DD Mods Kicker Upgrade Write Up
 

I received my kicker upgrade from Dennis at Double D mods and thought I would do a write up on installation and over all impression. Let me start off first with my thoughts about Dennis and his company (DDMods). Dennis is truly an asset to this forum. This vendor has outstanding customer service in a day and age where that doesn't seem to happen a whole awful lot. If you are deciding to upgrade your audio system he is the man to do business with! With that said I did the Kicker upgrade special to my C6 coupe. Here is my write up:

First off open the doors hood and hatch. I disconnected the battery because I did not want to cause a drain. Simple procedure with a 10mm driver pictured here:
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I started with the drivers side door. You must first remover the small plate under the arm rest pictured here:
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Them remove the 2 screws pictured here using a 30 Torx :
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Now time to remove the door panel. I bought this set of panel removers from Harbor Freight for about $6 and it was money well spent as it made the job much easier. Here is what they look like and the Item #:
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There are 8 pins holding the door on and metal hangers on top. Don't worry as you are prying the pins loose as it will make a horrible sound. Once the door panel is loose you will have to disconnect this plug pictured here:
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Once that plug is disconnected your door panel will be free from the door as pictured here:
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Now that your door panel is removed you can install the tweeters in the door panel. There are 4 Phillips screws and a connector plug to remove pictured here:
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Now install your Kicker speaker in the door using the supplied Metra harness kit pictured here:
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This harness kit is plug & play and is fail proof as there is only 2 wires and they are different sizes + & - as pictured here:
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Here is the installed tweeter pictured here
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Now you are ready to re-install the door panel. There is a new technique for installing the door panels. Refer to this link:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ll-method.html
Here is the pictures from my door. I used shoe stings and it worked like a charm http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...s/biggrin5.gif :
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For the passenger door you will have to remove 2 screws. The first location pictured here:
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The second one is the door release button pictured here:
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Once they are removed follow the same steps as the drivers side door.

On to the back speakers. Support the hatch, even if you do it one side at a time, just one shock can't hold it up. The rope doesn't need to be tight, it just needs to keep the hatch from falling. couldn't find any rope so i just rigged up a extension cord and it worked fine. Pictured here lol:
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Pull up the rubber boot at the bottom of one of the shocks. Unplug the rear defogger. Pry out the retaining clip far enough to grab it with a pair of pliers, then pull it out. Push up on the hatch to release the tension on the shock and it will easily slide right off of the mount. Repeat on the other side. Pictured here:
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Next Pull out the four push pins at the top edge of the speaker trim plates (two on each side). Kinda hard to see in this picture:
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To pull off the trim panel, reach under the front lower corner and pull straight out about 1". You should feel one of the friction clips release. Slide your hand up near the top front corner and pull it out until that clip releases. Undo the four screws holding in and pull out your old speaker. Here is the picture of the new mounted Kicker speaker:
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Repeat process for other side. That is basically it.

My initial impression of the speakers:
They will not be any louder but you will notice a big difference in sound. The tweeters bring more crisper highs then the Bose ever did and the rear speakers sound much better as a fill in now. I have a Pioneer X930BT installed which I also bought from Dennis as part of his Rocktober special so I can tweak my sound a little more then the stock Nav unit that was in before. But even with a stock unit you will notice a big difference! I am also adding a box with two Kicker 10's and a amp from Dennis next month which should finished out my sound system. Here are a couple of videos so you can hear what the Kickers sound like:

Rock:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...h_MVI_4856.jpg

Rap:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...h_MVI_4857.jpg

Country:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...h_MVI_4858.jpg

I hope this helps anyone who is on the fence about buying this package http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...s/thumbsup.gif
I am very happy with the results and again with the top of the line service Dennis and his company provides for us.

A big Thanks to Dennis @ DD Mods http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...ilies/rock.gif

Great post thanks, work on your focus skills though :D , and no doubt Dennis is a giver, and his prices are untouched. My stuff is mostly DD and that is why I smile so much :D

Sincerely appreciate the effort you took to document and post your install process.

There are other 'How To's' for this on the forum, but they all really help when it comes time to do these projects for the first time.

<< I'm next!! :D >>

I shall focus better next time around and yeah Dennis is top shelf in my book :thumbs: Next write up will be better I hope :hide:

I will be doing another write up next month when I get my sub box, two Kicker 10's and an amp. :woohoo:Thanks Santa (AKA) the wife

Looks good :thumbs:

The bolts for the door skins are T30 Torx heads (not 30mm :eek: )

Thanks for the write up. I've got the Kicker upgrade sitting in my living room. After I bought them I found a set of Rockford Punch Power 6.5" components that I never installed in my GTO. I also just ordered his sub box with two JL 10w3's. Hoping to get them installed within the next couple weeks. The plan is deck power for the rear Kicker speakers, my JL 300/4 to power the front components, and my JL 500/1 to power the two JL 10w3's. Should sound pretty killer.

Jon, sounds like you have a good plan and it should sound stellar.
curious to see what the double sub box looks like.

I just got the tracking info and it's supposed to be here Monday. It's getting installed next Thursday at a friends house.

Ordered my sub box, subs & amp from Dennis and looks like I should have it on Tue and will take pictures and do a write up as well :thumbs: I went with a Elemental Designs Nine amp, Two Arc Audio ks10 subs and the two 10in sub box.

How is the bass compared to the stock Bose system?

Recess in stock Bose C6 gasket area on 3.5" speaker.
 

On the stock Bose 3.5" speaker, there is a gap in the gasket which slips OVER mounting hole. On the new Kicker speaker, there is NO GAP in the replacement speaker gasket and it sits ON TOP of the rim. I would suggest the use some type of retainer clip or bent washer to secure the speaker more adequately. Possible the speaker on rough roads could come loose and rattle around, I used four screws and four retainers to possiblely prevent this from happening. :cheers:

To get the speaker to sit flush you can either cut off the plastic tab on the door skin or notch out the new speaker plate. A dremel works great for either.

I agree, but didn't have Dremel tool, my bad.
 

Yes, I agree, BUT I didn't have a Dremel tool so I took the lesser of evils and used the fastners. I sure there are others without the great Dremel. A file was somewhat ackward in using so I passed. Can I borrow your Dremel? Thanks friend! :toetap: :D

Have a nice day and GOOD CRUISING! :cheers:

Hey Mojo,

I am looking to get the same Pioneer X930BT and speaker upgrade, but a shop told me earlier adding aftermarket speakers with the Bose amp won't sound or work well. I think they are just trying to make me a complete speaker and amp upgrade. What do you think? Are the plug and play connectors intended for the Bose amp or needed with the Pioneer deck? I had a similar setup on my recently sold 00 Trans Am which included kicker speakers, no 4 channel amp, pioneer 3200bt DVD screen, kicker sub woofer, and it sounded amazing. I bet it would sound better with the Bose amp for the kicker speakers right? Thanks

The shop you went to doesn't know what they are talking about. The speaker harness adapter allows you to plug the new speaker into the stock GM harness. Makes it real simple to swap speakers. The other adapter is to integrate the new HU into the stock GM harness while keeping the chimes and stuff like that. The Bose amp will drive the Kickers just fine... save yourself the time and money and just do it yourself vs. taking it to a shop.

:iagree:

If you have not bought it yet you should really get the 940 over the 930:thumbs:

Call me direct as I can answer all your questions
I will be here on Saturday
608 568 3011

The install is really easy as well. With our tech support you wont need to have anyone install the speakers for you or the radio for that matter

Hey Fasthotrod,

I was thinking the same thing. Very disappointing to hear. They quoted be $2200 for an entire system which includes jvc headunit, speakers, amps, subs, box, and backup camera. I think too damm much!

Hey,

I just might call ya. I need an entire system including a pioneer 940 deck. I saw your post on the kicker speakers which you quoted arc audio component system with sub box and goodies for around $900 shipped. How much for the pioneer deck? Is a 5 channel amp sufficient to power all speakers and a sub? Thanks

5 channel amp is plenty sufficient. dennis knows his stuff