I've got a trans am with the upolstered map pockets and didn't want to change doorpanels for component speakers. so I have an all alpine system with a fitted sub box in the back with two 10" but with only the dash speakers and the 6x9s in the sail panels. recantly I came across these kick panel speaker sets and was wondering if anyone had some and how they were.

 

Where did you find those? I think I would like a set

 

Hmm now you have me wanting some too. Seems like it would be a good location for some mids.

 

Q-Logic makes (or used to make) a similar set, only with the tweeter on top. I've had mine for about 8 years.

 

They still make them I saw them on crutchfield about 30 minutes ago

 

The Q-Logic pieces are felt by many to be of poor quality. They also look kind of goofy, in my opinion.

The kicks in the original post look like Jim's, from this site. Are they? If so, I have heard nothing but good things about them.

 

The original pic does look a little like one of Jim's but it's hard to tell. Although I can tell you that if you are looking for a good set of kick's, Jim is definitely the one to talk to. I recently ordered a set from him, and just got them installed a couple days ago, and they are amazing.

 

here is the link to the site that has them, but I'm still not sure how they perform.
IRace Motorsports - Door Panels

 

IRace Motorsports is the company that Jim (the moderator on this board who makes custom kicks) started not too long ago, IIRC. So, those kicks you are considering are basically the absolute best kicks you can get for your thirdgen! From what I understand, he is also an awesome guy to deal with.

 

The only problem I have with the Q-Logic kicks, is the loss of the "dead" pedal. Just had to get used to putting my foot somewhere else. Besides, Ive had them much longer than I've been a member here and have no need to get new ones yet. Jim's do look like a quality set and from what I've read on the boards, very good reviews.

 

The kick panels I got from Jim really do not stick out too much to cause an issue with where to rest my foot. I could see them MAYBE being a problem to deal with if you have a manual, but that would be about it. And as for performance, they are great. If you really want a set, Jim is guy to talk to.

 

$200 seems like a lot to me for some plastic and carpeting. Am I missing something?

 

Maybe...Jim custom-made a fiberglass mold for those kickpanels. It's not like you can just whip up your own set from scratch without a significant investment of time and skill. But you are right, it is a lot of dough...but if you want great sound, what can you do?

 

In my opinion, they're well worth the $200. I know the work couldn't have been easy, and the sound is great. Besides, Q logic sells they're for I believe $90 a side, which is $180 for the pair, and they're dont even fit right from what I've told. Why not spend an extra $20 and get something that fits perfectly?

 

If you ask your local audio shop to make a set like mine for $200, chances are when he's done laughing at you, he'll throw you out of the store.

Whenever you're buying a hand-made product, there is a tremendous amount of time that goes into them, but you'll also find that the result is a much higher quality product than what you get from a mass-produced item that's just stamped out of ABS plastic.

These are made by hand-laying 2-3 layers of heavy fiberglass mat and fiberglass cloth into a mold. Once they harden, they're rough-trimmed, and receive between 1 and 4 coats of Bondo, depending on what they're being covered with (Carpet covers bumps that show through vinyl and paint). After they're bondo'd, the driver holes are cut. After that, mounting brackets are fabricated and temporarily hot-glued to the inside of the piece. After they're glued in, I use more fiberglass cloth to permanently attach them to the piece as well as add additional rigidity. Once that's done, the factory plastic kick panels are cleaned and cut for driver clearance and so that the fiberglass piece can be bolted on through those mounting brackets. After that, the piece is removed, and a layer of heavy sound deadening mat is installed over the entire inside of the piece. Next comes either carpet, or if vinyl or paint is used, additional bondo work is done to flush-mount the woofers. After the carpet is completed, the fiberglass pieces are reinstalled onto the stock kick, and additional sound deadening material is used to seal the seam all the way around. After that, a few coats of rubberized undercoating provide additional damping. Finally, the drivers are installed, and the plastic portions get a little armor-all to make them look better.

That's an awful lot of labor for $200. In fact, after materials costs are subtracted, I make somewhere around $5-8 per hour because I take so long to build them. Considering that most car audio shops charge $50-60 per hour, you'd be very lucky to get them to do a similar set for under $500-600. This is definately a labor of love and not a money maker.

Anyway... right now I'm on hiatus because I'm buying a house at the end June. Hopefully by September or October I'll be up and running in the new garage and will be able to start making them again.

For those of you who have my kicks and replied in this thread, thanks. It makes me feel good knowing that you guys like them so much.

 

so I guess I have to wait awhile if I want some. that gives me time to save up for it .

 

There is a stock set of speaker boxes that originally go in the kick panel spaces. They were offered in the bose systems of the camaro's. If you take the original speakers out you can put in 4"- 5 1/4" speaker with a little modification. I put those in my T/A. Clearance is a-lot better than the q-logic ones and I picked mine up for $50.

 

I disappeared for a while but I've got to respond to this thread. I own a set of Jim's kicks and love them. I posted a posted a review on them a while ago. Jim's a great guy and very easy to communicate with.

 

I formed mine out of fiberglass since I wanted to mount 8in subs in the kicks and door panels. I used memphis equipment and formed grills out of barbq grill mesh grating...lol

 

DO ANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE STSP BY STEP PICS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE CUSTOM KICKS

 

go to New Page 1 and click on trans am under the competition and award winning cars

 

Here are my kicks , if interested I can send more pics of their construction.They are a little time consuming to build but are very unique and take up less space than others.Above all they sound great!!!

 

wow i'd love to see the plans for those. I have a stick shift and i think the others would be in the way.

 

jim, you building yours again yet? or do I still have time to save money up?

 

You still have time. I'm not done unpacking at the new house, and I don't have my workshop set up yet.

I'm also probably going to build a few unfinished sets before I tell anybody, so that at least my first few customers will get a decent turn-around time instead of taking 2x longer than I always promise.

I also want to get back to work on my component speaker design, which may wind up with different tweeters and perhaps a revised kick panel design.

Fun stuff coming down the pike.

 

Give me a short while to scan some picts of the installation , and I will be glad to share the pleasure of having these kicks!

 

Hey Jim you should shoot me a pm when you have some ready.

 

Sorry dude. I've had a steady stream of emails & PMs from people who have wanted them since I stopped back in June. I can't re-contact everybody once I start back up. It'll be a first come, first served thing once I'm set to go, but don't worry, I'll be sure to post here when I'm ready to start taking orders, so as long as you check this forum relatively often, you'll know.