Kick Panel Speakers install

[The Posh Mushroom]

Hello!

Finally got around to starting to install my kick panel speakers.

I ordered fiberglass kick panels from glass action, and a set of Rockford Fosgate speakers (5 1/4")

Here's a before of my kick panel area:

I started by pulling out the carpet

After that, I printed and cut out circular templates to cut out of the fiberglass panels, and deciding exactly where I wanted the speaker to be

I started by cutting out a rough polygon with a dremel rotary blade attachment, then rounded it out to the proper diameter with a sanding wheel, also on the dremel

I then drilled the screw holes

I couldn't get a good photo, but it fits in very well, I just have to drill the mounting holes through the fiberglass and the body of my car, and I have small sheet metal screws to attach it with.

I'm going to need to get more carpet so that I can carpet up to the top of the new fiberglass panel - the existing carpet is not quite "tall" enough if that makes sense.

My plan is to get an exact copy of that front passenger carpet piece, and then cut and sew (or have an upholstery shop sew) the original and the new one together so that the vent hole is in the correct place, but it is "taller" so as to cover the new kick panel.

Does this sound feasible? Would I be better off trying to get a custom carpet panel made by an upholstery shop?

I will be updating this thread as I keep working so stay tuned

[ZENVWDRIVER]

… sounds like, you're not cutting any corners - interesting place to put your speakers - where you gunna put your stereo?

Back in the day, I built a shelf, behind the back seat and put my speakers there - I like your idea better - just too cheap, to buy all that stuff > nice - z
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[The Posh Mushroom]

thanks z

I'm just using the normal radio location, I put in an old cassette radio from 1981

Ain't the fanciest, but I like it.

[tjbayless]

Are those glass action kick panels. If so do you have a picture of them complete. I’m having an issue getting my carpet fit well.

[Cusser]

[cyclehobby]

Nice job on the kick panel speakers.

Only thing I worry about is attaching them to the metal of the car at that location. Call me rusty, but drilling and sheet metal screwing the panels there makes me scared. I don't know. Maybe some sort of nutsert or threaded insert would make me feel better, but not really.

I know I'm being paranoid and I'm sure your install will look and work great. After seeing your prep work, that's likely a guarantee.

When I wanted to install new speakers to make my Retrosound radio sound, well nice, I debated a number of options. What I ended up doing is taking a vinyl upholstered rear cargo cover the PO included with the car but never installed and installed the speakers there. After all, that's what they sell them for, right? But I didn't want to mount all that up high right below the rear window. So, I made a template of the FLOOR of the rear cargo area, removed the vinyl, cut the cargo cover to fit just off the floor so it would be out of sight and mounted the speakers in that after reinstalling the vinyl.

Then, I placed two wooden spacers under it all to allow space (3" or so) under the new "speaker deck" and it looks very nice, can look factory even (because you can't see the speakers unless you look in the cargo area), and it works very nicely. Of course, I had to run the speaker wires all the way to the back, but that wasn't hard to do.

Back in the day, most people would simply put speakers in the door panels, but I think your method and mine are a bit nicer.

Good job!
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Northern NJ

[Cusser]

[slayer61]

So I'm probably not the only one who runs the balance a little to the right to make up for seating position when I'm alone in the car?
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