[LiLWhite66Lemans]

Just wondering if anyone here has added speakers to their lemans/gto and if so what have u encountered in doing so. I wanted to get more sound than the 2 factory speakers I have. Also i would want to keep my car factory looking on the inside and I dont want to cut any holes in the side panels or anything that would mess with the appearance. Thanks!
Evan

[LiLWhite66Lemans]

Just wondering if anyone here has added speakers to their lemans/gto and if so what have u encountered in doing so. I wanted to get more sound than the 2 factory speakers I have. Also i would want to keep my car factory looking on the inside and I dont want to cut any holes in the side panels or anything that would mess with the appearance. Thanks!
Evan

[retrojoe]

Are you talking about a hardtop, or a convertible?I have a convertible 66' Lemans and I added two 6x9's in speaker boxes with enough wire to move from the back seat floors to the front seat floors. In my old 69 olds That I had I put the boxes on the back seat with enough wire to sit up on the rear well with the top down, but you need to be carefull because they can slide off.

My other life has meaning....

[LiLWhite66Lemans]

I have a convertible and I tried putting one large speaker in for some noise on my rear seat and i took it out because i didnt want it stolen and it looked kinda tacky so i took it out but i was just wondering if there was anything else i could do. Thanks!

[b-man]

I have a '64 Lemans convert. When I get around to putting some tunes in it I plan on building a big speaker box that will go inside the trunk behind the back seat.

Let's go racing!
www.outlawpontiacs.com/members/B-Man2.php
www.outlawpontiacs.com/members/B-Man.php

[math08]

I have a convertible, and picked up a "stereo" speaker which fits in the opening in the dash pad. I had to hand make out of aluminium new brackets since the speaker is deeper, however, it just makes it, and produces great sound. Also, since the brackets are behind the dash, you can't tell that you don't have the stock speaker.

I bought it at Carlisle last year from a radio guy from PA.

[Dalton 66 GTO]

I've considered ordering these kick panels with custom built in speakers from JS Classics. They aren't original, but they could solve the "front" speaker problem.

Anybody have these?

http://www.jsclassics.com/kick_panel...kick_panel.htm

[engineer]

kick panel speakers only good if you do not have factory air conditioning.

[gto_guy]

For the front I put two 4 inch speakers in where the 4x10 originally went.This will give you a lot better sound up front.I don`t know much about the convertibles are built so I can`t help you with the back.

www.cardomain.com/id/gto_guy

[Linden Green 67]

I too have had a wedge cabinet in the back seat of my 67 hardtop. I never really liked the look of that, so now am considering several options.
I chatted with the guy from JS Sound about the kick panel speakers, he told me you could use them on stock a/c cars, it is the vent pull handle on non a/c cars that will be affected. Let me know if you like them. I have also toyed with using the dual 4" speakers for the front dash bracket, do you bridge them to mono or do a close stereo feed to them? Do they produce enough sound with the windows open??

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[Enzo]

If you are willing to replace your kick panels then you might want to look into having custom door panels made with speakers built right in. Although if you have a good shop make your kick panels they would produce a much better soundstage than a door panel would. They (kick panel) are just harder to get a bigger speaker in them. I'm starting my stealth stereo this summer in my 66 lemans convert. I will post pics when completed.

http://www.kurtspontiac.homestead.co...y66Lemans.html

[nedorama]

enzo - what did you end up doing for the stealth stereo? I am looking to add the minimum necessary (power amp?) to run an ipod as my head unit - all my music I listen to is on it and that way I can take it out of the car when I get out - nothing to steal since there's nothing really there?

anyone tried this?

[nedorama]

they're made by a company called Custom Autosound. I'm interested in them as well, but want to know if they're sealed in the back or if the speaker is just open behind the kick panel - if it is, I might as well buy a used pair of kick panels, cut the opening, put in my own speakers, and dye to match.

anyone use them?

[baron_]

i put two in the kick panels - can't see them - work well
the holes for the air vents are perfect for the size of speakers to fit in

and with black front covers - look halfway original anyways on black kick panels


i once had the big box behind the rear seat - but it's a big pain in the ass and i'll never do it again (still have it - won't install it)

not worth the time or energy - and makes everything rattle
and the back deck has a small bump in it - so it's hard to get it to sit correctly


i had good results with putting an amp under one of the bucket seats - gets it out of sight pretty well

i'd sell that 'system' in the back if anyone wanted it
i custom made the damned thing to fit perfectly, there

[mzbk2l]

I just installed Custom Autosound kickpanel speakers and a 4X10" dual voicecoil speaker in my '67 Cutlass last night. IMHO, the center speaker was not worth the effort. The 120w Kenwood kickpanel speakers ROCK, though. I am VERY happy with the sound of them. I just have an old 15w x 4 channel Pioneer Supertuner III cassette radio pushing them, and they sound great. I did have to unbolt the emergency brake bracket at the rear end (away from the firewall, closest to the driver), and bend the whole thing in towards the center of the car about 1" for clearance for the speaker. Other than that, it was a drop-in installation. I have a convertible with a/c. Definitely one of the best investments I've made in the car. I highly recommend them.

Mike

[nedorama]

Mike - are the speakers closed in on the back (to form a speaker box of sorts) or just open to the wall? Did you add any dynamat or sound deadening stuff behind them, or is it fine just as is? thanks.

[mzbk2l]

Ned, they're open in back, but due to the depth of the speakers, I don't think stock kick panels would work well. The Custom Autosound kick panels are molded out into the footwell a little bit to accomodate the speakers.

At the suggestion of the seller (I think I used Vintage Vibes), I did put dynomat on the backside of the kick panel. He said that the 80w Custom Autosound speakers don't have any trouble, but sometimes the heavier 120w Kenwoods will eventually cause the kickpanel to crack from the weight and vibration.

I took a bunch of pictures of it tonight after I got all the wiring tucked up behind the dash, but I didn't think to take a comparison picture of the stock vs. the new kickpanels. Maybe if I get a chance tomorrow I'll do that and post it. As I said, though, I am REALLY happy with the sound. I honestly think it may be the best money I've spent on the car.

[nedorama]

Mike -sounds great, looking forward to the pictures. Did you dye/paint the kick panels or are you planning to at a later date? Thanks - This is definitely something I'm planning to do - you've convinced me.

[mzbk2l]

Here are some pictures of the speakers installed in my '67. (Keep in mind this is a Cutlass, not a GTO; my Pontiacs are B and F bodies.) I did not have to paint or dye the panels, as my interior is black anyway.

If I get a chance, I'll slide one of the new kickpanels out and get a side-by-side shot of it next to a stock panel.

[bullheimer]

mbzk that car looks very familiar. .. like MINE! i have a all torquoise
66. i wouldnt put anything made by Custom Autosound in my car
again. i think pure junk. if they sell something made by someone
else, then you are okay. thier dual speaker replacement for the
center speaker of my 55 truck didn't even fit or come close.
my radio i got from them was a total joke. but the center head-
liner speaker set from them was really nice and the only thing from
them i have that is still being used.
there are alot of stereo places that offer free installs with a stereo
purchace. i would have a professional install speakers.
i removed the center speaker from my 70 camaro and took out the
center speaker and installed two 4" speakers in it and it sounds
great and looks, after i covered it with black cloth, totally stock