Front dash speakers ac car
 

I’m getting ready to put my dash back together and would like recommendations for front dash dual speakers. I have a 73 ac car and I like my music clear and loud. What is good and what to avoid is appreciative. Radio is reworked by Wags Electronics. Thank you taking one bite at a time.

I haven't had a bracket made yet, but I liked this design from S/M Electo Tech https://www.smelectrotech.com/ They showed an OE bracket from an A-body or something setting between and the same way may work for the Firebird. Overall height is the same as one with a replacement with the cover. Can be ordered with 8 or 4 ohm speakers. https://www.smelectrotech.com/produc...put-single-/20

First thank you for the response. I looked at their website and it appears that they are out of everything. I stumbled onto Screaming Chicken and they have some interesting options and claim they have the stuff that will fit. Just to help out I ordered the aftermarket ac duct that sits under the speaker that will allow even more room. Second Gen Engineering makes them and the Rockford Fosgate looks like an interesting option. I had Wags Electronics rebuild a red dot radio and he says the ohms are not as important with the mods he made. I will be running a small amp but no subs.

The original owner died during COVID time. I thought the family was still keeping it going. They must have depleted stock finally and will close for good soon. It's too bad.

I’m not sure if that’s the case but I’m just looking for someone who has had success with the ac cars. I’m thankful for everyone who caters to our cars and try to support them.

For some reason my reply yesterday did not post.

Yes the Screaming Chicken dual speaker Rockford Fodgate kit fits stock A/C ducting. I just did it.

The cheapest kit he sells is what that is too.

In another car I did the larger magnet speaker kit but that car has vintage air ducting so it cleared no issue but likely could not get that larger magnet speaker kit to fit above stock AC ducts.

Just call Screaming Chicken and he will get you squared away.

Looks like a great option...thanks!

Quite a few companies make the dual speaker set up for the center dash speaker... theres even threads about how to use the original speaker where you gut the cone & modify the frame for 2 3.5 or 4" speakers then it mounts just like the factory.

Dual speaker in the dash sucks for sound quality. I went with 6.5" speakers in the kick panels, much better.

I had read about that, but I sent mine to someone who is restoring their car back to factory specifications. Screaming Chicken sells the setup you described. I was hoping someone would have used this setup to vouch for the product. I’m thinking I’m going to be the Guinea pig.

I have an ac car and have read that’s not an option in the kick panels. Am I missing something? I have thought about a larger speaker in the center dash but won’t know if or what is doable until I get the reworked ac duct from Second Gen Engineering in my hands to check the clearances.

Yes I did see that new revised duct from Second Gen Enigeering they sell for more clearance. Forget to mention that. But the Second Gen Graveyard kit fits with no mods. And noone is cutting kick panels on a car worth anything these days ;-)


And again I just put it in. The dual speakers fit with no problem!

Can you report on the sound quality? I hear complaints about small speakers not sounding good. I am considering making a plate to hold two 5.25 kickers in the front dash. Top mount depth is 1 and 13/16 so I am guessing around 2 and 1/4 bottom mount depth. The original 4x10 footprint as opposed to the two 5.25. The 5.25 would be a little larger and should give a lot better quality sound provided they fit in the similar space.

Yes I ordered the duct to help with clearance. Second Gen Graveyard kit ? Is it a speaker setup that you are referring to?

Yes, but I have giant speakers and a sub in the back so I just need some mid to even it out w/o cutting anything.

I did this in my old 74 and sounded way better but didn't realize someone had a kit like this.

I did it, takes a little customization.

I have two tens in the back deck, 6.5 mids and tweeters in the kick panel. Had a dual voice coil in the front dash but the sound quality sucked.

I originally had a 12" sub & 6x9s in the back, but this time around I did a single 10" w 6x9s.

I did an MDF deck with a sub enclosure.

I figure by throwing enough power at it, that's all I'll need.


.

I didn't like the OE trunk light, so ran an LED light strip with a motion sensor:


.

fancy...glad I don't have a trunk lite so everyone can see my amp wiring job lol

Depends on what exhaust you have as that makes any system sound better or worse. First off, I am not a stereo guy and would never butcher a car for one. The dual front speakers balance out the system with two 6x9s in back. Sounds great. Another car has a 10" powered JL Audio sub in back with 6x9s and these dash speakers provide the highs needed up front. But again, with our cars, the real music is the engine. Not the stereo. Just something to have when stuck in traffic or parked at a drive-in even for me. I feel these provide all you need and are in a location that you can actually hear them over being down by the floor in kick panels.

Well, try going on a highway trip for 3-5 hours without a decent stereo, you may change your
mind on the value of a good stereo.

On 2 separate Power Tours, drove 5 & 4 days straight, and like 5k miles combined. Try that without a decent sound system.

The wind noise in the GTO going 75-80 on the highway will drive you nuts after a while. And it's got Race Pros on it.

.

Yeah I do drive LONG hours in mine. And thus one reason I even have a stereo. Did Power Tours, coasts drives for hours etc. Heck being stuck in traffic for -hours- a radio gets me through ;-)

I like loud music and like your setup but I won’t cut up my car. I would consider under the seat or trunk sub but I think if I am not happy with the front dash and some quality 6x9’s I can add the subs later.

I understand what you’re saying but my wife and daughter do not want to hear horsepower and exhaust noise. We frequent concerts when we can and my nine year old daughter has seen Sammy Haggar, Loverboy, Benetar, Journey, and will are fulfilling her bucket list AC/DC🤣. I will not chop up my car either. Where did you put the sub in your other car? I don’t like the boom boom vibrating sound but I’m encouraged by your response mentioning the front speaker option in the dash.

That’s clever thinking.

I get not cutting up a car, totally. When I originally added a sub to the 'bird is when I cut into the deck, which was in the early 80s. The car wasn't worth as much then and wasn't concerned with cutting it up. These days, I would certainly think twice.

Trimming a package tray to use the grills that come with 6x9s is a minor sacrifice as the package trays are readily available, and doing so makes a big difference. You can load component 6x9 subs from the top without any trimming to the metal structure, and use surface mount mids & tweeters. There are dual-coil 5x7 low/mid range speakers you could use in the front in stock location, and add surface mount tweeters in the corners.

The rear seat divider/metal package tray for many cars are available good-used, some are even repopped. So even if you do cut the metal, it can be repaired.

Under-seat and trunk subs are not a very good source of sound, they sound 'muddled' at best. I've tried trunk subs firing into the back seat, and it's worthless IMO. But it is good for finding just about every rattle you can imagine back there!

Amps now are so compact, you can pretty much mount them anywhere. I helped a friend mount an amp in a hatchback, used a board that I covered, with velcro on the bottom. Using a D-class amp, it doesn't require monster cables either. For many, 6-10g (quality) wire is fine.

Yeah, on the trunk light, the birds have a wire that runs along the deck lid hinge and thru the subframe of the decklid. It doesn't offer a lot of light, and to make it worse, it uses a gravity-type switch that is sketchy at best. The LED light strip is adhesive, as is the sensor. It's an inexpensive approach to a poor original design. The sensor has a dial that you can adjust the length of time is stays lit, and it lights the entire trunk cavity. Pop the lid, wave your hand, done.

My 'bird project has a 'green' theme, and all the interior and gauge lights are green.

The GTO has a 'blue' theme, same thing.

EDIT: Motion sensors are cheap, and come in a lot of types. I think I paid $11 for the one I have.

.

Just a quick glance at surface mount speakers:

.

No sooner I finished typing, I got an email from Restore-A-Musclecar on speaker grills! Scary! Heheh!

https://www.restoreamusclecar.com/pa...mounting-studs

The OE type grills tho block a lot of sound, but if you want complete stealth, this is a good option.


.

I got the mesh speaker package tray from CI. You can barely notice the 6x9's.

I have a giant wood enclosed sub box in the trunk. I don't have room for a spare but pretty much everything else I need is there. Sounds good too.

I still need to mount the amps against the back of the back seat but I have no idea how to get at anything at my advanced state of decay.

I had to get junior to change out my 6x9's last time. Trunk is so small for my oily hide lol.

Amazingly, I can fit in the trunk, and I'm 5'11.5" ! It's not easy tho, and I have to get in & out to do the other side of trunk!

I actually have to 'limber-up' in order to prepare for trunk work! Heheh!

I made 2 boards for the back of trunk, covered them w faux leather, it worked pretty good.


.

Thank you for the time and suggestions. I will stop bye a car stereo shop tomorrow and see what is available. I’m learning from all the suggestions and need to put my eyes on stuff.