YES it can work. you need to bypass the tuning coils in the base. the antenna is for HF (high freq) so is the CB. The tuning colis are what changes the 'hright' of the antenna for the specfic freq's. tuning the antenna is much like tuning the stainless steel whip (it has to be trimmed) or coils added.
If your SWR reading was higher on channel 40 than it was on channel 1, then it simply means the antenna is too long. If it was higher on channel 1 than it was on channel 40, it is too short. This is really easy to change if you own a tunable-tip antenna. If you own an antenna like this, you can simply unlock the tip and raise or lower the antenna. Continue tuning until you reach a good ratio. If you own a fiberglass whip antenna, it is a little more difficult. First, you have to remove the tip and cut until you can access the wire coil. If it needs to be shortened, you have to begin cutting in around ¼" increments until it is correct. Now, if it is too long, you have to take the top coil and continue moving it out in slight increments until it is correct.
look here
http://www.flashoffroad.com/radio/Milantenna/milAntenna.htmalso, the paint might have screwed it up
