Bose speaker replacement
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
Likes: 6,535
From: Melbourne, FL
The LT1 used an optispark distributor that was mounted under the water pump. Early units were basically sealed, and so you'd get typical cap and rotor wear, but because they were located under the water pump, you had the risk of soaking it with a water pump failure. The kinds of people who didn't do preventative maintenance and never replaced a water pump until it failed were also the type too cheap to replace their optispark. It wasn't a great design, but not half as bad as people make it out to be. They really don't like getting wet though, so if you're the sort of guy who power washes their engine bay, let's the water pump fail, or various other bad owner behaviors, you end up with an unreliable lt1.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
The LT1 used an optispark distributor that was mounted under the water pump. Early units were basically sealed, and so you'd get typical cap and rotor wear, but because they were located under the water pump, you had the risk of soaking it with a water pump failure. The kinds of people who didn't do preventative maintenance and never replaced a water pump until it failed were also the type too cheap to replace their optispark. It wasn't a great design, but not half as bad as people make it out to be. They really don't like getting wet though, so if you're the sort of guy who power washes their engine bay, let's the water pump fail, or various other bad owner behaviors, you end up with an unreliable lt1.
No using Gunk degreaser even though it smells good.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 734
Likes: 551
From: North Carolina
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 220
I reused stock wiring from the Bose amp -> door subs for my infinity amp -> 6.5" door speakers. I ran power and ground from the back (GS) all the way up since I already had a distribution block for my sub in the rear. I had also ran a remote wire all the way to the back but since I was running RCA cables from the head unit to the amp, I just spliced remote wire behind the head unit to the infinity. Wires to the door seemed to be 14 or 12 gauge. Probably a little undersized for a 60W RMS but the runs are really short so I figured it'd be fine. I also dont ever get near max volume/clipping on my amp. I'd be surprised if I'm using more than 25-30 watts. The wires to the door subs are also larger than the normal speaker wires (16 or 18 gauge off the top of my head?).
Last edited by Ahrmike; Apr 13, 2021 at 07:41 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 220
The LT1 used an optispark distributor that was mounted under the water pump. Early units were basically sealed, and so you'd get typical cap and rotor wear, but because they were located under the water pump, you had the risk of soaking it with a water pump failure. The kinds of people who didn't do preventative maintenance and never replaced a water pump until it failed were also the type too cheap to replace their optispark. It wasn't a great design, but not half as bad as people make it out to be. They really don't like getting wet though, so if you're the sort of guy who power washes their engine bay, let's the water pump fail, or various other bad owner behaviors, you end up with an unreliable lt1.
Last edited by Ahrmike; Apr 13, 2021 at 07:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 158
Likes: 10
Speakers
I replaced the lower door speakers with hertz woofers, and the upper 3 1/2 inch with jl items. Used a metra adapter plate for the lowers. Got rid of the booming base which was not to my liking. Great advice and service from crutchfield. Used a homemade harness adapter for the woofers rather than cut into the factory wiring. Kept the remainder of the stock bose system.
I appreciated all the advice from the forum.
I appreciated all the advice from the forum.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
Both of my front 10" Bose Speakers seem to be blown. Any bass, and it is sad farts. These are in my 2012 GS with the Premium sound. I have debated replacing everything, but rather spend that money on something else. What are my options to replace the 10" Bose Speakers? Are there other 10" options to simply plug and play with the Bose that aren't bose, or is it best to find a used pair/set of speakers.
Mine darted also, cone was coming off. Glued them back on.
Last edited by AlSled; Apr 18, 2021 at 06:43 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 219
From: Fredericksburg VA
Yeah that is about what mine looked like. I found a great deal on a set of speakers and just ordered those. Will glue up the old ones to have spares in case it happens again. Though when I put a head unit in I may swap out the other door speakers and try to find something to keep it from happening again. A Plastic protective shield from the factory would have made too much sense.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Yeah that is about what mine looked like. I found a great deal on a set of speakers and just ordered those. Will glue up the old ones to have spares in case it happens again. Though when I put a head unit in I may swap out the other door speakers and try to find something to keep it from happening again. A Plastic protective shield from the factory would have made too much sense.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
Likes: 6,535
From: Melbourne, FL
I replaced the lower door speakers with hertz woofers, and the upper 3 1/2 inch with jl items. Used a metra adapter plate for the lowers. Got rid of the booming base which was not to my liking. Great advice and service from crutchfield. Used a homemade harness adapter for the woofers rather than cut into the factory wiring. Kept the remainder of the stock bose system.
I appreciated all the advice from the forum.
I appreciated all the advice from the forum.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 219
From: Fredericksburg VA
Yeah that is the plan. Waiting on IRS to get off their lazy butts and send my refund. Think I am getting the Alpine ILX-W650 that I have been eyeing for awhile. I like the shallow depth and the ability to piggy back their amp to the back of it when that time comes. I am just going to do the head unit and a rear camera for the moment and see how things sound. Then look to upgrade the rest at a later date if need be.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
Likes: 6,535
From: Melbourne, FL
Yeah that is the plan. Waiting on IRS to get off their lazy butts and send my refund. Think I am getting the Alpine ILX-W650 that I have been eyeing for awhile. I like the shallow depth and the ability to piggy back their amp to the back of it when that time comes. I am just going to do the head unit and a rear camera for the moment and see how things sound. Then look to upgrade the rest at a later date if need be.
Just my opinion. I figure if you're gonna do something, better to do it right, even if your goals aren't stratospheric.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 219
From: Fredericksburg VA
IMO, if you're going to do an amp, the little power pack isn't worth it. It won't be any more powerful than the stock amp. You would be far better off adding a smaller footprint standard amp vs a power pack style amp.
Just my opinion. I figure if you're gonna do something, better to do it right, even if your goals aren't stratospheric.
Just my opinion. I figure if you're gonna do something, better to do it right, even if your goals aren't stratospheric.
Last edited by SPSandman; May 19, 2021 at 02:33 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Yeah that is the plan. Waiting on IRS to get off their lazy butts and send my refund. Think I am getting the Alpine ILX-W650 that I have been eyeing for awhile. I like the shallow depth and the ability to piggy back their amp to the back of it when that time comes. I am just going to do the head unit and a rear camera for the moment and see how things sound. Then look to upgrade the rest at a later date if need be.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 219
From: Fredericksburg VA
Never had an issue parking in the front and 9 times out of 10 I back into the parking spot, even without a camera. Car isn't that big. Always safest way to leave a parking spot. I have another dash cam if I want one for that.
Last edited by SPSandman; May 20, 2021 at 11:13 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
And you have a wider body on your Corvette.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 219
From: Fredericksburg VA
Not tracking. Still plenty of room to back into any spot and if I am in a parking lot that has stupid narrow spots for even small cars I don't park near anyone if I can help it. The wide bodies are only 3.3" wider than the base.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Just be careful of those cement markers that are in front of those parking spaces as they can take out your rear sway bar when backing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 219
From: Fredericksburg VA
Anyway, I said if I get a head unit I would be getting the rear camera. You were asking why not a front camera initially.