Fitting front speakers

[Amorrisman]

Hi all,
I have been looking through posts that are similar to this and seen multiple ways in which people have fixed speakers in the front of the car. (I have asked this question on the young members group on facebook, so any young members who have offered their advice already thank you! Thought id try and get as many options down as possible).
I'd quite like to fix them in the kidney pannels, I have measured the depth and currently they won't fit. I wondered how people who have done this have fitted them, mounting on wood etc etc. I'm not looking for anything too complicated.
I had thought about 'bulking' out the rear of the kidney panel, which isnt attached to the cars frame, with wood giving a larger cavity behind for mounting the speaker. Not sure how this would work/look though.
Any pictures would be greatly appreciated!
(I have looked at a couple of different speakers, none of which are significantly smaller. I'd like to explore other options before looking for smaller speakers).
Thanks in advance.

[jagnut66]

Hi,
My panels were knackered, so taking their basic shape and size as a starting point, I made my own.
I made wood frames, covered them in blue leatherette (glued and pinned), the armrests I hand stitched and then screwed them in place.
I filled the speaker holes in with a 'hessian' type cloth trying to imitate old fashioned speakers to give them a more period feel.
The front 'kidney' panels I hinged with a door hinge to give them depth. I then glued insulation to the back of the speakers, to give them better sound quality and stop them fixing (via their magnets) to the metal bodywork panels.
I leave the end results for you to judge.
Best wishes,
Mike.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[benwall101]

If you want something small you can buy tweeter speakers (there the type of speakers most modern cars have fitted in there doors) , there good value for money

[jagnut66]

True, it does depend on what you are looking for, mine were 'Ministry of Sound' ones, and the rear speakers are quite large, although I stuck to a circular hole to keep the 'normal' look.
Also I didn't want to cut into my door cards because I didn't think it would look right.

[dp]

I made up some boxes from MDF and fitted under the gloveboxes - you can see here:

http://www.retrorides.proboards.com/ind ... 214&page=5

[GeordieDave]

I'm planning to fit speakers in the same place and I was going to do a 'how to' for this forum so if you can wait until the new year, I'll do detailed instructions? I've bought some slim speakers with a mounting depth of 45mm, which is just about all the space there is behind the panels. If you don't want to pad out the wooden panels, it seems to be the tidiest way to do it.

I'm also fitting a completely hidden sound system with radio, USB memory stick mp3 playback and IR remote control. Watch this space!

[GeordieDave]

Here's a few snaps of the speakers I put together. No detailed instructions, but I'll do them if there are any requests...

New cards with spacers to keep the speakers away from the car body.



Padded with wadding to hide the spacers.



The finished product.



An optional red fabric cover to make them less visible.

[jagnut66]

They look good / well made.

[Amorrisman]

Geordiedave yes please, pm sent

[Amorrisman]

Finally made some speaker panels very similar to those of Daves.

Where have people placed their stereo units? I would quite like to put in the passenger side glove box. I took the box out to have a look and I'm not sure how to go about it.

Chris

[GeordieDave]

Chris.... please accept my apologies. I said I would provide more info and I forgot

I hope the pictures I posted were of some help though? I'd be interested to see the final result. I haven't fitted mine yet - parcel shelf and carpets to go in yet.

[Amorrisman]

No worries. Sounds as though your quite busy with yours? Yes they were, I followed pretty much the same steps, they do look great! I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Not sure how to go about the stereo itself though. Had thought of fitting a wooden panel to face it up and supporting the back with a bracket.

[les]

Finally made some speaker panels very similar to those of Daves.

Where have people placed their stereo units? I would quite like to put in the passenger side glove box. I took the box out to have a look and I'm not sure how to go about it.

Chris

Two problems with that idea--(1) you have to reach over to use, and looks like an after thought. (2) you've lost storage space.
I've found the most convenient and discrete place is fitted to the metal under the drivers side glove compartment.

[GeordieDave]

Mine is under the dash, but it isn't a conventional radio - it's a remote control USB mp3 player with radio, no display so it doesn't need to be visible. Certainly isn't 500 Watts though

[frame][/frame]