I'd like to know if anyone out there has installed a CB radio in thier third-gen. I'd really like to put one in my Firebird, but I simply can't find a suitable spot to place it. I was hoping to put it under my dash, but it leaves me no room for my feet to correctly operate the pedals. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions on where to mount a CB without making it look too unprofessional? Feel free to post pictures; they would be of great help! Thanks!

-Here's a picture of my dash for reference:

 

Somewhere in the console, maybe?

:shrug:

 

under the passenger side dash pad or air vents in the middle?

 

A lot of Ham radio operators have installed them in place of the ash tray. What you do is remove the front panel of the ash tray so you can place it back in place when you are not operating it. This way thieves don't see it, and it looks nice. Of course, you would have to find a small unit to put in the slot where the ash tray is.

 

you can always install it between the seat and the console by the driver or passenger upright so the ***** are facing the celing of the vehicle

 

Does anyone know of any brand and model CB radios that are designed more compact than most? Slimmer would probably be better.

 

Check out the Cobras. They have one that all of the controls are on the handset. You mount the box in a remote location, and the handset controls everything. I know Summit used to carry them in the electronics section. Good luck. If I could find a way to not have the antennea and get good reception, I'd have one in my car too. I just can't get into the looks of a CB antennea. That's just me though.

 

Hmm... Is it a t-top car? You might be able to fab up something really cool on the ceiling.


..or, you dont REALLY need that speedometer, do you?

 

those were my thoughts! you cant have them!

thats what i was about to post

 

My car is a hard top. I was actually planning on installing an overhead console; so that puts that plan to rest. Thanks for the idea though. I bought a CB radio today at a local Wal-Mart. It's a MidLand Model 1000 CB. I got it for $34.99 and on Ebay the same one is going for $40-50. It looked compact when I bought it, but looks very bulky when I looked to find a place to put it. Luckily, I own two cars. I also own a 1989 Chevy Z24 Cavalier and I have the space to put it right in my dash beneath my CD deck. So the money wasn't completely a waste. However, I'd really like to have one in my Firebird.

GTA-SPD, thanks for the idea. Do you know if those CBs haave a PA speaker switch on them. I have a PA horn I was looking to install as well and having a PA switch is a big plus for me.

Here's a picture of the Midland CB I bought: (A lot of other CB's look to be about the same size and shape)

 

Yeah, I have always wanted a PA system in my car too lol.


..Sry I read your mind megaracerx.

 

Here's the place I would have wanted it, but my knee would constantly hit it if I put it there. I would have thought a great number of people would want one in thier F-body; Smokey and the Bandit style!

 

GTA-SPD, I did a search on the Cobra all-in-handset CBs. They make two models. The first model is the 75-WXST. This model looks great, but does not offer a public address (PA) mode. There's also the 76-XRT model. This model DOES offer a PA mode and a nifty interior on-dash antenna (for those who don't like the look of those high rising ones), but it would look terrible in my car. The handset glows neon blue; which I don't like at all; it would conflict with my red-lit dash and gauges. What a shame . I'd consider getting one if they had a 75-WXST with a PA option. I really like that you don't need to install a CB external speaker. The speaker is part of the handset! I'll post pictures of these models if anyone is interested. The 75-WXST sells for around $90-100 and the 76-XRT sells for a little more at between $100-120.

Here's a picture of the 75-WXST model:

 

The 76-XTR:

 

..And what the heck do you USE this for? I mean, I want a PA myself, because that way I can yell at people in traffic, and announce at races, but why a CB? Yell at people that can't see you?


...reminds me of the internet

 

these things sound pretty cool, I checked out cobra's site and am intrested in the classic cb, any thoughts/suggestions?

 

Here's a couple reasons why I'd like to have a CB:

1 - So I can avoid that reason all people use in explaining why they get a cell phone. Ex: "I got mine for emergencies. What if my car broke down?" Solution: flip on over to channel 9 and request road side assistance. Best of all it's free. Come on folks, how many times do you REALLY use your cell phone for emergencies?!
2 - Becuase winter is around the corner. I'd find it very useful to know where bad weather is at, in relation to me. I mean come on - if its snowing or about to snow, the last thing you want to drive is a Pontiac Firebird.
3 - One word: traffic. It may not be so vital to everyone, but it is to me. I live between two major casinos. Traffic is a nightmare.
4 - Becuase my friends have one.
5 - Becuase it's all about the lingo baby. :rockon:

The PA basically explains itself. Takes the point of having a horn a step further.

 

Oh, I want the PA for sure.

I'm curious about traffic and weather reports..is it a station or just other people with CBs telling people?

 

I have a couple hand-held CBs and I know that at least the weather is a station, and im pretty sure theres a traffic station too.

 

check out my cardomain for where i have mine....yeah im probably late not a real good pick but you get the idea

http://members.cardomain.com/kittenscamaro

 

Hmm, checked out your website on cardomain...

your link for thirdgen.org is spelled thindgen.org

just an fyi

 

Wasnt the one in the bandits car on the console on the passenger side next to the radio? That would definately work. I used to have a fire exstinguisher mounted there and it didnt get in the way. It might be able to fit on your side as well in this location.. heres a pic of where I had the exstinguisher mounted. You could mount the front flush with the angle of the console there (if that makes any sense?).

 

I used to drive a semi and of course i have a CB, its a cobra 29 classic style...I like it alot. I intend to install it somewhere in my bird but I can't think of a decent place to put it...of course the first thing to put in is a security system (ok and T-tops that don't leak, and get it running at its best and, well nevermind )

 

Thanks fot the suggestion grngryoutmyway. I'd thought about putting it there, but I noticed that it would be a reach to get at and would interfere with the passenger's leg room. I wish I had your dash. I'd mount it under the center air vents.

 

that big exstinguisher didnt get in the way so I wouldnt think that would.. its not too much of a reach either, try the same spot on your side and see if it will work there.

 

I put mine under my passanger hush cover and i wired it into the power wire for my stereo it worked nice up until my antenna broke.

 

Hey thanks for the tip. The last time i looked into this deal, they didn't have the dash mount unit. One of those may just find thier way into my car after all. I have a few other things to do first, but this is now a real possibility. I started my car for the first time last night in like 3 months. It fired right up, like i just drove it yesterday. I sure do like that car.

 

i use mine only on long road trips (gotta know where dem bears are )

i shove it between the drivers seat and the center console, front facing up.

the power plug goes along the bottome of the console (actually, tucked under teh edge) and plugs into the cig lighter... if you dont have a cig lighter adapter, you can buy them, they're cheap.. or run the wires from the center console to the fuse panel and tap power from there...

antenna wire goes under the seat, up the dooredge to the A pillar.. then a rubber ducky antenna is double suction cupped to the windshield...

all in all, its almost invisible, so no ******* stereo type, its out of the way, and with the antenna outside the car, i get great reception... without that 6' whip on the car.....


it would take a keen eye to notice, and it comes in and out in under 3mins...

 

I recently bought an antenna for my CB. It's a 17" through-glass mount antenna put out by Sound FX. I wired my CB up to a portable 12 volt power generator in my garage to try it out. My friend, who owns a CB, drove around until the signal from my CB got too weak to comprehend. I was amazed at how cheap these antennas are. He started loosing my signal about 2 blocks from my house! Please, if anyone is considering buying one of these "cellular-style through-glass" antennas, PLEASE don't waste your money. This is a big heads up.

If anyone is not familiar with these antennas, they are made up of two parts which magnetically stick together through glass. One part being the antenna itself (mounted outside the car) and the other being the wire and magnet that runs to the back of your CB. They may look great on your car if your looking to avoid the 4' whips, but they don't perform well at all.

Thanks, MrDude_1 for the suggestion on the Rubber Ducky style antennas; I'll definitely have to check them out.

 

I have cb but I took it out becuase it was making my trim on the passenger side sag. I can't remember the link but search for the thread I made for pics of it.

 

i installed mine on the t-top bar of my trans am. i took the headliner out a while back cause the t-tops leaked so it was simple to do. the braket fit right up in there so there was no problems.