Front speaker options?

[1968-coupe]

been thinking about a sound system for my 1968 coupe street rod, The 6x9s in the back will work fine, BUT what about up front? I REALLY DONT LIKE the little 5x7 in the dash, Got that in my 1969 F100, dont like it at all. SO, what other option do I have? is there any way to mount 5.25s or 6.5s in the front doors? What other options do I have?

 

[2+2GT]

The factory stereo setup in 68 was a pair of 4x8 speakers in the doors. You can get excellent reproduction grilles for these.

 

[1968-coupe]

Interesting, I didnt notice a place for then in the doors of my car, but then again there was harldy anything in the interior of my car, almost all of it had been stripped, I just noticed the place in the dash.

Nice car, where eactly are the speakers? (either in looking over them or its too earl in the morning)

 

[2+2GT]

Interesting, I didnt notice a place for then in the doors of my car, but then again there was harldy anything in the interior of my car, almost all of it had been stripped, I just noticed the place in the dash.

Nice car, where eactly are the speakers? (either in looking over them or its too earl in the morning)

Look closely- There is a darker rectangle between the courtesy light and the front of the door. That's the cutout for the speaker. The light only there because it's a deluxe interior- non-deluxe had a piece of black friction tape on the door behind the light cutout. No kidding. Matches the black speaker cloth perfectly.

 

[1968-coupe]

I will have to look closly at my car, I looked the other day but didnt see an opening, did ALL 68s have them? And if it did would it have had the old opening in the dash? Mine is an early 68. Also is it possible to open it up for a 5x7 or a 6x9? I have never seen a 4x8. I plan on going with an Alpine system, Not sure how to fit the head unit in though, I dont want to mutilate my dash. I may install it under the dash and used a radio delete panel. On my 69 F100 I left the AM radio in it with its working 5x7 in the dash, and installed an easily removable CD player with 2 6.5s. In less than a minute I can look completely factory in the cab. Im not so much worried about this in the Mustang, I just want a clean looking powerful system.

 

[2+2GT]

No, all 66-68 required cutting a hole in the door. A small hole saw to form the corners is used, then a sabre or sawzall (with pad on the plate) to connect them. The first hole is the hardest. I usually end up just sitting there for a while, staring at the textured skin I haven't damaged yet.

 

[JonK]

Yes, those are the 'deluxe' grilles, my '67 came with the deluxe interior but no speakers in the door. I cut and mounted my own speakers, have to check but if I remember right they were 4"X6" speakers, Polk 461 I think I used. The height was just barely enough at 4" to hide them under the grilles, I don't think 5" will fit but I can measure. I like the fact that they are totally hidden as my dash speakers will be and my 6X9's in the rear shelf will be an under mount with cloth over the shelf and no speaker grilles so you won't know the car has any speakers.

The grilles don't have any depth to them so the speaker has to be pretty flush and not very deep or you'll hit the window when it rolls down, I think my speakers are ~2" deep.

I bought a spare stereo bezel off fleabay that already had holes drilled in it not to ruin my original and cut it out to fit a DIN radio, it'll be the only part of the stereo you see and face will be removed when not in use. It'd be great if I could fab a fake face plate from a broke AM radio to snap over it when I take the face off...? another idea.
Jon

 

[2+2GT]

… if I remember right they were 4"X6" speakers…

The grilles don't have any depth to them so the speaker has to be pretty flush and not very deep or you'll hit the window when it rolls down, I think my speakers are ~2" deep.

The 66-68 door speakers were 4x8", an unusual size, almost all Mustang suppliers will sell you the more common 4x6".

The hole in the door was rectangular, slightly rounded at the corners.

The speaker was mounted from inside the door. There was no protrusion other than the screw heads.

In 66, the speaker grille screws went through the door and held the speaker.

 

[1968-coupe]

I like the way they did this fastback, Very nice, but I dont know how they did it.

 

[2+2GT]

I like the way they did this fastback, Very nice, but I dont know how they did it.

Simple- They bought aftermarket kick panels moulded to fit speakers.

 

[1968-coupe]

I found some, 1965 to 1968 Kick Panels with Speaker Pod-Coupe/FB Not bad, I like that idea. Doesnt stand out, but gives you more options.

 

[calpolymustang]

Kickpanels w/Speakers
see bottom section for panels with tweeters

 

[Loup-garou]

(snip)
I bought a spare stereo bezel off fleabay that already had holes drilled in it not to ruin my original and cut it out to fit a DIN radio, it'll be the only part of the stereo you see and face will be removed when not in use. It'd be great if I could fab a fake face plate from a broke AM radio to snap over it when I take the face off...? another idea.
(snip)

I like the modded bezel for the DIN head unit. Also, I saw a Kenwood "hidden" unit (the "CarPortal" entry model) that has an LCD panel that appears to fit into a similar space. With a bit of work, the LCD panel could be recessed enough to hide behind a "radio delete" panel (could be hinged or held in place by velcro dots). The CarPortal unit would tuck up under the package tray and can be used to plug in HD radio, XM, iPod, USB flash drive and Bluetooth.

I've been pondering how to build all of that into a center console. If I figure it out, I'll post pics.