Many questions

[happeetxn]

This summer I finally have some time to do some much needed PM, accessorizing (sp), and detailing the ol' girl. Right now the cab is gutted with the exception of the dash/steering wheel. Here are my questions:
1) I am installing a shelf on the roof and mount my CB in there and to use for general storage. What size wire do I need to run to power the CB? Is voltage drop a concern in vehicles like it is in residential or commercial electrical?

2) For future sound system upgrades I want to run the wire for extra speakers and a possible sub-woofer and amp, again what gauge wire should I run? It won't be some crazy 5000 watt system just something that sounds very good, I want clarity over loudness.

3) Can I use my original carpet as sound insulation and put the rubber matting that I got yesterday (Ford Factory rubber floor) over it?

4) How do I clean the rubber matting to get it nice and black again? I have taken it up to the car wash and scrubbed and blasted it, but it still looks dirty/faded, granted it did come out of a 96 in a junk yard. Can I use Rustoleum specialty Appliance epoxy? I used it to dress up my switches and other faded black pieces. I know Amor All would just make it slippery than all get out.

5) I am installing amber marker lights on the cab, I have heard that there is a factory harness on the passenger side kick panel area that I can plug into? Yes / No?

6) While I have the interior in this state what else would y'all do? I am stuffing insullation in the open spaces between the exterior and interior metal.

Thanks,
Craig

 

[DaveBen]

1) CB doesn't draw that much, so something like a 14 or 16 gauge wire will work. You are only running a few feet at the most so the line losses are not great, unless you have undersized the wire by a lot, then you get losses and heat.
5) The wire harness is behind the passengers side kick panel. Plug in the factory light harness and it will work pertectly, mine does.

Dave

 

[94f450sd]

if your just running a normal C/B then 14 gauge wire should be fine.if you are running a worked radio then you might wanna go to 12 or 10 gauge wire.

sound system depends on what kind of power you plan on running.if you plan on normal spealers than a 14 gauge speaker wire will be fine.how big of an amp are you planning to run?go to best buy and get the wireing kit for a 1500 watt sytem,its only like 100 bux for the kit but you get everything,power/ground cables,fuse and holder,speaker wires,remote wire and some connectors.the bigger the wires/cables the better the amp will sound even if its only a 500 watt amp.

you put the rubber mat over the carpet if you wish but now you are createing a water holder that will rot out your floors.i wouldnt bother with the rubber mat but that my preference,its your truck.but the rubber mat will also hold water under it and cause the floor to rust/rot.carpet can be dryed.


be carefull where you stick the insulation,once again it will hold water and cause rust/rot to form.

while the interior is gutted i would clean up all the rust spots on the floor with a grinder and paint the whole floor with black rustoleum to help stop the rust from comeing back and rotting the floors.

 

[oi8228oi]

3) dont go factory insulation!!!!! Dynomat is the second best... if ya really wanna do it right ditch the rubber mat find a rhino liner dealer and rhino line the floor best thing you can do for interior noise and everything else, and it cleans up soooo easily... thats just what i would and eventually will do ... also Rhino comes in Colors