KICK PANEL SPEAKER SOLUTIONS?????

saveferris · May 14, 2007

I have a 1969 Convertible which currently has some custom made kick panel speaker pods which worked really well when it was an automatic. I now need the use of my emergency brake because I have a T5 in place of the original FMX. I thought about a LOKAR emergency brake mounted in the floor, which would have allowed me to keep my current kick panel speaker set up, but I do not want to put a hole in my pristine floors. The problem is that my custom fiberglass kick panel speaker pod on the driver side was molded in a way which stopped the parking brake from being used. Again, not a huge deal when it was an automatic since I never used it. SO, the question is does anyone have any suggestions, what's worked for you, include pictures if you can, for putting speakers in the front of the car. I don't plan on using the original dash speaker location. For the back I am planning on having a custom box, probably with a pair of 6x9's put in the back which can be easily removed and placed in the trunk for shows or for the extremely rare time that I have passengers in the rear. So I am not worried much about the rear. Just hoping someone has already used an idea that works so I don't need to reinvent the wheel. Thanks for you help.

mustangdave · May 14, 2007

Speakers in door panel?

bdepedro · May 14, 2007

I believe that NPD has kick panels w/ built in speakers and even lets you still use the vent. I'm sure others have something similar but theirs looks very nice. Planning on using them myself eventually.

DK832 · May 15, 2007

Anyone who has actually installed (and listened) to the NPD units? On my list too but not sure about the quality and sound. If it's just a piece of light molded plastic I'm not too hopeful for the sound quality...

bdepedro · May 15, 2007

A friend of mine bought a set for his '65 fastback but has not installed them yet. I think they look pretty good but he won't be installing them until later this spring or summer. We can hook them up and listen to them uninstalled but they will probably sound quite a bit trebley without the enclosure space for the low frequencies.

saveferris · May 15, 2007

thanks

Thanks for the response. I do not want to cut holes in my doors at this time. They are original and they did not come stock with the door speakers. I wish it was that easy. Any other thoughts are welcome of course. Thanks agian.

bnickel · May 15, 2007

be aware that the kick panels NPD and other places sell have 2 versions, one for coupes and fastbacks and one specifically for verts because of the inner rocker structure.

saveferris · May 15, 2007

Found the NPD "Kit"

I found the kick panel and speaker combo on NPD. They are 160 watt pioneers 5 1/4" 3 way speakers. I am going to speak with my local audio place to see if they have a similar sized speaker that will fit in the kick panels. If they cannot guarantee something will fit with more power, I'll just do the package through NPD. At least this will allow me to keep my stock parking brake and return the LOKAR parking brake I purchased. I'll come out way ahead in cost. Thanks again.

iskwezm · May 15, 2007

i put in some MB Quart 6.5's on a buddies car, but had to use a 1/2" spacer.

You dont need a speaker with more power, its not going to prodice any bass anyway, if you amplify it, more then likely the amp will have a built in crossover and the speaker will be used as a mid/high speaker, so theres less chance of distortion and blowing it.

palerider94 · May 16, 2007

Put on my 70 - happy with quality and fit. Never know when order plastic stuff. Clears brake pedal but very close. Not the best pic - I can take additional if interested.

180 Out · May 16, 2007

Any sound system that does not use separate amps, with the head unit providing line level out only, and that does not use a separate subwoofer box, is not going to produce decent sound, no matter what drivers you use. Flipside: any system that uses these two add-ons (provided they're quality stuff) is going to sound really good, no matter what drivers you use.

saveferris · May 17, 2007

Thanks again, great info

Palerider, I sent you a question by e-mail. Any other pics you had time to post, more close ups would be appreciated. It looks great and YES, I do have an amp powering the current set up. I am in the process of adding more in a custom box to put in the back seat which will be set up to be able to be removed and put in the trunk when not in use. But thanks again for the continued info. It has been extremely useful and is providing me the ideas I wanted.

palerider94 · May 17, 2007

Heres a few more pics. Speakers are 4 1/2. Don't remeber name of them, got from Best Buy. I'm not much of stereo guy. Bought pods from CJ Pony. They had 2 types. Ones for 4x6 and 5 1/2 rounds which mine are. Had 5 1/2 Infinitys that I was going to put on but the grills hung over the ede of speaker pods and thought the 4 1/2 looked cleaner. Also took pics of emergency brake. It does just barely touch edge of speaker pod when depressing all the way. If I was had a stick I would probabaly shim it out a bit so it cleared easily. That would be pretty easy to do. In any case good luck - I think they are a good alternative to cutting into metal. Goo luck..

palerider94 · May 17, 2007

Couple more

Taranis · May 17, 2007

180 Out said:
Any sound system that does not use separate amps, with the head unit providing line level out only, and that does not use a separate subwoofer box, is not going to produce decent sound, no matter what drivers you use. Flipside: any system that uses these two add-ons (provided they're quality stuff) is going to sound really good, no matter what drivers you use.

So an Audiovox amp will outperform a McIntoch head unit with respects to sound quality?

This is not really true. Someone can buy a high-quality headunit, good drivers, and they might sound good for the person buying the equipment. They might not out-volume separates, but can be very pleasant to listen to at moderate volumes.
Sound is very subjective.

All drivers are not created equal and do influence the way a system sounds in HUGE amounts. Take a pair of Sony's and put them near a set of Diamond Audios and you will most definitely hear a difference.
In the world of car audio, there is a lot of pressure to buy the big name brands so that people can say "I've got Rockford Fosgate Amps." BEFORE you buy a amp or speakers, you need to know what type of music you're going to play, then audition them at the store with that music. Some times you will find that the speakers that you are most excited about sound like CRAP. I know this is a little off, but I auditioned a bunch of different models of speakers for my Home Theater. I think I listened to about 15 sets overall. The manufacturer I was most interested in hearing was a set of DALIs (Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industry.) These things were gorgeous and has ribbon tweeters for the ultra-highs. After I auditioned them, I thought they were the worst-sounding speakers I heard.

The moral of the story is: listen before you buy WITH the same amp setup as you currently have or are going to have. Different of amplifiers will have varying effects on different drivers.

jcode68 · May 18, 2007

How about a 67/68 parking brake handle?

You might have good success retrofitting a 67/68 parking brake assembly, which would have zero interferance and allow you to retain your existing kick panels. Mustangs Unlimited sells them for $65

Mounts to the underside of the dash and may be able to use the existing parking brake cable setup. Anyone done this type of swap before?

KICK PANEL SPEAKER SOLUTIONS?????

saveferris

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