I've recently aquired a set of new, 8 inch 3 way split speakers (8"+4"+satelite tweeters) and wanted to mount them up front either under the dash (i dont have a heater and was hoping to face the 8" sp at the u/s of the speaker grille/hole in the dash) or in the kisk panels as a fallback option.
I know 8 inch is big for front and having had a peek under the dash it looks very tight so kick panels it may have to be.
Has anyone done something like this before? even 6" or 6"x9" in the kick panels. has anyone got any pictures they can pls post up so that i can see if it is possible and give me a starting point.
For any decent SQ (sound quality), most speakers require a sealed enclosure of a certain volume. I think you will find that unless your speakers are free to air (can be mounted in an unsealed location) they will sounds rather tinny and lack any bass. My suggestion to you would be to mount them in the doors, or in the parcel shelf to provide them with a sealed enclosure, to optimise their sound. By all means go ahead and mount them free to air, I am just saying for best results seal them. Stingray from this forum mounted some 6" coaxials in his kick panels and cut out holes for them to protrude into the wheel well. There are some photos floating around here of his work.
Craig wrote: Andrew you have a red so I wouldn't race it
I recommend the free air versions for any car. Save's having to box everything and losing space. My FC ran Kicker free air everywhere, sound was good. I ran six inch and one inch splits in custom made kick panels. Eight inches may just be too big for the front of the car. Rear shelf would be the best option sound and fit wise. Also for better base a thicker parcel shelf is a must.
Speed and Style........... One day I'll get the speed bit.
Graet pointers guys.
i am aware of the free air v's enclosed speakers and these are made for free air.
i really wanted to avoid cutting up the steel parcell shelf as a mate had issues with the rule makers after he installed a set of 8 inches in his parcell shelf in his Dunnydoor a few years back. so i really wanted to avoid cutting structural steel. I've seen the pics of your FC Devilrod, How much parcl shelf steel was left after you dropped those in and how did you go with legalities?
I also have a new 10 inch alpine free air (kicking around ) but that'll go in the boot facing the back of the rear seat sometime in the future. i don't care much for duff duff bass, i just want nice tight sound (actaully i just want tunes as i have none ATM)
Ideally i wanted all concealed setup and am also happy to run the pair of 8's in mono arrangement so they can go anywhere, and use the 4's and tweeters for imaging and expose them somewhat. thats why i thought i'd hide the 8's under the dash somewhere.
I think you'll find the issue with the dunnydore and parcel shelf is a little different on earlies. My understanding is apparently most newer cars rely heavily on that shelf for strength, plus alot were cutting the whole shelf out and fabbing up new wooden shelves.
My FC had holes cut to just allow the speakers clearance, so it wasn't butchered and still had some strength in it. Legalities didn't seem to be an issue.
Speed and Style........... One day I'll get the speed bit.
Same goes for mine - 6x9s in the parcel shelf. When I got my FB licensed a few years ago, it had 2 6" speakers in the 'shelf and the otherwise very picky inspector didn't even mention them. To give you an idea of how anal the inspectors are where I got my FB licensed, they recently raised fault on my $200 corolla because it didn't have a rubber grommet on the end of the bonnet holder uppy metal rod
I think you will be fine with hacking the parcel shelf, especially if you also install rear venetians. From experience, I can say use a tyranasaw for the cutting of the 'shelf if you do go this route and not an angle grinder
Craig wrote: Andrew you have a red so I wouldn't race it
You could runs the 8"s almost anywhere, I have 10" sub in the boot and get good bass out of it, the bass actually got better after I did my boot install. Other options for the 8"s are the rear parcel shelf (if they fit) or in the rear firewall facing the back of the rear seat, just get speaker protectors from Jaycar for when anyone sits in the back seat.
4" speakers would easily go in the kicks, you can buy speaker pods or a cheap alternative that I used once was a couple of PVC 45 degree elbows with MDF cut and fitted to the ends.
just my opinion but if your thinking of putting the 8"s into the parcel shelf just keep in mind it will be very painful to change to any othe size later if need be. i had this problem in another car when i put kenwood 7x10's in then when i bought a rockford setup i needed to use the kenwoods as they're the only speakers that would fit the holes without a lot of fabricating of new mounts.
L&K
thats true, i was just thinking if the parcel shelf had been nicely upholstered it'd be a shame to have to redo it all just for the sake of a pain in the a@#e speaker size, thats all i was meaning.
i don't like doing things twice once it looks good.
L&K
matches wrote:just my opinion but if your thinking of putting the 8"s into the parcel shelf just keep in mind it will be very painful to change to any othe size later if need be. i had this problem in another car when i put kenwood 7x10's in then when i bought a rockford setup i needed to use the kenwoods as they're the only speakers that would fit the holes without a lot of fabricating of new mounts.
L&K
the kenwood 7x10's usually came with a adapter, they were made to use in a 6x9 hole, ithink if you have a 7x10 hole you just screw the adapter in upside down, the speaker side to the hole and the 6x9 side to the new 6x9 speaker
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) but that'll go in the boot facing the back of the rear seat sometime in the future. i don't care much for duff duff bass, i just want nice tight sound (actaully i just want tunes as i have none ATM)
