jimbowilly,
if you want to learn about the insides of the radios, do yourself a big favor and go to this website:
CBC International - books plans kits modifications repairs for CB radios
its a business called "CB City International", and its owned by a guy named Lou Franklin.
he's been around forever, and has written what are IMO the two best books a beginner can get on CB radio repair/modification.
buy the "Screwdriver Experts Guide to CB Repair" first, or at least read it first.
then, once you undersand what's in that book fairly well; read "Understanding and Repairing CB Radios".
this is what you are looking for.
LC