CB Radio - Gen II
From Taurus Car Club Maintenance and Modification Wiki
This writeup covers installing a CB radio and antenna in a Gen II. They way I installed mine will probably work in a late Gen I. I'll put my thoughts on Gen I installation at the end of this article.
I used a Radio Shack TRC-447, a deluxe model with a weather radio, PA, and SWR meter. However, the noise blanking system on this is useless.
I installed it in a 1993 Sable GS with a bench seat.
Contents |
Wiring
If your CB came with a cigar lighter plug, skip this step.
If you don't have EATC or an electronic cluster, there should be an open terminal at fuse #16 on the fuse panel. This terminal is always hot. Use a male quick disconnect.
The easiest place for the ground is to attach it to the screw that holds the hood release lever bracket. Use a spade terminal for this. Then secure the rest of the wiring underneath the dash.
Wiring it this way will allow easy removal of the CB for use in other cars.
Mounting
This is the trickiest part. I chose to mount mine under the ashtray (my car is a column shift). BE WARNED! This will cause the ashtray to open up on acceleration and on rough roads with heavier CBs. I have a fairly heavy CB. They make them much smaller than mine, and these may not be a problem.
If you do choose to mount it here, put the edge of the bracket right where the plastic curves out for the cigar lighter. If you're more adventurous, you might notch out the plastic there and mount it even further back. This might help keep the ashtray from opening on it's own.
Another option is to mount the radio on the catalytic converter hump, if you don't mind putting holes in your floorpan.
Floor shift models
If you have a 1992 model, I think it's possible to mount the CB on the console itself. For all others, the best way I can see is to mount it in the dash where the storage bin is. A smaller radio could probably be mounted on the glovebox door, but I don't know how much weight the glovebox latch can handle. Also, your power wires may not be long enough to reach.
Microphone holder
On a Sable, the microphone holder can be slipped into the seam between the dash and the vent housing right below the radio controls (see picture) so you won't have to put holes in your dash. This may work on the Taurus as well.
Antenna
A quick explanation of standing wave ratio
In layman's terms, the standing wave ratio, or SWR, is how well the antenna matches with the cable. Of course, the radio and the characteristics of the vehicle also affect SWR. In perfect conditions, SWR would be 1:1. You won't get that kind of match in a car. From what I've heard, 2:1 is good. Anything above 3:1 is bad.
A CB radio wave is approximately 36 feet high. The best antenna lengths are even fractions of that height. Nine feet is a quarter wave, hence the popular "9-foot whip". Since we're talking about passenger cars here, 9 feet is more than most folks want to go.
What antenna to use
I used a magnetic-mount Radio Shack antenna. It's about 3 feet tall (1/12 wave). This does not seem to be a very high quality antenna. Do not attempt to adjust it by trimming off the bottom of the whip (like the packaging says), as this will ruin it. If you don't mind putting holes in your trunklid, use a bolt-on antenna.
Ground straps
For some reason, the trunklid on the Gen II does not sufficiently ground to the body of the car when it is closed. (It does, however, when it is open.) You will need to install two ground straps on each side of the trunk, running from the trunklid bolt to one of the studs for the rear finish panel. You will need to get two finish panel nuts from a junkyard.
Running the cable
Remove the rear seat. On each side, push the cushion towards the rear of the car and lift up. There are two bolts holding in the seat back. Remove them and slide the seat up and out.
Run the antenna cable through the front of the trunk on the driver's side into the cabin. route the cable so it runs along the top of the exhaust tunnel. Connect it to the radio. I put a small piece of vinyl over the cable in the rear to cover it and keep it in place.
Some notes about the Gen I
From what I can see, a CB can be mounted on any Gen I console. On a bench seat car, you would have to look at the ashtray and decide if it's sturdy enough to hold your radio.
