Speaker Recommendations??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Speaker Recommendations??
Has anyone replaced the stock kick panel speakers (4 x 10) in a C-3 with something that fits right in but sounds better?
Application is for a 68 coupe and I cannot make any alterations or do any chopping.
Thanks for any suggestions
Kurt
Application is for a 68 coupe and I cannot make any alterations or do any chopping.
Thanks for any suggestions
Kurt
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
You could measure the opening in the sheet metal for magnet size but thats the whole problem. Any decent speaker is going to have a larger magnet and then it won't fit. The magnet fits into the chassis sheet metal. Unless you bend it out. 
a lbetter speaker won't fit.
Put a pair under the dash pointing down. Or both on the passengers dash space.
Place a pair back to back in the gap at the front of the console. These last two although not great should sound much better than something shoehorned in the tiny space for the 4x10.
Even if you don't get good stereo seperation or soundstaging its got to be better than the stock speakers. You can even try it out with some tape if you got any spare speakers.
a lbetter speaker won't fit.Put a pair under the dash pointing down. Or both on the passengers dash space.
Place a pair back to back in the gap at the front of the console. These last two although not great should sound much better than something shoehorned in the tiny space for the 4x10.
Even if you don't get good stereo seperation or soundstaging its got to be better than the stock speakers. You can even try it out with some tape if you got any spare speakers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Techno,
Thanks for the reply. I am limited to using the existing kick panel space as I do not wan to cut holes in the dash or anywhere else on the interior. I have owned this 68 Corvette since 1972 and just spent over $30K to restore it to factory original condition. It only has 46,000 miles on it so I am against altering it and want to keep it stock in appearance. I just saw some Pioner TSA speakers on line that were 4 x 10 in dimension and wonder if they might give better sound than what GM supplied. I'm sure the GM speakers are pretty cheap as they weren't putting in high end stuff back in 68, not like today's Bose systems anyway.
Kurt
Thanks for the reply. I am limited to using the existing kick panel space as I do not wan to cut holes in the dash or anywhere else on the interior. I have owned this 68 Corvette since 1972 and just spent over $30K to restore it to factory original condition. It only has 46,000 miles on it so I am against altering it and want to keep it stock in appearance. I just saw some Pioner TSA speakers on line that were 4 x 10 in dimension and wonder if they might give better sound than what GM supplied. I'm sure the GM speakers are pretty cheap as they weren't putting in high end stuff back in 68, not like today's Bose systems anyway.
Kurt
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
I figured no surgery. I meant place speakers under the dash panel, not in them 
Same for the tranny hump. There isn't even a console towards the front. Just a gap.
No cut or injure locations.
Another alternative that might be the best is stick a boom box in the back. Thats what I'm doing on my boat, only the boom box is being built from old car stereo stuff I'm not using anymore. You get good sound and no cutting plus tunes to carry.
BTW how much was your 4 year old used car?
Same for the tranny hump. There isn't even a console towards the front. Just a gap.No cut or injure locations.
Another alternative that might be the best is stick a boom box in the back. Thats what I'm doing on my boat, only the boom box is being built from old car stereo stuff I'm not using anymore. You get good sound and no cutting plus tunes to carry.
BTW how much was your 4 year old used car?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
I paid 2900 for it in 1972 but my buddy wouldn't sell it to me until I built a garage onto my house whihc then cost me $10,000 for the garage. Now you see how attached I am to this car. I will not sell it and my 28 year old son is looking forward to inheriting it some day. Crazy isn't it?
I will do the portable boom box thing in the rear, just need to leave some space for the t-tops when I am on the road and want to pull one off to enjoy some sun. This resto has taken me 10 long years, started in August 14, 1995. Anxious to drive it again before I die.
Kurt
I will do the portable boom box thing in the rear, just need to leave some space for the t-tops when I am on the road and want to pull one off to enjoy some sun. This resto has taken me 10 long years, started in August 14, 1995. Anxious to drive it again before I die.
Kurt
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Lightweight Kenwood Dualmag Components 5.25 can be fitted in kick panels w/o cutting. There is not enough space to optimize even 5.25.
(4X6 easily fit) A plate will be needed to separate the front sound waves from the back. Tweeters should be aimed up towards center.
(4X6 easily fit) A plate will be needed to separate the front sound waves from the back. Tweeters should be aimed up towards center.
Last edited by Ganey; Sep 12, 2005 at 07:23 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 1
From: Sydney
OK...this might be a stupid question...
in 68 did they have speakers in the Kick panels?
I thought the speaker(s) are in the dash?
Ive got speakers cut into my original kick panels....with the speakers (pioneer) on the outside of the kick panels.
This is not right is it?
in 68 did they have speakers in the Kick panels?
I thought the speaker(s) are in the dash?
Ive got speakers cut into my original kick panels....with the speakers (pioneer) on the outside of the kick panels.
This is not right is it?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
cosmicvette
In the beginning 68 there was a place in the kick panels for 4X10. Later more metal was added & 4X6 would fit in the kicks & dash cutouts were added for 4X6. The speakers would be behind the grilles.
The issue is space & by mounting your speakers on the outside of the kick panels, that increased space behind the speakers. If the panel is reinforced & solidly mounted it would work well. The disadvantage would be that the speakers would be visible- though it could look good.
I just recently got around to front speakers & did some experiments. Disconnected the dash speakers in the 70s.
Comp 5.25 work very well w/ the tweeters angled up w/ the dash grilles open. While one would normally want the tweeters near the primary front speakers, tests showed the dash speaker location can work very well for tweeters.
In the beginning 68 there was a place in the kick panels for 4X10. Later more metal was added & 4X6 would fit in the kicks & dash cutouts were added for 4X6. The speakers would be behind the grilles.
The issue is space & by mounting your speakers on the outside of the kick panels, that increased space behind the speakers. If the panel is reinforced & solidly mounted it would work well. The disadvantage would be that the speakers would be visible- though it could look good.
I just recently got around to front speakers & did some experiments. Disconnected the dash speakers in the 70s.
Comp 5.25 work very well w/ the tweeters angled up w/ the dash grilles open. While one would normally want the tweeters near the primary front speakers, tests showed the dash speaker location can work very well for tweeters.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Here's what I did. I put 5 1/4 speakers in the kicks mounted on baffles and backed by weatherproof pods. The birdcage required some slide trimming with a die grinder but depending on the speaker you may or may not have to do this. Here's a few pics.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Using a Pioneer Supertuner KE-A430 that fits in the factory opening with no modification so I can put the stock radio back in if I should ever want to. You are correct about the factory speakers being 10 ohm but boy do they sound lousy and they were just purchased new so I know they are not torn or damaged. Just not very good quality I guess.
