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 Post subject: Cobra 75 WX ST installation in TJ/LJ
PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:31 pm 
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Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:17 am
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Location: Tucson, AZ
I'm just about done installing a Cobra 75 WX ST in my LJ. It's been done thousands of times, of course.

For the antenna mount I'm using a Teraflex tail light mount (driver's side). I'll take a picture when it's all done. Here is a picture of a hole cut to route the RG8x coax cable.

Image

I actually sculpted the hole with a rat-tail file rather than drilling it. I painted it with a primer and silver metallic top coat. I was too impatient to put on a clear coat.

I'm attaching the remote box under the steering column. I worked that out on my own. Made a simple mount using brass that I have lying around. Otherwise would have chosen a wider piece of aluminum. Mount attaches to existing 3/8" hole. CB box attaches to mount with four 8-32 screws and 1/4" aluminum stand-offs.

Image

Image

The installation picture is focused wrong, but you get the idea. I need to dust behind the dash plus deal with some mild rust. I think the PO must have hosed out the cab a time or two, causing some mild rust. Note to self: never hose out cab!

_________________
2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank


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 Post subject: Re: Cobra 75 WX ST installation in TJ/LJ
PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:37 pm 
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Oh, I meant to add that I'm attempting to install a 3' Wilson Flex antenna. I can't finish installing my coax cable until I get some RG-8x reducers for the PL-259 connectors. I originally installed this antenna on my KJ using the drilled-out OEM mount, but it wasn't well behaved in the wind there.

I thought, "great, I can finally use that antenna". But so far it won't tune. Even with the short tuning whip removed the SWR peaks at too low a frequency as determined by MFJ antenna analyzer.

After I get my coax connectors soldered on in the next day or so I'll take it to the CB shop at a local truck stop. If they can't make it work I'll have to buy another one.

_________________
2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank


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 Post subject: Re: Cobra 75 WX ST installation in TJ/LJ
PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:19 am 
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Location: Tucson, AZ
I received the RG-8x reducers and was able to solder the PL-259 connectors onto the coax cable this evening. I ended up buying a big honking Weller SP 120 soldering iron as I'd had problems in the past soldering these larger connectors with my little soldering station. It is no exagerration to say you could brand cattle with that thing, it's so big.

After doing a little more research I decided to continue tuning the Wilson 3' Flex antenna. Even after removing the tuning whip it measured long (too low a frequency) with the antenna analyzer. So I ground down the brass ferrule with a bench grinder. I did it about 1/8" at a time and ended up removing well over 3/8".

In the end I was able to get the SWR down to around 1.8 in the CB band. Not great, but good enough to try it out on a trail run this Saturday. I figured there was nothing to lose given that the antenna was just lying around the garage and this saves the cost and hassle of a professional tune. If it doesn't work well enough I'll buy a different antenna.

Just need to do a bunch of cleanup tomorrow. I'll likely post a picture. It looks great, even if the SWR isn't anything to write home about.

_________________
2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank


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 Post subject: Re: Cobra 75 WX ST installation in TJ/LJ
PostPosted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:40 pm 
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Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:17 am
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Here is the antenna picture.

Image

Tested the whole system on an easy trail run today and it worked well enough! Now I can move on to the next project.

_________________
2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank


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 Post subject: Re: Cobra 75 WX ST installation in TJ/LJ
PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 8:48 pm 
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Location: Fort Wayne, IN
I have that exact same antenna mount except mines on the other side. I have had them on the drivers side in the past and they cause problems when going threw drive thru's :lol:

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2004- Jeep Liberty
2016- Jeep Wrangler unlimited
1981- Jeep CJ-5
1977- Jeep CJ-5


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