Center dash speaker with AC

[JohnC]

What are you guys using? Mines a 67 but I suspect all years have space limitations under the speaker grill especially with AC.

My plan had been to do the same as the Cheyenne where I mounted (2) 4 inch Rockford Fosgate speakers on a board but I’m really not sure they’d fit in the Malibu and I don’t want to buy the speakers and realize they hit the AC vent.
The 2 speaker setups I’ve seen are all 3.5 in.

The other option is the 4x10 or 6x9 style speakers but with two tweeters. The magnet is more centrally located so I think those would be an easier fit but I’m a little hesitant because of lack of brand recognition. I’d have more confidence in a JBL speaker than I would in a “Retro manufacturing” speaker. They may be great speakers but I just done know.

Anyone use the 4x10 with 2 tweeters?

 

[Nashville Cat]

Crutchfield has several 4X10 speakers :

https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/4x10_speakers.html

 

[JohnC]

Yeah I think Retrosound makes most of the dual voice coil 4x10s. I think Kenwood has one offering too.
I’m just was sure if Restrosound makes good speakers or not, but considering the lack option options I’ll probably go with it. The fact that it’s a 4x10 instead of (2) 4 inch or 3.5 inch speakers makes me hope there will be a bit more low end to them.

Also want to figure out if I want to do kick panel speakers.

 

[cheveslakr]

Don't fool yourself, the 4x10s just don't give big sound. What do you have for a deck?

 

[Shovelrick]

I put kick panel speakers in but had to use extension rings, 5.25" or 5.5" Rockford Fosgate speakers are fairly thick so either buy a kit that's already fitted with speakers for correct depth or measure, I also removed the E brake pedal because it hit the speaker but it could be relocated, if you're really looking for higher quality sound I'd go kick panel speakers before a front dash speaker

 

[JohnC]

Unfortunately sounds like the 4x10 options are out. I’m pretty sure all of those are only specified as being for non AC cars.

I’ll post a pic later but dropping a plastic knife down through the speaker grill I was disheartened to see how little room there is before you hit the AC duct. I know my old Ken Harrison 3.5 in speaker set up fit and those are like 1.5 inches from the top surface of the mounting board to the bottom of the speaker magnet. I think 1.5 inches is about the limit plus or minus a couple mm.

I’d like kick panel speakers but don’t want to mess with the parking brake so maybe that’s a “no go” too.

 

[kmakar]

Unfortunately sounds like the 4x10 options are out. I’m pretty sure all of those are only specified as being for non AC cars.

I’ll post a pic later but dropping a plastic knife down through the speaker grill I was disheartened to see how little room there is before you hit the AC duct. I know my old Ken Harrison 3.5 in speaker set up fit and those are like 1.5 inches from the top surface of the mounting board to the bottom of the speaker magnet. I think 1.5 inches is about the limit plus or minus a couple mm.

I’d like kick panel speakers but don’t want to mess with the parking brake so maybe that’s a “no go” too.

I have kick panel speakers and the emergency brake pedal fits just fine. Can't remember where I got them though, been a long time. They came in black ABS.

 

[SSuperDave]

I'm a big fan of Kicker speakers, I have them in the stock 4x6 stereo kick panels in my '68 Caprice, and along with their big 6x9's in the rear deck, my aftermarked stereo sounds great.

 

[JohnC]

Something ain’t right here. Using a butter knife as a depth gauge, I have barely 1 inch of space before the knife hits the two runners for the AC vent. There’s a lot of room in the middle but the two speaker setups that are supposed to fit the AC cars need at least 1.5 inches and it appears that the speakers would sit over the two runners of the duct.


The lower end of that tape line is 1.5 inches from the tip.



Here’s the underside view of the AC duct showing that it’s sitting down where it’s supposed to be

 

[JohnC]

I have no idea why, but there just doesn’t seem to be enough room for even my old speaker set up under the dash. Hits the duct for the AC vent. Decided I’m going to modify the duct because I’m ain’t going without a dash speaker.

New speakers came in. New vs old. Surprisingly the new ones aren’t much taller than the old ones except for the tweeter but since the speakers were under mounted the tweeter won’t add much to the height.

 

[kmakar]

I had the same problem in the 68 GTO clone which is why I went with the kick panel speakers.

 

[JohnC]

I might do kick panel speakers but I don’t want it to interfere with the parking brake. I know you said yours doesn’t interfere but I see lot say it does. I also don’t like the look of the big bulge into the foot well area. I’d be more than willing to sacrifice decibels and put in a smaller 4 inch speaker to be less obtrusive. There is a bit of a recess on each side that would allow you to put a speaker there and not have it stick out as far. Probably an inch or so. Wonder if a spacer ring could be used to mount a little speaker there and not have it stick out as far as the available kick panel speaker set

 

[JohnC]

I forgot to post the best part of my Amazon speaker purchase…. The delivery

 

[cheveslakr]

Did the little pink convertible scare them?

 

[JohnC]

I think it was the 20 foot walk that scared them.

 

[kmakar]

Lazy assholes.

 

[JohnC]

Well, finally finished. Took days to complete.

I found absolute no way at all to put even the thinnest 3.5 in speakers under the dash because the speakers hangs down and hits the two runners of the AC duct that goes to the vent dash vent. About 1/2 inch of clearance was required so I used a rotary tool to notch the runners.


To cover the opening, I went to a local plastic store and discussed with the experts who recommended ABS. Using tape I made a pattern and cut out the ABS with tin snips.

The ABS was bent after heating with a heat gun so that it confirmed the the shape I needed.
After fine tuning with a rotary tool. I glued the patches in place using 2 part plastic epoxy. Because this is polypropylene, nothing sticks to it great. This epoxy sticks but if you pry up an edge, you can peel it off. So the plastic store guys recommended using strips of fiberglass cloth and wrapping all the way around. It aint pretty.


Here’s a side view showing that the top of the runners have been notched. Theoretically it might be a bit noisier since the runners are smaller now but I doubt it’ll be too noticeable.

 

[JohnC]

Speakers were mounted in a piece of old cheap flooring that looks like mdf. Made a bracket to attach to the car.

 

[JohnC]

Although I kinda measured for clearance when I notched the runners, I knew it was going to be tight fit. With much fiddling and hand wringing, I was able to get it to fit but it’s super tight. Not ideal because everything touches. Hope that doesn’t affect sound.


The AC duct had to be rocked down (toward the front of the car) to create the extra millimeter or so to get things to fit. So you can see that the vent doesn’t fit square in the hole. But it’s not too noticeable.



I covered the speaker in cloth to help protect the speaker from collecting dust. Joann Fabric didn’t have speaker cloth in stock so I used Lycra. I’ll use whatever is left to make myself some short shorts.


Finished product.