68 / 69 Front Speakers
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
68 / 69 Front Speakers
Within the next 48 hours I'm going out to Best Buy for a new pair of front speakers.
In 68 and 69 they go in the kick panels. What size do I need?
The factory ones are long and skinny - but it looks like at least a 4x6 will fit in there - right?
For extra credit - where can one buy the (4) colored speaker wire pairs used today?
(wht,grey,vio, green)
-W
In 68 and 69 they go in the kick panels. What size do I need?
The factory ones are long and skinny - but it looks like at least a 4x6 will fit in there - right?
For extra credit - where can one buy the (4) colored speaker wire pairs used today?
(wht,grey,vio, green)
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; Oct 22, 2010 at 11:18 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
From: Taunton Ma
Mike is correct they are 4X10. If you have the stock radio you will need the correct impeadence speakers for the radio. Do a quick search on old postings and you will find what the impeadence you need. Or buy a pair of reproduction speakers from one of the Corvette suppliers and they will fit without any modifications. I'ts probably one thing that you will buy that is fairly inexpensive.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Not the stock radio. I got a new small gauge panel to take a DIN radio.
I have a Pioneer unit headed in there.
So for my needs it looks like a decent set of 4x6 at BB, and I guess I have to make some ears.
If anyone has a pic of stock 68 / 69 speaker mounting - I can take it from there with a set of 4x6 over the counter.
-W
I have a Pioneer unit headed in there.
So for my needs it looks like a decent set of 4x6 at BB, and I guess I have to make some ears.
If anyone has a pic of stock 68 / 69 speaker mounting - I can take it from there with a set of 4x6 over the counter.
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; Oct 22, 2010 at 12:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
There's been tons of threads covering speaker installations. Many opt for round 6.5 for the kick panels. Buy a set of repros or used on fleabay to cut the hole for the speakers to mount. You may need to cut away a slight amount of the front hinge pillar on the bird cage to fit the magnet. Do some searches before you commit.
Glenn
Glenn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Within the next 48 hours I'm going out to Best Buy for a new pair of front speakers.
In 68 and 69 they go in the kick panels. What size do I need?
The factory ones are long and skinny - but it looks like at least a 4x6 will fit in there - right?
For extra credit - where can one buy the (4) colored speaker wire pairs used today?
(wht,grey,vio, green) -W
In 68 and 69 they go in the kick panels. What size do I need?
The factory ones are long and skinny - but it looks like at least a 4x6 will fit in there - right?
For extra credit - where can one buy the (4) colored speaker wire pairs used today?
(wht,grey,vio, green) -W
...........I could'nt resist ......... !!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
There's been tons of threads covering speaker installations. Many opt for round 6.5 for the kick panels. Buy a set of repros or used on fleabay to cut the hole for the speakers to mount. You may need to cut away a slight amount of the front hinge pillar on the bird cage to fit the magnet. Do some searches before you commit.
Glenn
Glenn
I tried the search - but everything BUT 68/69 presented.
-W
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Le Mans Master
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From: Peekskill NY
Le Mans Master
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Kick panels are getting expensive and a pair of original 68 panels in good shape are rare. You may want to think twice before cutting original kick panels to mount speakers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
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From: Anderson SC
AIM shows the speaker mounting in the radio/stereo options section, and the attachment ears. All they do is keep the speaker upright and against the door hinge post and probably serve as a ground. The entire set up mounts behind the stock kick panel.
Kick panels are getting expensive and a pair of original 68 panels in good shape are rare. You may want to think twice before cutting original kick panels to mount speakers.
Kick panels are getting expensive and a pair of original 68 panels in good shape are rare. You may want to think twice before cutting original kick panels to mount speakers.
And yes.. I made it clear that a kick panel cut was not going to happen - for space reasons. My kick panels are so so anyway.
-W
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
If you are still using the Delco radio head unit, your problem will be finding speakers of the correct impedence [ohms]. The factory speakers are 10 ohm units; almost all car radio speakers today are 4 ohm speakers. If you put 4 ohm replacements in and you turn the volume up, you will fry the output amplifier. If you can find 8 ohm speakers, that is a decent match and will not cause overcurrent conditions...if you don't run it at full volume. You also want to get as large a speaker as you can in that area: 5-1/4" round, 5x7" oval, whatever. Unless you have a modern replacement radio head with much higher power, DO NOT buy speakers with a large magnet. They are very inefficient and it takes a lot of power just to make the speaker begin to move. Inefficient speakers have much less distortion, but if you have a low power head unit, you won't get much useable sound with hi-power speakers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
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From: Anderson SC
Nope. As I said above... using a modern Pioneer DIN setup.
I'm thinking these... ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=330486846772
or these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=330486345204
-W
I'm thinking these... ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=330486846772
or these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=330486345204
-W
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You can make small brackets or just drill into the support ribs where needed. Dry fit the speaker in place and rotate it to find the best spot for it...mark the hole locations (2 or 3 will hold them), drill mounting holes, and install.
P.S. Pack some fiberglass insulation in behind the speaker and to loosely fill that space so it will stop some 'ringing' resonances.
P.S. Pack some fiberglass insulation in behind the speaker and to loosely fill that space so it will stop some 'ringing' resonances.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
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So what size round speakers has anyone def got to work in the kick panles of their 68? Cutting them is NOT an option so they need to fit behind the kick panels. I need to upgrade mine and would rather do round over ovals for sound quality. The car has a newer Pioneer radio so the ohm is a non issue. Also I see someone says there are no dash speakers in a 68. So the only speakers are behind the kick panels then? Help please peopel need Xmas gift ideas for me quick!
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
There are no dash speakers - the only ones are behind the kick panels.
To add rear speakers - this pressure fit sound bar is under $100 - no screws needed.
Now back to the front - the largest ROUND that will fit for sure is 4".
However a set of Pioneer TS-A4103 4x10 2-way ovals will fit in there just like the originals. And no, the average human ear can't detect the waveform distortion between the round and oval speakers. Adding the rear sound bar helps a lot too.
-W
To add rear speakers - this pressure fit sound bar is under $100 - no screws needed.
Now back to the front - the largest ROUND that will fit for sure is 4".
However a set of Pioneer TS-A4103 4x10 2-way ovals will fit in there just like the originals. And no, the average human ear can't detect the waveform distortion between the round and oval speakers. Adding the rear sound bar helps a lot too.
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; Dec 16, 2010 at 08:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC