W7NUK
Member
First off I may or may not install a radio in my truck even if I get the money. But if I do the point is to make as easly reversed as possible. Minimum holes yet, be as professional and factory looking as possible.
My trucks am radio acts up. First it didn't work. Speaker was bad. Then it worked after I replaced a couple caps before stickin it back. Then it didn't work. No recieved signal but at full volume I could hear a light static telling me it wasn't my final transistor stages out. Then the other day it worked, on one station at much higher than usual volume to hear. So instead of repairing it again I though about installing a ham radio in place of it. Preferably a dual bander yet I can't find one that I believe would fit and look good and isn't out of my price range. Cutting the gauge display bezel is absolutly not allowed.
I'm needing to know how to run power to the radio through my firewall. I have a factory harness that has a few spots open to use push connectors but I'm unsure if i could add any into it. Another option is some kind of panel mount connector that will allow me to disconnect the wires on either side depending on how I did it. But I'm unsure of what connector exist for such an application and would look decent or factory. I don't want to drill a hole for wires to run through although it would be the fastest, easiest and cheapest.
Next is an antenna. I have a hole on either side of the roof right in the rain gutter as I'm calling it that runs into my B pillier. I redid the original seam filler in it so I know it's decent sized and might be able to fit some rg 58 coax through. And then some seam sealer to prevent water leaks. (Already have enough of that). That would be able to go in either side and the coax under a smal trim panel on the floor at the door. There's already wires there for the dome, cargo light and gas gauge. Then it could go up into the dash.
Next and most importantly is the radio. My current am radio's face is 2"x7 1/8". I believe the radio is about 6-8" deep. Under my gauge bezel are the gauges mounted into a metal frame. The am radio is I think 3" tall and had two bolts on the front and one on the rear into a support bracket for the dash. I could try and make a bracket to hold the radio in place using those holes but it won't be easy. And cooling may be a issue. Currently I have the original speaker removed and replaced with two 8ohm speaker in series mounted into the original location. It has opened that hole up a little but not much air will flow. I was lucky, the two smaller speakers mounted onto two studs each in place of the orginal without any modifications to any of them or the dash. I could try a fan mounted there but it will be hard and not pretty. It's tight to get in there. And I also have a lm317 mounted onto the gauge cluster in place of the junky orginal 5v "regulator". I'm not sure how warm it gets. It drives the gas gauge, oil and temperature. Which are a bi metallic thermo mechanical style gauge for strength. The radio will have to be able to withstand hard bumps and jarring in my rattling death machine. I mean truck. It has suspension is meant for hauling loads, not comfort. Every bump is directly felt and will prove if an item is strong enough. I have many electrical problems pop up every so often. The bumps sort them out after a few drives on our dirt road. Mostly dirty connections and such.
So I have a lot figured out but I'm unsure on some stuff. Or if I even should in this vehicle. Wind noise at only 55mph is horrendous. I will need to replace window seals to even have a chance of talking while driving. Or hearing any sort of speaker. But that brings to light another point. Speakers. I need a speaker which is loud, or able to mount elsewhere. Either in the face of a radio or hand speaker mic. In the original trucks location. Or behind my head on top of the gas tank. Lots of space there and should be able to hear super easily.
And one final point. Antennas. I don't want to drill a hole for a nmo or other antenna. I would probably do a magnet mount style with coax ran as said or maybe a mirror or fender style mounted antenna. But since they will change the radiation pattern the roof would be best. I could always try removing the stock antenna and mounting there. That would be the best factory look but maybe hardest. Only problem is getting an antenna to go there. I'm unsure how the orginal is mounted or how to remove. I do think a hole mounted nmo or so 239 would fit. Just don't know how to get one in there.
As you can see I want to put a ham radio in my truck but I have various problems and questions. Hasn't everyone at some point? But I manly want it to look professional/factory but be reversible should I want to remove it. When I searched google I didn't find others looking to mount in the dash of on older vehicle. Everyone mounted in consoles they made or other positions and almost none looked professional enough for me to want to copy. So let me know what you think and help me address these concerns. I'm new into the world of hams so please don't send a lynch party after me for mistakes.
I'll see what pictures of my truck I can post. I've had problems on my iPad and pictures with this style of forums. In this picture you can see the orginal radio and gauges. I can remove the gauge display bezel but it's not as easy as you think. And while I'm there may as well remove the factory radio. I can look at repairing it and see how much space is available for a radio inside the dash. If you want to remove it I will. But otherwise I won't bother for now.
My trucks am radio acts up. First it didn't work. Speaker was bad. Then it worked after I replaced a couple caps before stickin it back. Then it didn't work. No recieved signal but at full volume I could hear a light static telling me it wasn't my final transistor stages out. Then the other day it worked, on one station at much higher than usual volume to hear. So instead of repairing it again I though about installing a ham radio in place of it. Preferably a dual bander yet I can't find one that I believe would fit and look good and isn't out of my price range. Cutting the gauge display bezel is absolutly not allowed.
I'm needing to know how to run power to the radio through my firewall. I have a factory harness that has a few spots open to use push connectors but I'm unsure if i could add any into it. Another option is some kind of panel mount connector that will allow me to disconnect the wires on either side depending on how I did it. But I'm unsure of what connector exist for such an application and would look decent or factory. I don't want to drill a hole for wires to run through although it would be the fastest, easiest and cheapest.
Next is an antenna. I have a hole on either side of the roof right in the rain gutter as I'm calling it that runs into my B pillier. I redid the original seam filler in it so I know it's decent sized and might be able to fit some rg 58 coax through. And then some seam sealer to prevent water leaks. (Already have enough of that). That would be able to go in either side and the coax under a smal trim panel on the floor at the door. There's already wires there for the dome, cargo light and gas gauge. Then it could go up into the dash.
Next and most importantly is the radio. My current am radio's face is 2"x7 1/8". I believe the radio is about 6-8" deep. Under my gauge bezel are the gauges mounted into a metal frame. The am radio is I think 3" tall and had two bolts on the front and one on the rear into a support bracket for the dash. I could try and make a bracket to hold the radio in place using those holes but it won't be easy. And cooling may be a issue. Currently I have the original speaker removed and replaced with two 8ohm speaker in series mounted into the original location. It has opened that hole up a little but not much air will flow. I was lucky, the two smaller speakers mounted onto two studs each in place of the orginal without any modifications to any of them or the dash. I could try a fan mounted there but it will be hard and not pretty. It's tight to get in there. And I also have a lm317 mounted onto the gauge cluster in place of the junky orginal 5v "regulator". I'm not sure how warm it gets. It drives the gas gauge, oil and temperature. Which are a bi metallic thermo mechanical style gauge for strength. The radio will have to be able to withstand hard bumps and jarring in my rattling death machine. I mean truck. It has suspension is meant for hauling loads, not comfort. Every bump is directly felt and will prove if an item is strong enough. I have many electrical problems pop up every so often. The bumps sort them out after a few drives on our dirt road. Mostly dirty connections and such.
So I have a lot figured out but I'm unsure on some stuff. Or if I even should in this vehicle. Wind noise at only 55mph is horrendous. I will need to replace window seals to even have a chance of talking while driving. Or hearing any sort of speaker. But that brings to light another point. Speakers. I need a speaker which is loud, or able to mount elsewhere. Either in the face of a radio or hand speaker mic. In the original trucks location. Or behind my head on top of the gas tank. Lots of space there and should be able to hear super easily.
And one final point. Antennas. I don't want to drill a hole for a nmo or other antenna. I would probably do a magnet mount style with coax ran as said or maybe a mirror or fender style mounted antenna. But since they will change the radiation pattern the roof would be best. I could always try removing the stock antenna and mounting there. That would be the best factory look but maybe hardest. Only problem is getting an antenna to go there. I'm unsure how the orginal is mounted or how to remove. I do think a hole mounted nmo or so 239 would fit. Just don't know how to get one in there.
As you can see I want to put a ham radio in my truck but I have various problems and questions. Hasn't everyone at some point? But I manly want it to look professional/factory but be reversible should I want to remove it. When I searched google I didn't find others looking to mount in the dash of on older vehicle. Everyone mounted in consoles they made or other positions and almost none looked professional enough for me to want to copy. So let me know what you think and help me address these concerns. I'm new into the world of hams so please don't send a lynch party after me for mistakes.
I'll see what pictures of my truck I can post. I've had problems on my iPad and pictures with this style of forums. In this picture you can see the orginal radio and gauges. I can remove the gauge display bezel but it's not as easy as you think. And while I'm there may as well remove the factory radio. I can look at repairing it and see how much space is available for a radio inside the dash. If you want to remove it I will. But otherwise I won't bother for now.
