd in the axle) but it failed the first clearance test so I'm looking for thinner thrust washers or may just hit them with the sanding disc. So I had a few set backs but it'll all get worked out soon. I did start on my anti-wrap bar bird-mouthing some tube and cutting the lower link to size.
I went wheeling with Dirtgypsy to test out his SOA. We made it a family day and kept it mostly mellow. We hit some local trails out in Brown's camp.
There were just three in the group
I like how this one turned out
Posing, but it's on the trail so that's alright.
Found a little mud hole and my little girl kept telling me "One more time Dad" but it was too slick to get up.
This one is called the Waterfall
Tried the far right side but no rear locker kept me from climbing. Ended up on the far left side needing a little "assistance"
My son was inside the whole time sleeping but finally woke up when my butt slid down hill. We fried some contacts on the Kyle's winch so they doubled up and easily pulled me up the hill.
After that it was time to head back. The winch was the only causality and it ended up be some inexpensive contacts and is now working again.
Aside from the trip I retubed my front driveshaft the next day for more spline engagement. I got my Poly axles but they were for a FJ40 and one wasn't painted so I send them back and should get my size next week-ish. I got my Johnny Joint but it was missing the bolt so I called them up and they'll send it out. I got my aussies locker for the rear so I tried installing it in my spare third to swap over the whole thing (it's in better condition than my current rear 3rd in the axle) but it failed the first clearance test so I'm looking for thinner thrust washers or may just hit them with the sanding disc. So I had a few set backs but it'll all get worked out soon. I did start on my anti-wrap bar bird-mouthing some tube and cutting the lower link to size.
Last edited:
Nice pics! Let me know when you're ready to test the latest updates to your rig! I'm always up for another run.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Threads
- 162
- Messages
- 4,044
- Location
- Hillsboro, OR
- Website
- www.cascadecruisers.com
bumper...
getting started:
first couple Bends
nice lines:
bottom bent and mock up with top piece:
Different angle
cheater way to notch:
Dirtgypsy showed up to start his rear bumper... Mike is taking a nap:
Boots bumper tacked:
me taking a picture of mike taking a picture of his bumper:
Dirtgypsy still cursing at the rivots:
Mike decided that the vertical pieces were too long... this is the way to properly secure a bumper "in progress" while grinding:
Clint still cursing at the rivots....
Mike has more pics to come later....
getting started:
first couple Bends
nice lines:
bottom bent and mock up with top piece:
Different angle
cheater way to notch:
Dirtgypsy showed up to start his rear bumper... Mike is taking a nap:
Boots bumper tacked:
me taking a picture of mike taking a picture of his bumper:
Dirtgypsy still cursing at the rivots:
Mike decided that the vertical pieces were too long... this is the way to properly secure a bumper "in progress" while grinding:
Clint still cursing at the rivots....
Mike has more pics to come later....