Kick Panel Speakers-What Works?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Kick Panel Speakers-What Works?
I'm trying to put some speakers in the kick panels in my 75. There is a hole about 4" wide by 5 1/2" high by 2 3/4" deep. What's my best bet here without cutting things up?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
OK. The 4X6 would be the factory size speaker which could be mounted behind the kick panel in the body hole. I'm guessing though that the 5.25 would give better sound? It looks like the 5.25 needs to be mounted on the outside of the kick panel with it's own grill. Is there sufficient clearance in the 4" X 5 1/2" hole for the rear of the speaker to fit without modification to the body hole?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
In some cases you can squeeze a 5 1/4" or 6 1/2" speaker in there if you add a 1/4" thick baffle behind the kickpanel.
The bigger the speaker the more midbass and lower midrange you will have from that location which = better sound.
I also know that you can use some shallow mount speakers that will fit behind the kickpanels as long as the tweeter doesn't stick out too much (won't have to worry about that with components). I have a pair of kenwood excelon 6 1/2" speakers that fit in that metal opening just fine. You'll need to redrill the mounting holes and cover any gaps to eliminate cancellation.
Mine are just like these component versions but bi-ampable coaxials instead, the back of them and the magnet structure are exactly the same. So you can see why they would fit in a 4 x 6 location pretty easy.
Even though I can mount my speakers behind the panel I chose to modify my stock kickpanels to mount them on the outside. I will eventually smooth that out and cover with matching black vinyl.
The bigger the speaker the more midbass and lower midrange you will have from that location which = better sound.
I also know that you can use some shallow mount speakers that will fit behind the kickpanels as long as the tweeter doesn't stick out too much (won't have to worry about that with components). I have a pair of kenwood excelon 6 1/2" speakers that fit in that metal opening just fine. You'll need to redrill the mounting holes and cover any gaps to eliminate cancellation.
Mine are just like these component versions but bi-ampable coaxials instead, the back of them and the magnet structure are exactly the same. So you can see why they would fit in a 4 x 6 location pretty easy.
Even though I can mount my speakers behind the panel I chose to modify my stock kickpanels to mount them on the outside. I will eventually smooth that out and cover with matching black vinyl.
Last edited by 1982CorvetteDude; Apr 29, 2006 at 11:45 AM.
"Rodstoration &am p;quot; In Progres
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Originally Posted by mr mctavish
5 1/4 round
What is the diameter of the magnet on the back? It's not the size of the speaker that counts...well...it does on the front.. it's the magnet on the back that needs to fit in the body mount space. As you can see...mine didn't go to well...sounds great with the component speakers... But I really like the way your's looks! Nice job!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
80TexasC3, was the hole in the body too small to fit the magnet and rear part of your speaker into?
Does anyone know if the body holes and/or kick panels are different from a 75 to an 80s model C3 like you guys have?
Those are some nice installations of the 5.25" speakers.
Does anyone know if the body holes and/or kick panels are different from a 75 to an 80s model C3 like you guys have?
Those are some nice installations of the 5.25" speakers.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
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From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
I bought a set of used kick panels on ebay for $15. I cut a ring out of wood the size of my speaker. I cut a hole in the kick panel the size of the hole in the ring. Then I carpeted both and nailed the ring to the kick from the backside. I was able to mount a Polk 6.5" speaker there with no trouble at all.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
I'll go take some pics later tonight after the kids are in bed. It actually works out quite well for pedal clearance. They just doesn't look as good as your preformed panels.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Speakers
I put a set of 4x6 mid-range/tweeters in the dash panel and a set of 4x6 mid-range/woofers in the kick panels of my '71 (without modifying any original parts). Since the radio has a 10 ohm output impedance (I assume yours does too (?), you will need to wire the 4 ohm speakers on each side in series (not in parallel). That way you end up with 8 ohms per side...a pretty good match. The sound is pretty decent, for a "stock" radio set-up. You will need to rotate the kick panel speakers a bit to find metal to drill for the mounting screws, but that's not a problem.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Birnamwood Wisconsin
Originally Posted by lobo2001
I just got my Pioneer going with cassette,6disc cd, 600 watts amp and remote control and I did not have to modify anything. Looks great and sounds awsome with the infinity speakers. Happy listening
Do you have any pics of this setup, i'm trying to figure out somehting without hacking up the dash, and i def. love my music, so the OEM radio is going to cut it. I bought it without a radio as well....