WHERE DO I PUT MY SPEAKERS?

[DIXONBOY]

I have marine speakers in my 65 and to me they don't sound very good or get very loud. They might be because they are cheep though.

[derek7871]

I've got a pair of 6x9's hanging from the springs on the back of the bench seat. Just flip the seat forward, get some wire ties and install. I also managed to squeeze a pair of round (3inch??) speakers in the dash where the original speaker was.

Cooter

[Caseys71]

My truck came to me with 6.5"s in the doors, probably what I will end up doing is just replacing them with some new 6.5"s, then trying to build an enclosure either for over the tank or under the seat.

[Joe Kriston]

Do we need to get marine speakers or how long will they live with regular automotive speakers?

We had a discussion on this board a couple of years back about Ford changing the anti-rattle window devices in mid year 1970 from the old felt to the rubber ones...There was some speculation that Ford did this about the same time they introduced the am/fm stereo with the speaker mounted doors, and that the rubber anti-rattlers were to prevent water from seeping into the speaker area...Don't know for certain, just thought I would toss that out...

[1971ford]

Do we need to get marine speakers or how long will they live with regular automotive speakers?

We had a discussion on this board a couple of years back about Ford changing the anti-rattle window devices in mid year 1970 from the old felt to the rubber ones...There was some speculation that Ford did this about the same time they introduced the am/fm stereo with the speaker mounted doors, and that the rubber anti-rattlers were to prevent water from seeping into the speaker area...Don't know for certain, just thought I would toss that out...

I never thought about that.... I am really surprised my door speakers in the 71 still work!

[austin]

heres a pic of my 6x9s in the doors

[cdeal28078]

heres a pic of my 6x9s in the doors

I have had 6x9's in that same position for about 20 years or more. I did have an old set of Pioneers and finally swapped them for some Infinities this year. The 1st pair lasted 20 or so years and are still in good working order so I see no need for marine style speakers at all. My truck has been a daily driver it's whole life.
They sound great in the position also.
Clint

[70_F100]

When GM started offering dealer-installed stereo speakers in the kick panels of their pickups in 73, they used a 4" round hole and supplied a plastic "cup" that snapped into the hole to keep them dry.

It seems to me it would be easy enough to fabricate a square "box" or even a round or rectangular one that would fit behind the speakers.

That would also help direct the sound toward the inside of the cab instead of allowing it to "bounce around" in the door. With any volume, having the back of the speaker open will make the truck sound like one of those teenagers' cars that have speakers worth more than the car. When I hear one of those cars while sitting at a stoplight, the sound is so distorted that it sounds sort of like a speaker with a bad cone!!

[badboyzkustumz]

your local pepboys carries ready to install plastic buckets for installing speakers. usually have a variety of sizes. simply drill a hole for wire, silicone tight and install. makes cutting the hole easier as well as you can just trace it and cut. prevents distortion at higher volumes, keeps them protected from the elements and louder/clearer overall. ive got two sets of 6 1/2 in the doors and two tens behind the seat on top the tank.

[cdeal28078]

My 1st pair of 6x9's lasted around 20 years and are still good. I will be putting them in my 72 Maverick when I get around to it. After that length of time most people are ready for another set anyway.
I live in NC and most of that 20 years my truck was parked outside in the rain and weather.
I just can't see the problem with putting them in the doors. I have a plain jane Sony X-plod am/fm cd and it sounds great with enough bass for my old ears.
clint

[sport71]

I took the gas tank out. So I'll have room for my 12"s, 2 amps and in the corners where it is hollow I'm going to find a way to put a pair of some 9x6's in a wedge box, and a pair of some 9x6's also in a wedge box under the front seat.. Where the CB usualy goes I'll be putting a Pioneer flipout 7" screen DVD head unit. I plan to make it all removable..

[red403]

The plan I have is to remove the fuel tank and relocate it to the front of the box then there will be lots of room for some stereo equipment back there but that is a long ways away.

[f100fordtruck]

heres where the speakers were mounted in mine when my dad bought the truck however long ago it was.

[68muscletruck]

Good lookin truck, there's been lots of controversies over where the best place for speakers is, doors, dash, behind the seat, under the seat, a center console etc. Being a musician on the side of a mechanic I had to have a good sound system, initially I just had an aftermarket cd deck in the dash and ran wiring through the dash up through the a pillar and down to wires under my seat. For a few weeks two 6.5 inch speakers under the front of the seat gave plenty of sound, and were better than nothing but it still wasn't right. Went ahead and decided I would need something more, sub and more tweeters and plain woofers. Unbolted the behind the seat gas tank, turned it around and mounted it in the front of the bed, made a cover for it with some scrap aluminum. Opened enough room to make a custom slim truck box for my single 12'' sub, another pair of small panels on either side of that long box with 8''s and 2 2 1/4'' on each side all behind the seat plus a pair of 4'' in the dash above the deck where the original am speakers would be, plus the same 6.5''s under the seat... i was able to mount the 8''s and hte 2 1'4''s in some home stereo panels that just slid in and then I was able to hide my amp behind that rather than under the seat to interfere with sliding back and forth. That may be more work than you want to deal with but I can't tell you how amazing the sound is in that all metal cab that would normally have a metallic sound to it. These pictures are from awhile back and show a lot of exposed wiring thats all taken care of now etc, this stage was mainly to make sure that was the sound I wanted... note, no speakers in the doors period... and if needed, replacement door panels at the junkyard ran me about 20 bucks cause the previous owner butchered them doing exactly that, trying to mount speakers... you can make it fit to your preference and setup, I've seen guys mount amps on the back wall and adjust the seat to stay forward for deeper boxes etc

[shaggys_bump]

Sorry about the post jack... 68muscletruck what color is the blue on the inside of your truck? brandname?