dash speaker replacment
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach CA
dash speaker replacment
I used the search feature but really couldn't find a post about replacing the dash speakers. Can anyone tell me how to get to the dash speakers in my 73?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Right side: Remove right side door sill plate; remove right side kickpanel; remove right side dash panel; remove speaker wire connector; remove nuts on speaker carrier to upper dash pad; remove speaker.
Left side: Grit teeth; lower the steering wheel column by loosening or removing bracket bolts; remove upper dash pad bracket screw behind the right side dash panel; remove upper screws from left side dash panel to upper dash pad; pull on upper dash pad to pull slip-clamps off of bulkhead rail; raise upper pad just enough to get one hand in there, with a small socket wrench of the correct size to remove the speaker carrier nuts; remove nuts; cuss when you drop one; continue to remove all four nuts; remove speaker w/wires attached...remove wires.
Good luck! (P.S. I don't recommend the "remove upper dash pad" method with a 35+ year-old dash. It's very likely that the old, brittle dash pad will crack of completely break into pieces, unless you are very good or very lucky.
Left side: Grit teeth; lower the steering wheel column by loosening or removing bracket bolts; remove upper dash pad bracket screw behind the right side dash panel; remove upper screws from left side dash panel to upper dash pad; pull on upper dash pad to pull slip-clamps off of bulkhead rail; raise upper pad just enough to get one hand in there, with a small socket wrench of the correct size to remove the speaker carrier nuts; remove nuts; cuss when you drop one; continue to remove all four nuts; remove speaker w/wires attached...remove wires.
Good luck! (P.S. I don't recommend the "remove upper dash pad" method with a 35+ year-old dash. It's very likely that the old, brittle dash pad will crack of completely break into pieces, unless you are very good or very lucky.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach CA
Thanks 7T1vette,
I've read all the posts about the putting the speakers in the kick panels but I think I want to keep them in the dash.
Great step by step, I have my weekend project.
I've read all the posts about the putting the speakers in the kick panels but I think I want to keep them in the dash.
Great step by step, I have my weekend project.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
As a follow-up: I replaced the dash speaker and also put [larger] speakers in the kickpanels. It really enhanced the sound of the system. The lower speakers take care of the bass and mid-range sound; the upper speakers reflect upper/mid frequencies and hi frequencies off the windshield directly towards you; exactly what you want in a hi-fi type system. Since I couldn't find 8 ohm speakers [to match the 10 ohm radio output impedence], I wired the 4 ohm speakers (2 speakers on each 'side' of the system for my stereo AM/FM) in "series" so as to achieve an 8 ohm total impedence match. That amount of impedence mismatch was not a problem. But, if you replace one 10 ohm speaker with a 4 ohm unit, you will probably burn up the radio's amplifier if you turn the volume up high. Impedence matching is an important issue.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 809
Likes: 8
From: brewster NY
remove right side sill plate then kick panel then right side dash map pocket then both pillar post and the dash comes out nice and easy.
A lot of screws I like to put them back where they go so that I don't loose track.
This is all so a good time to inspect your windshield frame.
A lot of screws I like to put them back where they go so that I don't loose track.
This is all so a good time to inspect your windshield frame.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: Lapeer MI
The 75's have a speaker mounting bracket which attaches the speaker with 4 screws to the dash (with 3 screws). I assume this is the same for the 73. Make sure not to lose these or you will have to fabricate your own as I have not found a vendor for them.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
And I was lucky and did not make the $400.00 mistake described by 7T1vette. But I took it slow and easy.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach CA
hey Paul 74,
Are those the original speakers in the photo or the ones you added? I looked up under the passenger side with a flashlight and noticed mine are Pioneer too.
The car has an upgraded radio where I was able to add an IPOD auxiliary; it also came with a 200 amp. I'm thinking this upgrade may have been done anywhere from 5 to 10 years ago. It also has Jenson 6x9's in the back.
Jesse
Are those the original speakers in the photo or the ones you added? I looked up under the passenger side with a flashlight and noticed mine are Pioneer too.
The car has an upgraded radio where I was able to add an IPOD auxiliary; it also came with a 200 amp. I'm thinking this upgrade may have been done anywhere from 5 to 10 years ago. It also has Jenson 6x9's in the back.
Jesse
Last edited by warrior 1; May 28, 2010 at 09:06 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Those speakers [including the dash speakers] have to be upgraded units. I would leave the dash speakers "as is". Any decent quality 4x6 speaker will do a good job with mid/range & high frequencies. Pioneer was not a supplier to GM in the 1970's. I would also suggest to you that all of your speakers are likely 4 ohm speakers...as nearly all auto sound system speakers are rated at 4 ohms. You just need to know that for 'reference' when you decide on a head unit/amp that needs to match up to them.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach CA
Those speakers [including the dash speakers] have to be upgraded units. I would leave the dash speakers "as is". Any decent quality 4x6 speaker will do a good job with mid/range & high frequencies. Pioneer was not a supplier to GM in the 1970's. I would also suggest to you that all of your speakers are likely 4 ohm speakers...as nearly all auto sound system speakers are rated at 4 ohms. You just need to know that for 'reference' when you decide on a head unit/amp that needs to match up to them.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
ive said this several times now, but 4x6s will fit inside the birdcage holes for the kick panels. very very tight fight, but it will fit. i didnt have to cut my kick panels up at all. otherwise ya, youll have to cut them up.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
hey Paul 74,
Are those the original speakers in the photo or the ones you added? I looked up under the passenger side with a flashlight and noticed mine are Pioneer too.
The car has an upgraded radio where I was able to add an IPOD auxiliary; it also came with a 200 amp. I'm thinking this upgrade may have been done anywhere from 5 to 10 years ago. It also has Jenson 6x9's in the back.
Jesse
Are those the original speakers in the photo or the ones you added? I looked up under the passenger side with a flashlight and noticed mine are Pioneer too.
The car has an upgraded radio where I was able to add an IPOD auxiliary; it also came with a 200 amp. I'm thinking this upgrade may have been done anywhere from 5 to 10 years ago. It also has Jenson 6x9's in the back.
Jesse
Last edited by Paul L; May 29, 2010 at 07:06 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Last edited by Paul L; May 29, 2010 at 07:20 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 205
From: Lewes Delaware
Right side: Remove right side door sill plate; remove right side kickpanel; remove right side dash panel; remove speaker wire connector; remove nuts on speaker carrier to upper dash pad; remove speaker.
Left side: Grit teeth; lower the steering wheel column by loosening or removing bracket bolts; remove upper dash pad bracket screw behind the right side dash panel; remove upper screws from left side dash panel to upper dash pad; pull on upper dash pad to pull slip-clamps off of bulkhead rail; raise upper pad just enough to get one hand in there, with a small socket wrench of the correct size to remove the speaker carrier nuts; remove nuts; cuss when you drop one; continue to remove all four nuts; remove speaker w/wires attached...remove wires.
Good luck! (P.S. I don't recommend the "remove upper dash pad" method with a 35+ year-old dash. It's very likely that the old, brittle dash pad will crack of completely break into pieces, unless you are very good or very lucky.
Left side: Grit teeth; lower the steering wheel column by loosening or removing bracket bolts; remove upper dash pad bracket screw behind the right side dash panel; remove upper screws from left side dash panel to upper dash pad; pull on upper dash pad to pull slip-clamps off of bulkhead rail; raise upper pad just enough to get one hand in there, with a small socket wrench of the correct size to remove the speaker carrier nuts; remove nuts; cuss when you drop one; continue to remove all four nuts; remove speaker w/wires attached...remove wires.
Good luck! (P.S. I don't recommend the "remove upper dash pad" method with a 35+ year-old dash. It's very likely that the old, brittle dash pad will crack of completely break into pieces, unless you are very good or very lucky.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
For the kickpanel speakers, you can install 4x6, 5-1/4 round, 4x10 oval or 5x7 oval (if you position it right). You can screw the speaker frame directly to the bulkhead metal, if you want, and just put the kickpanel back over it [rather than mount it to the kickpanel...which I think is a little 'flimsy' for a speaker mount]. It is a good idea to put some sound deadener material behind the speaker so that it doesn't set up resonances in the metal structure; styrofoam, 'eggcrate' foam, or fiberglass batting will do the job fine. For any of the above options, you just need to know the dimensions of the metal framework that the speaker will fit into and the available depth of the speaker thickness to set into before you go choosing your speakers.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach CA
I ended up putting some Infinity' in the kick panels,they sound pretty good. They are not a true 4x6 oval, they have a 4inch round and a separate twitter in the 4x6 frame. I hooked up the new kick speakers and the rear 6x9's to the amp. I hooked the dash straight to the radio; I can fade the dash speakers out if I want. I think I'll take the kick panels off in the next couple of days and take the advice on putting some damping material in there; we'll see.
The speaker store tried to sell me a bigger amp, but for my needs the 200 was good enough.
Thanks, for all the responses, they were a big help.
The speaker store tried to sell me a bigger amp, but for my needs the 200 was good enough.
Thanks, for all the responses, they were a big help.
Last edited by warrior 1; May 29, 2010 at 11:54 PM.
