Super Dutys, Kenwoods and the fab-o-rific ham strikes again

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Lawless

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I wanted to mount my new(ish) Kenwood 2M mobile in my truck but those who have the Super Duty Fords with the dash layout like mine know that there just isn't tons of options for a clean mounting location due to the curvy nature of the surfaces. Drilling holes in this dash is not an option anyway, I have what is probably the lowest mileage SD 7.3 PSD in the country at 40K and I cannot just drill all willy nilly in the plastic. I do not however mind a couple of screws in the bottom of the little pocket to the right of the steering wheel.

I had made a similar mount in my old white SD a few years ago and modeled this one after it. The difference is this one is not as long or supported at the bottom.

I used 1/8" aluminum, steel rivets and gray felt from the fabric center put on with 3M contact spray.

All bends were made by my Snapon and Wilton vises with plenty of cursing and hammer/dolly use.

Once in the pocket, I simply ran 2 screws into the bottom plastic through the pre-drilled holes in the bracket.

I wired it with a nice 12G fused power wire straight to one of the batteries.

So, I will let the pics finish the description. Use of your factory mount bracket on a similar plate in the pocket should work too and would simplify the fabbing.



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That cubbyhole is useless anyway. Everytime I step on the skinny pedal that cubbyhole immediately empties itself.
 
Nice work Paul. I'm looking for a place to put the IC706 head in my Sierra 4x4 right now.
 
If you have a cubby about the same size as the faceplate, drill a hole in the back of the cubby for the separation cable. Cut a piece of black plastic to attach (glue or velcro) to a piece of high density foam several inches thick and larger dimension than the cubby. Attach the cable to the radio faceplate, attach the faceplate to the foam/plastic insert and slide it into the cubby; friction fit.

In the below picture, the faceplate in the cubby next to the stalk mounted 706 faceplate is a Kenwood media controller mount in the above-described manner that friction fits in the cubby. It has been there for 12 years and never shifted or needed any additional fitment. If ever removed, there is no obvious damage to the cubby, just a small hole in the back where the control cable came through.

BTW, the radio brick is under the back seat.


 

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I have to say, this radio with the Larsen NMO150 antenna installed in my truck seems to perform better (by a ways) than when it was in the shack. I thought it was awesome then but it seems magical in the truck. It flat hears some stuff! Great reports of no noise or static. Cannot wait to see how far out I can hit the .210 repeater. Once I get another 281/Larsen in the Expedition I will test and see how far out I can do mobile to mobile.

I was telling Howard I am planning to build my own 30' or so tower soon for my VHF base antenna. Good stuff :)
 
Yes...I had to google the Kenwood model number to see if this was ham or CB. I see that it is ham. Looks good.
Now you just need to do something with that stock Ford radio!! Hold on and I'll give you a link.

Oh...And I call dibs if you ever sell your 7.3L PS

DS
 
DirtySCREW;n101319 said:
Yes...I had to google the Kenwood model number to see if this was ham or CB. I see that it is ham. Looks good.
Now you just need to do something with that stock Ford radio!! Hold on and I'll give you a link.

Oh...And I call dibs if you ever sell your 7.3L PS

DS
Click to expand...

I like to keep stuff like radios stock, just a weird pet peeve I guess.

Yeah the 281 is a 65W 2 meter radio.

Never gonna sell it, never gonna sell it, never gonna sell, never gonna sell it (to this song's music)

[video=youtube;Xpugp6DIb3I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpugp6DIb3I[/video]
 
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