The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench front speaker box for AD

Maybe this'll be helpful to someone trying to figure out where to place their front speakers. I really didn't want to mount front speakers in the doors, or the kick panels so I decided to build a speaker box and put them in the original location. There's lots of room under the dash of an AD. The dims of the front panel are H = 9", W = 11 1/2", The box is for 2 speakers and is 7 1/2" deep at the bottom, and 5" deep at the top, using a 15 degree angle on the back. I used wood glue and screws to hold it all together and siliconed all the seams on the inside. I used 1/4" weather stripping under the speaker lip.

Here's a few pictures:

all da pieces

assembly

ready to install

all done, for now

I used 3/4" plywood and green paint 'cause that's what I had laying around. The speakers are 5 1/4" Sony 165w. I used 2 lag screws through 2 large existing holes in the bottom lip of the dash to mount the box. They sound great!

Nice job Waldo,I've been toying with that Idea myself,although I'm still a little way from installing the 'sounds' yet!

Street Rodder did a nice install on an AD a few years back with a CD head unit behind the grill and one of the slots opened up for the CDs to be loaded.
The unit was remote controlled.

Waldo,
Nice Job!
One question, usually speaker boxes are closed in the back, it looks like yours is open, is there a reason?
Thanks,
Chris

Chris, the photo you're looking at was before I put the back on. The box is completely enclosed and air-tight.

jockbolter: I mounted the CD head in the seat frame and can control it by reaching down between my knees. A remote control would work great too.

The access plate on the lower door works perfectly for a 4x10 speaker...here's how I mounted mine. The 4x10 bass response is akin to pounding on a quart milk carton with a tablespoon, so I'll be hiding a 10" sub and electronics under the seats.


http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/Finisheddoorspeaker.jpg
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/mountingringback.jpg
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/mountingringfront.jpg

Gibsonflatpicker,
I like the speaker installation, but are you worried about rain or water on the inside of your door(car wash)?
Are you gonna mount a cover of some type to the inside?
Did you mount them in a weatherproof box?
How did you run your wires between the door and the jamb without pinching them?
Sorry for so many questions but that is just the way I want to do it in my '48 and not sure about the wires and the water........
While I'm at it where did you mount your radio?
Thanx for the help and insight!
Mike

Mike -

I'll tell you how to NOT do it ...

Previous owner of my 54 cut a hole for round speakers in each lower door - not the access panel. Then he packed the door with carpet padding for better sound.

You guessed it. Your question about water in the door never crossed his mind. Rust holes on both doors from the wet padding. Plus I have two speaker holes that need patches fabricated. I like the idea of making inserts for the access panel and keeping the original panels to reverse the installation if desired.

- Lonnie

I found a couple of extra door inspection covers to mount the speakers to. If I were to show the truck I’d remove the screws drop the speakers into the door and put the stock covers on.
Here’s where I ran my speaker wires. http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/123235304/large
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/123235305/large

Sony Radio/player is mounted on slide tray under dash and can be pulled out and re-installed in less than a minute.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2899964500098611668HyNhri
This shows the mount.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2539204200098611668OUdLik
This is all that shows when the unit is uninstalled.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2796224290098611668rOYndw


Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Lonnie,
I was afraid someone would do that!
NOT ME......
Thanx for the reminder tho!
Mike

Mr.Denny,
So you just fed your speaker wire thru the inside of your truck to the hinge pockets then taped to the hinges?
It looks like it would do the job w/ no pinch.
What type of WP box or cover did you use for your door speakers? I would like to see those pic!
Thanx,
Mike

Don't know what a "WP" box is Mike. No pinch with them like that.
Don't have any pics right now, of the speakers mounted up, I'll see if I can find them. I've got the whole truck pulled apart right now and I just spent a half hour looking for the speakers, can't find them but if I run across them I'll post it.

Oh, been thinking bout that, you mean Water Proof right??? Nope, nothing fancy, just taped some Visqueen Vapor Barrier above it to deflect any water just like they do in the new cars and trucks.

DG

Mr Denny,
Can't get anything past you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your right but I found a little something better. Have you ever seen a WP Freeze free cover for outside faucets? They are like oval shaped styrofoam cups that fit perfect over the faucet to keep it from freezing. Well my 3" x 5" speakers fit good also and run the wire out the side or back and wala, WP speaker cover and sound insulator in one.You can caulk them or glue them to the door cover and just slide them in or out when you want. They work good on 3 x 5 or smaller speakers.You may have to cut the WP cover down some (depth) to fit all the way but I know you can figure it out.
I would send pics but don't know how, sorry.
HAGD!
Mike

Mike, thanks for the questions. It's a good point, but I don't anticipate that much water in the door cuz I have new window seals. But I may be surprised. It wouldn't be difficult to fab a shield and attach to the trim ring I created, however. And frankly the speakers aren't paper cones. But if push comes to shove, while a brand name speaker, they were only $70 a pair. So I'll replace them if need be. For a clean look, I have a set of jamb connectors (you know, the brass, spring-loaded kind that connect and disconnect when you close/open the door) to connect the speakers and one other electrical device (windows or door locks) down the road. Thanks. Michael.

I really like this idea of putting good quality speakers out of sight in the box behind the dash. I just ordered speakers and going to build one for my '51, thanks for sharing!
Mark