1970 Driverside dash speaker replacement
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Oshawa Ontario
1970 Driverside dash speaker replacement
Looking for help to replace driver dash speaker. Service manual has steering column drop and removing tach and speedo cables. Any advise experience would help
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,302
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 70,
I recently replaced that speaker and did drop the column and take all the screws out of the driver's pad ( 2 left, 3 top, 2 side) so I could drop it a couple of inches.
It's quite a bit of work for a job that only takes a couple of minutes once you can get to it.
I do caution you to be very careful working around all those tiny speaker holes in the top dash pad. If it's the original pad it's probably pretty brittle and easy to puncture.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I recently replaced that speaker and did drop the column and take all the screws out of the driver's pad ( 2 left, 3 top, 2 side) so I could drop it a couple of inches.
It's quite a bit of work for a job that only takes a couple of minutes once you can get to it.
I do caution you to be very careful working around all those tiny speaker holes in the top dash pad. If it's the original pad it's probably pretty brittle and easy to puncture.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 809
Likes: 8
From: brewster NY
That seems like a lot of work to change a speaker I might be wrong but when I change my speaker I removed the dash. Started by removing passenger sill plate, then passenger kick pannel, then Map pocket dash,
then passenger post moulding then all the screws connecting the dash
and the dash slides right out. Okay a lot of screws have to come out BUT
there all easy to get at. But if removing the Tac is easer let me know.
then passenger post moulding then all the screws connecting the dash
and the dash slides right out. Okay a lot of screws have to come out BUT
there all easy to get at. But if removing the Tac is easer let me know.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
I have replaced both speakers in my 81, and really didn't have any problems. I did not drop the steering column, I used a small 45 degree wrench and was able to removed both speakers from the top.
Tim
Tim
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,302
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi TJ,
Your method makes good sense.
On my 71 the only way I can get the upper dash pad out (even with both A-Pillar trim pieces off) is by pushing up on the middle of it and kinda 'wedging' it out. This 'pushing' makes me nervous since the pad is pretty brittle after all these years. AND the new ones are $$$.
Regards,
Alan
Your method makes good sense.
On my 71 the only way I can get the upper dash pad out (even with both A-Pillar trim pieces off) is by pushing up on the middle of it and kinda 'wedging' it out. This 'pushing' makes me nervous since the pad is pretty brittle after all these years. AND the new ones are $$$.
Regards,
Alan
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Hi TJ,
Your method makes good sense.
On my 71 the only way I can get the upper dash pad out (even with both A-Pillar trim pieces off) is by pushing up on the middle of it and kinda 'wedging' it out. This 'pushing' makes me nervous since the pad is pretty brittle after all these years. AND the new ones are $$$.
Regards,
Alan
Your method makes good sense.
On my 71 the only way I can get the upper dash pad out (even with both A-Pillar trim pieces off) is by pushing up on the middle of it and kinda 'wedging' it out. This 'pushing' makes me nervous since the pad is pretty brittle after all these years. AND the new ones are $$$.
Regards,
Alan
Putting it back requires some care not to knock the headlight switch wiring harness off like I did the last time. Took care of that by putting a long cable tie around it to keep it in place.
cc
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Before you go to the trouble of lifting or removing the dash pad, you might do a "test" to find out if your problem is really with the speaker [or not]. The wires going to the driver's side speaker are a Green & Black set which you can find under the driver's dash area. You can 'tap' into them with a couple of splice connectors and hook-in another speaker (use a low volume level so the speaker impedence change won't do any harm to the radio amp). If you get any sound out of that 'slave' speaker, either your dash speaker is bad or the wiring is disconnected before or at the speaker. If you don't get any sound from the 'slave', either the wiring is disconnected before your connections or the radio amp/left-channel has failed [assuming that you have a stereo unit]. If you have a mono radio, then it has to be the left dash speaker or a speaker wiring problem, as both speakers are fed by the same signal.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Oshawa Ontario
Thanks guys: Yes I have confirmed my left radio signal is good. I plugged the left channel wires into the right speaker and works fine. I had previously replaced my heater core and while doing so I checked the radio left and right signals. While the right side and center panels were out you can see the drivers side speaker but access to these nuts is impossible. As far as dash pad removal, it is not required on 70. The speaker mounting nuts are on the underside of the steel dash pad plate which is a affixed to the car not the pad.
Lowering the column to remove the speedo/tach cluster seems to be the only way. I had started this project but stopped for advise. I had lowered the column and it would only drop a few inches. At this point the gauge cluster would move around but did not seem to be enough for complete removal. Access to the cables behind for disconnection seemed impossible so i did not proceed. It may be easier if I remove right and centre panels first, then proceed with left panel. That way I can reach behind and disconnect tach/speedo cable easier. Thoughts???????????????
Lowering the column to remove the speedo/tach cluster seems to be the only way. I had started this project but stopped for advise. I had lowered the column and it would only drop a few inches. At this point the gauge cluster would move around but did not seem to be enough for complete removal. Access to the cables behind for disconnection seemed impossible so i did not proceed. It may be easier if I remove right and centre panels first, then proceed with left panel. That way I can reach behind and disconnect tach/speedo cable easier. Thoughts???????????????
