Author Topic: spot for front speakers? (Read 1347 times)

panteramatt · « **on:** May, 20, 2010, 05:24:05 PM »

Where is a good spot for some front speakers in my 69 mach? Theres no grill in the door and I have 2 speakers ni the rear package tray and in the dash. Really want to put some nice 6 1/2" if I can with a small amp under my seat.

daveSanborn · « **Reply #1 on:** May, 21, 2010, 05:04:13 AM »

Your options for front speaker locations are limited to either the kick panels.... not sure if you could fit 6.5" speakers in that location...... or build a custom speaker box that installs under the dash and sits on the transmission tunnel.

I built a box for my '66 that saved me from cutting the dashes radio opening and although not visible in the below photo the sides of the box house 6.5" speakers.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #2 on:** May, 21, 2010, 07:55:38 AM »

These accept 6-1/2" speakers:

Speaker Kick Panels

Horseplay · « **Reply #3 on:** May, 21, 2010, 08:04:37 AM »

I've never personally installed kick panels with built-in speakers but have heard on multiple occasions that some of these panels project the speaker out far enough to cause interference with driver and passenger natural seated leg positions. I favor Dave's solution over the modded kick panels. I would think with creative design and speaker mounting you would get better sound quality as well.

Fast68back · « **Reply #4 on:** May, 21, 2010, 11:21:54 AM »

I searched and searched for a 6.5 that would fit in the kick panel pods without the grill overhanging the pod and looking like Shart. I finally found these Inifinity Kappa speakers

AtlantaSteve · « **Reply #5 on:** May, 21, 2010, 11:55:41 AM »

Rick,

What say you on the two complaints I hear most about those kick-panel pods:
1)Interference with feet and legs
2)Crappy sound due to the poor speaker backing that part of the car provides?

I know for a fact our own beach pony has a set and didn't give them stellar reviews.

Fast68back · « **Reply #6 on:** May, 21, 2010, 12:38:47 PM »

Quote from: AtlantaSteve on May, 21, 2010, 11:55:41 AM

Rick,

What say you on the two complaints I hear most about those kick-panel pods:
1)Interference with feet and legs
2)Crappy sound due to the poor speaker backing that part of the car provides?

I know for a fact our own beach pony has a set and didn't give them stellar reviews.

My car is a stick, Ive never kicked them or recall ever hitting them. As far as sound, they sound pretty decent in the garage or driveway when I'm working on or cleaning the car, stereo is never on when I drive, I prefer the V8 symphony... I would think if the panels had a cover over the back of them, they may sound better.

lethal289 · « **Reply #7 on:** May, 21, 2010, 01:20:04 PM »

I have kicker 6.5's and they sound great.

Not as good as a new car, but they are not amped, and not in a full enclosure either. I put matching kicker 6 x 9's in the package tray, so you can hear it pretty good over my exhaust. The car is an automatic, and i never had a problem with hitting them. I have however, only driven my car about 60 miles to this point.

I really need to take some new pictures while things are cleaned up a bit better.

guruatbol · « **Reply #8 on:** May, 21, 2010, 01:25:42 PM »

My 67 has them in the kick panels, I am on the road and can not take pics. They sound very good. I matched them to some Fosgate 6x9s in the rear. There is no interfierance with seating position. It is a 5 spd car. It seems that th speakers only stick out an inch or so, but not more than two.

Many SFers have seen them and heard them.

I am going to remove the custom crapsound dash unit from it this fall and replace it with one that SWMBO likes. I will have to cut the radio faceplate which is a repro anyway.

Mel

panteramatt · « **Reply #9 on:** May, 21, 2010, 03:19:39 PM »

Guess you guys didnt notice but I havea 69 and none of those kick panels will work. I have found some kick panels that will work but Im thinkin of those undercover II's. Wonder how they sound or if they will fit under my seats?

johnpro · « **Reply #10 on:** May, 21, 2010, 04:33:49 PM »

Quote from: panteramatt on May, 21, 2010, 03:19:39 PM

Guess you guys didnt notice but I havea 69 and none of those kick panels will work. I have found some kick panels that will work but Im thinkin of those undercover II's. Wonder how they sound or if they will fit under my seats?

*LOL* As I read through this post, there really wasn't much pertinent to a '69, was there? I have kick panel speakers in my '69, along with 2 speakers in the dash, and 2 in speaker pods in the crap fiberglass trap door (replacing the trap door will be my next project).

They work great. I got the ones from NPD. The driver's side one is a tad close to the parking brake pedal, but it clears. My car is a 5 speed car, too. I bought the pods without speakers and added some shallow speakers that I already had in the garage that used to be in my son's '65.

panteramatt · « **Reply #11 on:** May, 21, 2010, 04:38:42 PM »

Im really wonderin if those undercover II will fit under the seats. I think soem 8's will give me some really good midrange Im looking fro without putting a small sub in the trunk.Price is cheap too.

Ashley · « **Reply #12 on:** June, 22, 2010, 04:57:13 AM »

It may not be to everyones liking but, when I had bodywork done to my 65 I had speaker recesses built into the body. The six inch enclosures extend out behind the fenders.

I have not done any more work yet but the plan is to mount them here and make a custom kick panel.

Inside view

Outside view

70_Fastback · « **Reply #13 on:** June, 22, 2010, 05:32:56 AM »

Quote from: Ashley on June, 22, 2010, 04:57:13 AM

It may not be to everyones liking but, when I had bodywork done to my 65 I had speaker recesses built into the body. The six inch enclosures extend out behind the fenders.

I have not done any more work yet but the plan is to mount them here and make a custom kick panel.

Inside view

Outside view

I've seen those pictures before...

panteramatt · « **Reply #14 on:** June, 22, 2010, 05:57:17 AM »

thats a great idea and actually shoulda been done from the factory.

blue65coupe · « **Reply #15 on:** June, 22, 2010, 06:15:12 AM »

Hey Ashley, is this how your's was done?

Ashley · « **Reply #16 on:** June, 22, 2010, 06:43:26 PM »

blue65coupe - By looking at the photo you posted, I would say they are done the same way. I simply had a hole cut out and the recess welded in.

70_Fastback - I don't mean to be rude but I doubt you have seen those pics before as I only only uploaded them to the web last night. Maybe you saw it on a similar car.

I first saw the idea in the Ring Brothers' build book for "Reactor".

Ash

70_Fastback · « **Reply #17 on:** June, 22, 2010, 06:46:14 PM »

No rudeness at all. The above pic, posted by Duane, was the one that I was actually thinking off. The two cars could almost be twins!

Ashley · « **Reply #18 on:** June, 22, 2010, 10:07:40 PM »

I did have to take a second look when I first saw his post. Thankfully mine did not require the amount of sheetmetal replacement that his has.

Ash

John Del · « **Reply #19 on:** June, 23, 2010, 03:40:04 AM »

Great idea to fabricate\recess the speaker enclosures to the fender well. I'm going to look into this. I believe building a larger box (like a shoebox size) that extends farther up beyond the actual speaker opening would improve the sound by adding more enclosure area to better match the speaker's resonance.

John

buening · « **Reply #20 on:** June, 23, 2010, 09:01:54 AM »

To do that on a 69/70 would be more challenging, as our cowls go down the sides of the firewall. We would essentially be putting these speaker enclosures in the cowl area.