[bluejudge]

Hi I am going to recover the rear armrest covers in my 69 Conv. First I will have to weld up the holes that someone put in them for the speakers. My question is where do I get the sheet metal for this and what gauge is it. I measured 20 gauge, but I want to make sure that is correct. Thanks, Marc.

[north]

I just did the same thing recently for a friends 69 Catalina. I used 20 gauge from a sheet. I don't recall if measuring the original metal but it sure felt the same. Those panels had a fair bit of padding between the vinyl and the steel anyhow. You could even get away with just tacking the patches from the inside but I flush welded them just out of principal.

btw, the repop covers fit well but the vinyl is too thin and too smooth of a grain. Not really noticeable but it bothered me.

[hakansan]

Or You can buy new ones! https://secure.amesperf.com/qilan/De...A&web_access=Y

[3 Chiefs]

You can also use body panel adhesive if you don't want to weld them.

[bluejudge]

Thanks guys, I am going to use the originals and weld them up. It will give me a chance to dust off my mig welder too. I will take a look at HD and Lowe’s for 20 gauge at the store, I don’t see 20 gauge on their website. North I saw your comment about thinner material and not exactly the same, that’s why I try to get original stuff but with interior material I will use Legendary. It’s funny I have this car around 25 years and now the speakers are bothering me... thanks, Marc.

[north]

I always wondered why the factory never installed a rear speaker there?

They did on the B bodies, the optional rear speaker on those big cars was a rectangular 4x10 mounted below the ashtray (passenger side only).

The A body rear speaker option mounted down in the top well which rendered it useless with the top down. Maybe that diagonal floor brace didn’t leave enough room for a speaker on the tighter A body?