They do get a bit warm on the left rear I believe it is looking at it from the back. I think that's right. Anyway hold your hand on the back and have a short qso with someone or into a dummy load. I too bought mine kind of when they first came out. Got one on sale for $129. This was over 3yrs ago. It is still on freq and is a good little SSB radio for what you pay for them. At $150 they aren't that bad of a radio either. But I think a lot of people thought they were going to be able to mod a bunch and that didn't happen. So a lot of truckers don't like them cause they don't swing the meter! They are clean, clear little radios that function as intended. Nothing more, nothing less. The 2018 mic sounds good on mine as well as a uniden bearcat mic. The silver face one with the red claw. They used to sell them with the PC68's. The wireless mic sounds good too but is not a power mic. Just clean audio. I do understand the amp thing, and these newer vehicles have poor grounding systems as well. Every one of my wires under the hood of my work van had paint under them. Don't know how they made contact lol. It was terrible. I must have sanded 20 wires and got tired. Keep it simple. The conditions should pick up some when it cools down. Get a good antenna on it, like a sirio performer 5000 mag mount. That's what I did. I also added a 2 pill but that isn't an option for you as you stated. Best thing to do if possible is get the best mag mount antenna you can and run with it. The turbo 5000 or even the megawatt 4000 rigid wouldn't be a bad option. Might be a bit high but at lest they work. Anyway. About the power, mine cooled considerably after turning it down. It was getting toasty even at stock with a minute or so of talking was hot to touch in the spot where the transistor mounts. A better transistor and driver and maybe an upgraded voltage regulator would help. I like the good old 1969 finals myself as well as the Toshiba transistors but times are moving forward. There are some very nice quality Mosfets that are made for RF that a few home builders are now starting to use and are very clean and do good as far as power goes. Just takes the know how and that is where most lack in, including me lol. But they have been using Mosfets for years in HF radios. So they do make good ones. But they also cost more!! That is another reason why most that don't know what they are doing don't mess with them. And I'm not talking about the cheap irf520 type stuff though. Anyway. Hope you get it figured out and let me know what comes of the radio as far as the heat stock vs it at 8 watts. Have a good one and God Bless.
