74 Trans Am Speakers
 

I have the stock speakers (under dash and single rear) in my car but the paper speaker material is mostly perished and gone.

I was back in the US for a visit recently and I came across a JVC stereo on FB marketplace. I picked it up thinking I might install it in the TA if I could do it without cutting or heavily modifying anything;

https://hosting.photobucket.com/0e3a...080&fit=bounds

It came with a set of JVC 6x9's and the knob spacing is adjustable. Plan was to install this and remove my 8 track player and replace it with the stock console pocket.

However after procrastinating for some time, I've decided instead to leave the stock radio and 8 track in place and replace the stock speakers. I ordered these from SM Electro Tech;

https://hosting.photobucket.com/0e3a...080&fit=bounds

The rear speaker install should be pretty straightforward, but I'm not looking forward to tackling the underdash speaker. I'd love to hear any tips or tricks.

I had little problems pulling my speaker, but mine is a non-A/C, non-console car.
One screw holds the bracket that holds the speaker in place. Unplugging the radio and press the tab on the green wire terminal releases it. Ground is thru the body of the speaker. I made a new green wire and soldered it on the one terminal of the speaker. I attached a Packard series 56 female terminal to the end that inserts into the radio connector. You will have to use all crimps over there. A black wire with crimps on both ends (should be in kit) plugs into the speaker terminal and I connected the other end to the attaching screw.
I'd love to see the ink stamping after you've pulled them.

My car is non-AC too. Thanks for the post and picture - very helpful.

I've started with the rear (easiest first). I'm going to carefully drill a couple of holes in the new speaker so that I can mount the bracket for the jute filled enclosure that mounts to the speaker after it is fitted.

Old and new rear speakers:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/0e3a...080&fit=bounds

Great, now I'll have to figure out how to affix the rear speaker connection...

I'm going to harvest the plug off the original rear speaker and mount it to the new speaker so that I can plug it in using the original harness.

Numbers from the rear speaker:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/0e3a...080&fit=bounds

May 20-26th, 1974 speaker. When was the car shipped?

Build date is 08B - second week of August. It's an HEI car.

Very late build. Last few days.

You could unsolder the leads and drill out the rivet and use the original terminal assembly on the new speaker.

I had planned to do just that - but the bracket on that side is wide at the top and I wasn't sure how I'd keep the wires that go to the speaker cone away from the speaker frame.

In the end I removed the plug from the original speaker, mounted it on the bracket on the opposite side and then made up some short leads to attach it to the reproduction speakers terminals:

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All installed and working:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/0e3a...080&fit=bounds

The RH knob on the 8 track player is a fader between the front and rear speakers. My radio is AM only.

Yup, that's what I was thinking of doing. Nice job. The 8 track fader had me scratching my head when I first got my car.

Now on to the front speaker.

Before removal:

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Old and new:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/0e3a...080&fit=bounds

I ended up taking the glovebox and center console out just to give myself plenty of room to work.

Adapting the new speaker to fit is as simple as cutting the harness off the old speaker, attaching a ground and adding the original bracket. The ground will be attached to the screw that mounts the bracket to the car. The red paint dab on the speakers indicates the + feed.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/0e3a...080&fit=bounds

I didn't want to modify my original one otherwise I would have done that.
Your front speaker was closer to the build date (July 1st-7th, 1974).

How does it sound?

I didn't pull the cover off of the front speaker but it looks to be in pretty good shape compared to the rear - the paper in the rear speaker was no longer attached to the speaker frame at all so it was toast.

So sound wise it's much improved over what it was - it's not going to win any car audio shows, but both the AM and the 8 track work like they would have originally so I'm happy. Over the years I've gotten most of the original equipment to work as it should - little things like the heater controls, clock, cigarette lighter, windshield washers etc. The one thing that is bypassed that I don't plan on resurrecting is the seat belt interlock system. That's going to stay non-functional.

Haha first to go go gone...