Speaker in door questions?

[mellowguy]

I hate cutting holes in my door panels and doors but I am going to do it. Now my questions. What size speakers have you put inside, front lower forward, of your e-body doors??? 5, 5 1/4, 6, or 6 1/2 speaker? Thanks everybody.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I hate to see you think this way.

With me, I added some beefy modern day 6X9's in the package tray area, and an after-market amplifier in the trunk to help me hear the music above the loud exhaust when I want to.

I just hate to see you hack the door panels, but maybe your ear is more towards the surround sound feel of music?   

[moparman82]

U can buy kick panels from year one or classic industries that have provisions for 5 1/4 speakers.  U can even det them with the speakers already installed.  120 (+-) with provisions or 200(+-) with speakers installed, then u don't have to cut ur doors and the speaker location in only about 6 inches away from where u would mount speakers in the door

http://www.classicindustries.com/mopar/parts/audio-security/speaker-components/?p=2&sb=0&r=15

[burdar]

Maybe look for some door panels that have already been cut for speakers.  The inner door structure isn't a big deal.  The door panels will cover that up if you want to remove the speakers later on.

[moparman82]

I actually have a pretty dang nice black passenger side door panel that the PO cut for a speaker, if u have a challenger

[ToxicWolf]

U can buy kick panels from year one or classic industries that have provisions for 5 1/4 speakers.  U can even det them with the speakers already installed.  120 (+-) with provisions or 200(+-) with speakers installed, then u don't have to cut ur doors and the speaker location in only about 6 inches away from where u would mount speakers in the door

http://www.classicindustries.com/mopar/parts/audio-security/speaker-components/?p=2&sb=0&r=15

 

[mellowguy]

I should have left out "I hate to cut the door panels".  But I will do what I have to do. I have been in audio-video business since 1976. I am more involved in high end A/V and installs now, but I was involved with car stereo in the eariler years. The car enviroment is one of the worst places to setup a sound system properly. It is always a compromise. Places that are easy to fit a speaker are not ideal at all, audio wise. Thank you for the advice but kick panels, easy fit, but no. I am thinking in dash 2 way co-ax speakers or tweeters outside on the upper door, lower door mid range (no co-ax) 5 1/4- 6.5 speakers, rear deck 5 1/4-6.5 midrange (no co-ax) filler speakers, and two 8 inch or two 10 inch sub speakers in a single cabinet vented or bandpass design. I will have have the cabinet built last once I get the car together. But I still don't know how much cutting on the inner doors I will have to do. Thanks everybody.

[74 challenge]

The P.o. of my car cut holes for the speakers and I hate him everyday for it. Even if it was done correctly it always looks terrible.

If i had to put in more speakers I would go the kick panel route from year one, put a speaker in the original holes and if i wanted more oomph i'd hide some under the dash. With addition to the 2 that are in the rear package tray.

Drilling holes in your door panels is a good 600 dollar mistake.

[Bullitt-]

I agree good sound is hard to engineer into these cars. I was installing stereo equipment for a time in the late '70s and everyone thought the door was the go to place. At that time I put 5.25" in my '73 Charger doors but my friend who worked at a very high end car stereo shop at the time put them in the kick panels of his '68 Buick & his sounded much better(had virtually identical equipment). Two thing that make the door a poor location 1. The door is to big & makes a poor sound box(boomy) 2. the speaker on your side is to close so you only hear that channel so the farther away you can get them the better the balance. The kick panels are a PITA to put speakers in E-bodies but you do have a small opening that is large enough for shallow depth 5.25" and does provide a nice little sound box if you care to seal it up. Depth on the drivers side is an issue due to the parking brake but that can be relocated a smidge to gain some clearance....
Here is my caveman attempt(hope to redo someday with contoured fiberglass) & I am happy with the sound along with the dash mounted tweeters 6x9 rear deck coaxial & 10" sealed Sub