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Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 12:36 PM
  #1  
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Car: 1989 Trans Am
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Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

So the stock speakers that mount in the dashboard are cracked and sound terrible. I'm looking to replace them since I already have the dash taken out to do the headliner. Unfortunately, I know absolutely NOTHING about audio. I found some nice 4x6's that look like they'd be good replacements. They're JBL GTO6428's. I'm wondering if JBL is a good brand, and if they would be direct bolt in's, and if the Alpine deck that came with my car would support them? Oh yeah, everything else besides the deck is stock as far as I know.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 01:26 PM
  #2  
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Car: 1992 RS
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Crutchfield.com will hook you up

Customer reviews, tons of brands, and they'll tell you exactly what fits your car.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 01:39 PM
  #3  
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Car: 91 Firebird, 06 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

JBL makes good speakers. I personally love the memphis M-class speakers. MMMM im going out after this message to go listin to some tunes just thinkin about it. Like said crutchfield has good reviews and customer service. Ive dealt with them before and never had ONE thing to say bad about the company. Actually a very trustworthy company considering the economy these days!


Onto the alpine deck. Anything aftermarket is usually better then the stock 20 yr old radio. I personally have an alpine in mine...it has the sat radio, direct ipod, sub controls, blah blah. I love the deck. My only complaint about alpine decks is they make the highs very loud. Of course alpine also has great sound managment in the stereos(at least the new ones) so you can tune it to what you like.


Just as a heads up, most alpine decks have a high and low pass filter on them. Set both of them to compliment the range of the speakers you choose. I have mine so all the low notes and really high notes(to high/low for the speakers) are done away with. The subs in the back pick up the lows where the speakers fall short.

Another thing to think of your profile doesnt say if you have a camaro or a firebird...the firebird has less room to work with and alot of the aftermarket speakers wont fit in the dash without modification so be warned. And please dont go hackin up the plastic under there cause guess what, that is your air ducting!. So either find the lowest profile aftermarket speakers you can find or consider building some kick panels or door pods, the latter being my personal preference.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 01:47 PM
  #4  
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Car: 1987 Trans am (SOLD), 1986 Trans Am
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

U need either the alpine's SpS 406,the pioneer's TS-a4657's,or some extra slim polk audios,so far those are the only speakers that I kno will work without cutting up your dash because theyre shallow.Other speakers will require you to cut up your dash a bit,since the diameter is bigger.

I personally dont like 4x6's in the dash,in fact i dont like 4x6's at all.The bass in the dash will sound horrible, so u are gonna wish u could have treble only, so instead I'd recommend u get urself some tweeters.Im using the pioneer's TS-T110 (50 w rms) and they sound amazing,for the price and the space you are working with thats the best bang for your buck.

If u decide to go this way you'd have to adapt em tho, but thats pretty easy, what I did I got me some abs plastic,made holes for the tweets,made 4 holes in the corners , and then I used the speaker covers screws under the dash to hold em in place, and since theyre tweets they dont rattle. =]

the difference was night and day.

If you want 4x6's too bad tho,and ur alpine head unit has separate front and back crossovers (meaning that it lets u filter lows and highs separately in ur front and back speakers) you could also just filter the lows in the front, but the highs would be a lot crispier with the tweets.

And u would also need to cut the factory connectors,get some speaker terminals and some crimps.Dont pay the audio store for that.Instead buy the terminals, the crimps,some wire and do the work yourself.Its pretty straightforward.If u need to know the polarity of the speakers visit this website http://www.installdr.com/ in the speakers normally the thicker terminal is the positive, in the rare event theyre the same size use a AA battery to determine which side is positive.

If u need anymore help dont hesitate askin =]
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 05:31 PM
  #5  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by mtwlkn122
you can find or consider building some kick panels or door pods, the latter being my personal preference.
I was on crutchfield a bit back and they were actually selling kickpanels for our cars. Not sure how legit they were
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 10:19 PM
  #6  
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Car: 1989 Formula 350 / 2001 TA WS6
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

i just went through the same thing with mine. there isnt an EXACT replacement. my 89 formula 350 has only two bolts in the front holding the speaker bracket a hard plastic clip on the side that just grips the edge of the bracket. the Alpine SPS-406 4"x6" come with 2 brackets a thin metal one and a thicker plastic one. the only one that fits is the thick plastic one and you have to do some trimming so that the plastic clip will fit the bracket. the speakers will then only fit one way due to the small space it fits in. they will also have the center of the speaker hitting the speaker grill once the dash pad is back on. so far i havent had any issues with that particular problem. if there is anything thinner than the alpine SPS-406 i would go with that instead.

the rear ones are easy to find replacements the front dash its a b@tch if your trying to keep it stock looking.

there is also a 1/4" extension and 7mm socket now lost somewhere in my firebird down the defroster vents...

Last edited by Mudskunk; Sep 19, 2009 at 10:20 PM. Reason: addition
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Old Sep 20, 2009 | 01:12 AM
  #7  
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Car: 1987 Trans am (SOLD), 1986 Trans Am
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by Mudskunk
i just went through the same thing with mine. there isnt an EXACT replacement. my 89 formula 350 has only two bolts in the front holding the speaker bracket a hard plastic clip on the side that just grips the edge of the bracket. the Alpine SPS-406 4"x6" come with 2 brackets a thin metal one and a thicker plastic one. the only one that fits is the thick plastic one and you have to do some trimming so that the plastic clip will fit the bracket. the speakers will then only fit one way due to the small space it fits in. they will also have the center of the speaker hitting the speaker grill once the dash pad is back on. so far i havent had any issues with that particular problem. if there is anything thinner than the alpine SPS-406 i would go with that instead.

the rear ones are easy to find replacements the front dash its a b@tch if your trying to keep it stock looking.

there is also a 1/4" extension and 7mm socket now lost somewhere in my firebird down the defroster vents...

I think somebody here has those polk's im talkin about.I believe those are thinner than the alpines.Theyre extra slim.

Anywhoo I'd still very higly recommend getting tweeters.

Name:  wearh.jpg
Views: 361
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...You are gonna like the way it sounds

I guarantee it...


lol

Last edited by 87 WHITE GTA; Sep 20, 2009 at 01:28 AM.
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Old Sep 20, 2009 | 08:42 AM
  #8  
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From: Batavia Area, NY
Car: 91 Firebird, 06 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT
Engine: 3.1L, 4.7L
Transmission: 700r4, 45RFE
Axle/Gears: 3.23 open, 3.55?
Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by Mudskunk

there is also a 1/4" extension and 7mm socket now lost somewhere in my firebird down the defroster vents...

that made my day!
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Old Sep 20, 2009 | 11:07 PM
  #9  
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Car: 1987 IROC-Z
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Yeah, Crutchfield is selling kicker panels for $179.99 for two, can either get the 6-1/2 or 5-1/4 enclosure, and those would def sound better than the 4x6s under the dash as stated earlier, i still have the stock ones and they rattle like none other when they hit bass notes, its horrible.
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 05:20 PM
  #10  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Wow, thanks for all the help guys! I actually stopped by autozone for something completely different a few hours after I posted this, and I found some cheapy 4x6 speakers. They were $30 and bolted right in! Im not looking to set up a full system in my car just yet, the goal was to get it to stop sounding like total ****. So for now, these are good
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 06:13 PM
  #11  
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From: London, Ont, Canada
Car: 87 T-Top GTA
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

****Alpine 406**** I put them in last summer, and I love them!
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/car-...aker-help.html

This thread should help you as well.
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 12:39 AM
  #12  
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Car: 1991 camaro rs
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

if those are the pyle audio they sale, then they are going to be too big
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 04:37 PM
  #13  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by ellocojorge
if those are the pyle audio they sale, then they are going to be too big
Well anything with a bigger magnet then what the Alpine 406 has Wont fit without cutting plastic off. And its about as tall as you can go, (at least with a 4 x 6 speaker). My dash pad sits right on the speaker, (no rattles or vibrating)!
I did try to fit JBL's (4x6) at first, the magnet was to wide.
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 02:55 AM
  #14  
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Car: 91 Z28 Camaro
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Hey all... quick newb question for a 91 z28 front speaker replacement. Tweeters... can they run off the stereo or do they need a seperate power source? Also can I mount them to the 4x6's? Or should be somewhere else? Thx!
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 09:42 AM
  #15  
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From: London, Ont, Canada
Car: 87 T-Top GTA
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

As far as I know, you can just hook those tweeters right up to the deck. You shouldn't need to use a Amp on them. On a 91 I'm NOT 100% sure if 4x6 is the stock size under the dash pad! Someone else here should know that. I would like to say that 4x6 is, my 87 firebird stock speaker size is 4x6.
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 09:43 AM
  #16  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by Nitehawk83
Hey all... quick newb question for a 91 z28 front speaker replacement. Tweeters... can they run off the stereo or do they need a seperate power source? Also can I mount them to the 4x6's? Or should be somewhere else? Thx!
This will help you:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ca...aker-help.html
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 11:02 AM
  #17  
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Car: 91 Z28 Camaro
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Thanks for the info! From the other thread it looks like you can just install tweeters in place of the 4x6 front dash speakers? That would be cool and save me some cash.
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 03:00 PM
  #18  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Instead of running the tweeters right from the deck to save you speaker wires, just bridge the tweeters off the 4x6s in the dash and you could do the same if you decide to put the tweeters in the sail panels with the 6x9s
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 10:48 PM
  #19  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by mechanic1992
Instead of running the tweeters right from the deck to save you speaker wires, just bridge the tweeters off the 4x6s in the dash and you could do the same if you decide to put the tweeters in the sail panels with the 6x9s
Well I was thinking of keeping the tweeters up front. So I assume I can just install the tweeters in the 4x6's spots and use thier wire to connect them to the deck right?
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 11:20 PM
  #20  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by Nitehawk83
Well I was thinking of keeping the tweeters up front. So I assume I can just install the tweeters in the 4x6's spots and use thier wire to connect them to the deck right?
Yeah if you plan on not using the 4x6s at all then yeah you can do that, if you were going to put new 4x6s in the dash you can buy custom trim thats pretty cheap, or just cut into the existing A and B pillars and just run the tweeters up through those. But if you didnt plan on using the 4x6s at all then yeah, you could easily just wire the tweeters straight from your deck and under the dash
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Old Sep 28, 2009 | 12:47 AM
  #21  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by mechanic1992
Yeah if you plan on not using the 4x6s at all then yeah you can do that, if you were going to put new 4x6s in the dash you can buy custom trim thats pretty cheap, or just cut into the existing A and B pillars and just run the tweeters up through those. But if you didnt plan on using the 4x6s at all then yeah, you could easily just wire the tweeters straight from your deck and under the dash
Hate to sound newb but I am... when you say custom trim do you mean trim for the 4x6's so I could attach the tweeters to that?

Reason I was thinking of just putting tweeters up front instead of 4x6's is cause it seems it would save me some $$ and time. I could put the extra $$ into nice rear speakers to make up for it. Does that sound like a ok idea for a cash strapped z28 owner?
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Old Sep 28, 2009 | 12:51 AM
  #22  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by mechanic1992
Instead of running the tweeters right from the deck to save you speaker wires, just bridge the tweeters off the 4x6s in the dash and you could do the same if you decide to put the tweeters in the sail panels with the 6x9s
Not tryin to sound smart...but if u were to connect the 4x6 and the tweeters bridged u'd have to connect them in series to avoid lowering the impedance
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Old Sep 28, 2009 | 12:56 AM
  #23  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

I had tweeters under the speaker covers,but I am currently working on installing em on top of the dash..they sound a lot better...the closer the tweeter is to you the better cuuuuz theyre higly directional....i think the optimum distance is 6 inches...not sure...but if u can cover em with speaker cloth or install them on top I'd do that so that theyre not mudded.

will post pics when done tomorrow =]
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Old Sep 28, 2009 | 01:16 AM
  #24  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by 87 WHITE GTA
Not tryin to sound smart...but if u were to connect the 4x6 and the tweeters bridged u'd have to connect them in series to avoid lowering the impedance
Yeah, i know that. And to answer your question Nitehawk, there are some aftermarket A and B pillar trim pieces you can use to house your tweeters. Or like i said you can take a small cutting tool to the original trim and cut out your desired holes. If you look at what this guy did you will know what i mean about the pillars. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/car-...-build-up.html
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Old Sep 28, 2009 | 01:54 AM
  #25  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Originally Posted by mechanic1992
Yeah, i know that.
I assumed u knew it.
Just posted it to avoid confussion to the dude you're helpin
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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 11:07 PM
  #26  
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From: Portland, OR
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

Yeah, thanks, i didnt mean to get confusing or miss interpret something if i did.
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Old Oct 1, 2009 | 11:39 PM
  #27  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

You can fit 6x9s in there, I did. Gotta stick to $80-100 sets with like a 50-60oz magnet, none of them hugh double stackers magnets. To big then. But bigger then a 4x6 and cheaper in most cases. [more magnet, more cone area.....]

You do have to remove some of the venting, and chop here n there with a dremil but its realy easy. The venting you lose isn't a big deal, them goofy tiny side vents in the dash edge if you have them. Regular windshield de-fogger n forward vents are fine.

Yea some will still bitch but if you want good sound up front you need 6x9s in the dash and long as you plug off what you remove , no leaks, and still all the air ya need. Door mounted speakers get in the way if your long legged.

Last edited by Gumby; Oct 1, 2009 at 11:46 PM.
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 12:03 PM
  #28  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

6x9 that look like these, that regular sized magnet, not the super sized.



http://cgi.ebay.com/PYLE-PAIR-BLUE-6...d=p3286.c0.m14
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Old Oct 3, 2009 | 05:55 PM
  #29  
morrow's Avatar
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Car: 92 Camaro Rs.R
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

the jbl 4by6 speakers are great speakers for the price, i was running and all jbl sustem in my wrangler a while back, it was by far the cleanest sounding jeep ull ever hear......

jbl speakers will never stear u wrong but the dont like being over loaded with power, so be carfull, and there bass output isnt very good, but there highs are fantastic, so i hope yuou have a sub in the back, the magnets are a little large so u will need to trin a little out of the onside the dash but any 4by6 speaker will fit, they all come with a reataing mount ring that has all paterns for any aplication, , ill be running polk audio components in my 92rs soon, just finished my box with a ten inch kicker solo barac square l5 ,...............hope this hellps
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 10:49 PM
  #30  
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Re: Replacing Stock Speakers Under the Dash...

"What size of speakers will fit?" IF you are willing to cut some plastic, almost any thing 6x9 or less will fit! NPJ93- had asked "and if they would be direct bolt in's?" So cutting plastic TOO make it fit, is not the same as Direct Replacement! I think that when someone is asking "what fits?" They are not planning on doing any cutting, they want a direct fit!

Heck even Big mudders Could fit our cars, IF we cut the fenders!!!
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