Building kick panels - Car Audio - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

MaineIrocer · 12-09-2003, 11:16 AM

I want to custom build kick panels for my car.....can anyone help me out on how to do it or where i can go to find out?

Huckster's '84 TA · 12-09-2003, 12:56 PM

If you do a search, I know this question was just asked recently and you should be able to find some answers there. Good luck.

caleb · 12-09-2003, 02:00 PM

I recently did this job myself. Heres what I did, I started out with the stock kickpanles, then I cut out wooden rings, so that when the speaker was mounted the grill would be flush with the rest of the kick, if you dont know how to make the wooden rings, go here and it will teach you how to build the rings. you dont need to counter sink the tweeters because they will come with flush mounting hardware. Once you have your wodden rings, you will want to put the kickpanels in the car, take the rings, aim them where you want them, then use wooden dowels about 1/4" is good and use hot glue or whatever you want to attach them to the wooden rings, and to the kickpanel, MAKE SURE THE RINGS ARENT GOING TO MOVE!!!! Then take something like fleece, or an old t-shirt stretch it across the kick panel stretch all the wrinkles out of it and wrap it around to the back the hot glue it to the back of the kick panel. Mix up your resin/hardner and brush it onto the t-shirt covering everything except the inside of the tweeter and speaker ring, that cloth doesnt need resin it will be cut out later. I used 4 layers of t-shirts and they are plenty thick for my speakers (CDT CL-61A's) just make sure that you use a fiberglassing roller and make sure there are no air pockets as air pockets create weak spots in the glass. Once you get them thick enough, you can sand them really smooth and paint them, or wrap them in vinyl, or carpet them, and your done. I will try to get pictures up of mine, they arent covered yet but they are finished and installed! Good luck, if you have any questions PM me, or ask on here.

holov1 · 12-09-2003, 09:40 PM

you can buy kick panels made for a 5.25 and a tweeter component sets for the 82 thru 92 firebird or camaro just check the local stereo stores for them if no luck get with me and I'll get you prices for them( work at a stereo store and I can get them) they are made by a company called Q-form.

MaineIrocer · 12-10-2003, 03:47 PM

how much do they usually cost?

holov1 · 12-10-2003, 03:59 PM

they run 159.50 plus shipping and would need to know what color interior that you have because they come color match to your interior.

MaineIrocer · 12-11-2003, 10:10 AM

See what i was wondering is if there is anyways to buildthem from scratch becasue thats alot of money i would rather spend someplace else then on some kick panels ya know.

white91formula · 12-11-2003, 09:39 PM

i am currently making them, in shop class

this is what i have done so far, i will be putting the first layer of glass on tomorow

white91formula · 12-11-2003, 09:40 PM

another

white91formula · 12-11-2003, 09:41 PM

and one last one,

i have already taken fiberglass mat and cut strips and taped it to teh kick and to the ring, so i can glass it on, sorry no pics of the mat, but i will be getting somre more tomorow

then i can show you better

i plan on putting 3 layers of glass and then sanding, bondoing, and painting

Boomin Boy · 12-12-2003, 03:21 AM

http://hem.passagen.se/gute/Corrado...ilder/front.htm

http://www.completeaudio.8m.com/kick_pods.htm

http://www.elitecaraudio.com/instal...mages/index.php

q forms are very overpriced...your money could be spend much better in other places. The build quality on them isnt up to par as far as im concerned. I would much rather build my own and make sure i know they are strong and well built, and its much cheaper. It just takes some patience

MaineIrocer · 12-12-2003, 09:21 AM

Thanks man! Is that your site?? Or just one you came across?

Boomin Boy · 12-12-2003, 08:13 PM

no those are just sites that ive come across

Firebird 383 · 03-18-2004, 08:46 PM

I am about to start on a pair of custom kick panels to house 5-1/4" components. I did a search & this was the most complete thread on this subject.

Unfortunately, since Boomin Boy's links were originally posted, 2 of them are now dead. Anyone have anymore links to this process or any 1st hand info on building fiberglass kicks?

White91Formula: did you ever finish yours?

white91formula · 03-18-2004, 10:09 PM

well one of them is done.... i never got around/ was to lazy to start the body work on teh second

the fiberglass is done and all trimmed out, all that is left is bondo to smooth the second one out, and then paint

firebird383 if you have any specific questions you cna talk to me on AIM : yzz89

and just to point out a mistake that i made when i made mine, if oyu look at the pics, make sure you put a spacer between the speaker ring that you cut out and the kick panel, if you are covering the whoel thing in fiberglass then you will want the space for the speaker grille and speaker to fit properly in the kick panel, i had to cut up the one that i have finished a bit to get teh speaker to sit flush.

Kj Rockz · 03-18-2004, 11:31 PM

Wish dj sexay was still making them and coming here.
I got mine from him like about 2 years ago now, It was the best investment I ever made.

caleb · 03-18-2004, 11:57 PM

DJ Sexay sold his molds to Resn8r or whatever, and he is making them and selling them now, excellent quality, and good prices. I had a set of his for about 8 months then decided to sell them and build my own to fit my new set of CDT's :hail: anyway, he has a website, its called well hell i just went and searched for it and it apears that he is in Iraq

Kj Rockz · 03-19-2004, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by caleb
DJ Sexay sold his molds to Resn8r or whatever, and he is making them and selling them now, excellent quality, and good prices. I had a set of his for about 8 months then decided to sell them and build my own to fit my new set of CDT's :hail: anyway, he has a website, its called well hell i just went and searched for it and it apears that he is in Iraq

Yes he is, so no new kick panels for the moment.

br()bert · 03-19-2004, 11:21 AM

For the price of a set of kicks purchased you could make a set your self and a sub box easily.

white91formula · 03-19-2004, 12:47 PM

for $50 of fiberglass materials i have some kicks and 5/8 of a sub box

AJ_92RS · 03-19-2004, 07:44 PM

white91formula,

All I can say is..... You got some little feet.

white91formula · 03-19-2004, 08:15 PM

size 12

CamaroStud1988 · 03-19-2004, 08:51 PM

i made these ones

Slow89Iroc-Z · 03-19-2004, 09:24 PM

here's mine I made anout a year ago... they fit nice and tight to the car so plenty of foot room.

white91formula · 03-19-2004, 10:37 PM

camaro stud1988

i hope that is a 4th gen dash or it is not a third gen because there is a glove box.... do you have anymore pics of oyur dash install ?

CamaroStud1988 · 03-19-2004, 11:20 PM

its a 96 dash, ill take some more pics of it later,its in my 88 which i dont really drive since i got the 91..

Boomin Boy · 03-20-2004, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slow89Iroc-Z
here's mine I made anout a year ago... they fit nice and tight to the car so plenty of foot room.

nice choice in components

Firebird 383 · 03-20-2004, 10:03 AM

CamaroStud & Slow89: Do you have any "in-progress" pics? I'd like to see the different stages of the build. I know I need to build speaker rings and some sort of framework to attach the rings to the kick panels. What did you do after that to get to the finished product?

CamaroStud1988 · 03-20-2004, 12:37 PM

i posted some a long time ago when i was building them,i posted pics of the framing,fiberglass and bondo stages. ill avhe to try n find it