Just bought a 71 cutlass convertible!

richard · 12-27-2006, 02:23 PM

I'm very excited about restoring it. It's already in good shape but I want to make it perfect over time. the first thing I have to have though is a good stereo. I need rear speaker enclosures. Yearone doesn't have any for 1971 (67and earlier). anyone know where I can find two rear speaker enclosures. remember, this is a convertible.

I will post pic soon and followup as the restoration moves on.

You can email me at richard_watkins@verizon.net

thanks,

Richard.

texasred · 12-27-2006, 06:23 PM

Welcome to stereo hell! I've been trying to find a suitable solution for a couple or four years. Year One (I think) has front kickpanel replacements that have speaker pods molded in. I have a friend that has them in his 72 442 and they are pretty hot.

Other than that (and I'm assuming you don't want to cut anything) I've been thinking about just a couple of speaker boxes and a quick disconnect harness. When I leave the car, the speakers go in the trunk.

If you come up with anything else, let me know too!

C.J.

richard · 12-27-2006, 06:55 PM

That you say the neverending project. Is that my future?

By the way, I need knew instrumentation gauges. Got any ideas?

richard · 12-27-2006, 06:56 PM

CJ,

Yep, it is stereo hell. I found enclosures that mount to the back seats but
are flush to the top of the seats. They hold 6x9 speakers and leave enough
room for the top to go down and in. So far I found 67 and earlier mounts.
They make them for the 71 convertible but I haven't found them yet.

You're right, I don't want to cut anything.

I did buy the front kick panels with speakers that you described. Glad you
say they sound good. what about the stereo itself? Thanks for your input.
I've got a long ways to go so I hope you stick around.

Richard

texasred · 12-28-2006, 07:01 AM

Richard,

There's mounts for 2 6x9s behind the seat, but you can only hear them if the top is up.

I'd like to hear more about those rear speaker mounts (who makes them, etc).

I kept the factory indash AM-FM. I added a Rockford-Fosgate Omnifi. It's a remote mounted hard drive and wireless internet connection. My home computer hooks up to my car while it's in the garage at night and downloads my playlists, new songs, etc. It's like driving around in a 3000 song i-Pod! Added a 500w amp in the trunk, put a remote volume and the Omnifi head in the console and I'm good to go.

C.J.

richard · 12-28-2006, 09:14 AM

Technology at its finest. that sounds very nice. when the top is down, I will fade the sound to the front speakers.

I just ordered a new top and entire knew (refurbished) instrumentation panel.

oldssragtop · 12-28-2006, 06:36 PM

I own a 69 cutlass-s conv and i put my stereo under the drivers seat ran power wire under the carpet to fuse box then ran the speaker wires under the carpet and mounted 2 - 3 way speakers up under the dash works great top up or down . tim

texasred · 12-28-2006, 07:49 PM

Ragtop,

How did you mount them under the dash? Got pictures?

C.J.

oldssragtop · 12-28-2006, 08:42 PM

I bought 3 ways and wedged them up under the dash by the heater hoses and cables they have been there for 8 years works great and grounded the radio to the seat bolt. tim

richard · 12-29-2006, 07:13 AM

still looking for the 71 rear speaker mounts for a conv if anyone knows where to get them.

71CutlassSupreme · 02-20-2007, 01:47 PM

any updates on this project??

richard · 02-20-2007, 08:20 PM

The paint is great on the car. I just got a new convertible top with new motor and switches. Lifts great now. All new breaks and rotors and springs. the interior is being refurbished now. Mostly the console and dash. Seats and carpet are already in great shape. Want to get new door panels though. Instrument panel is in a shop in Michigan. they are being rebuilt, refurbished to look showroom quality. the window leaked so there is a lot of corrosion in the dash. All that is being rewelded, covered and painted now. It has a 450 Edelbrock engine that runs really well. Cleaning and adjusting the carb is next. A lot of adjustments are required to align the seams on the exterior. don't know if it will ever get back to factory specs for the seams.

I'm still looking for rear speaker mounts for the covertible top well.

Oldsguy · 02-21-2007, 04:27 AM

Richard, did you say Edelbrock engine, as in the block?

richard · 02-21-2007, 05:43 AM

thanks

Omicron · 07-17-2007, 10:48 PM

I too have a '71 CS convertible and have been giving this some thought. One solution I've been pondering for the speakers is

kickpanel speakers, like those sold by YearOne, plus
what I think are called "Thumpers" that are ~ 6" all-magnet speakers that are basically subwoofers, and mount under the seats (or possibly something like this setup) to provide low base you can really FEEL, and
rear speakers in the left and right "arm rest" panels to round it all out.

Some time back I heard a system similarly set up, and was impressed with the sound. The key component is the under-the-seat subwoofers, which fill in a lot of what smaller kick panel type speakers cannot do well: the bass frequencies.

Anyone here tinkered with something like this setup, or heard one lately?

12-27-2006, 02:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
richard Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8	Just bought a 71 cutlass convertible! I'm very excited about restoring it. It's already in good shape but I want to make it perfect over time. the first thing I have to have though is a good stereo. I need rear speaker enclosures. Yearone doesn't have any for 1971 (67and earlier). anyone know where I can find two rear speaker enclosures. remember, this is a convertible. I will post pic soon and followup as the restoration moves on. You can email me at richard_watkins@verizon.net thanks, Richard.

12-27-2006, 06:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
texasred Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 804	Welcome to stereo hell! I've been trying to find a suitable solution for a couple or four years. Year One (I think) has front kickpanel replacements that have speaker pods molded in. I have a friend that has them in his 72 442 and they are pretty hot. Other than that (and I'm assuming you don't want to cut anything) I've been thinking about just a couple of speaker boxes and a quick disconnect harness. When I leave the car, the speakers go in the trunk. If you come up with anything else, let me know too! C.J. __________________ Home of the 1971 Cutlass Supreme convertible Super Karate Monkey Death Car.

12-27-2006, 06:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
richard Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8	funny!! That you say the neverending project. Is that my future? By the way, I need knew instrumentation gauges. Got any ideas?

12-27-2006, 06:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
richard Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8	cj CJ, Yep, it is stereo hell. I found enclosures that mount to the back seats but are flush to the top of the seats. They hold 6x9 speakers and leave enough room for the top to go down and in. So far I found 67 and earlier mounts. They make them for the 71 convertible but I haven't found them yet. You're right, I don't want to cut anything. I did buy the front kick panels with speakers that you described. Glad you say they sound good. what about the stereo itself? Thanks for your input. I've got a long ways to go so I hope you stick around. Richard

12-28-2006, 07:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
texasred Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 804	Richard, There's mounts for 2 6x9s behind the seat, but you can only hear them if the top is up. I'd like to hear more about those rear speaker mounts (who makes them, etc). I kept the factory indash AM-FM. I added a Rockford-Fosgate Omnifi. It's a remote mounted hard drive and wireless internet connection. My home computer hooks up to my car while it's in the garage at night and downloads my playlists, new songs, etc. It's like driving around in a 3000 song i-Pod! Added a 500w amp in the trunk, put a remote volume and the Omnifi head in the console and I'm good to go. C.J. __________________ Home of the 1971 Cutlass Supreme convertible Super Karate Monkey Death Car.

12-28-2006, 09:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
richard Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8	Wow Technology at its finest. that sounds very nice. when the top is down, I will fade the sound to the front speakers. I just ordered a new top and entire knew (refurbished) instrumentation panel.

12-28-2006, 06:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
oldssragtop Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: webster n.y Posts: 33	I own a 69 cutlass-s conv and i put my stereo under the drivers seat ran power wire under the carpet to fuse box then ran the speaker wires under the carpet and mounted 2 - 3 way speakers up under the dash works great top up or down . tim

12-28-2006, 07:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
texasred Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 804	Ragtop, How did you mount them under the dash? Got pictures? C.J. __________________ Home of the 1971 Cutlass Supreme convertible Super Karate Monkey Death Car.

12-28-2006, 08:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
oldssragtop Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: webster n.y Posts: 33	I bought 3 ways and wedged them up under the dash by the heater hoses and cables they have been there for 8 years works great and grounded the radio to the seat bolt. tim

12-29-2006, 07:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
richard Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8	Thanks ragtop. still looking for the 71 rear speaker mounts for a conv if anyone knows where to get them.

02-20-2007, 01:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
71CutlassSupreme Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7	any updates on this project??

02-20-2007, 08:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
richard Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8	project update The paint is great on the car. I just got a new convertible top with new motor and switches. Lifts great now. All new breaks and rotors and springs. the interior is being refurbished now. Mostly the console and dash. Seats and carpet are already in great shape. Want to get new door panels though. Instrument panel is in a shop in Michigan. they are being rebuilt, refurbished to look showroom quality. the window leaked so there is a lot of corrosion in the dash. All that is being rewelded, covered and painted now. It has a 450 Edelbrock engine that runs really well. Cleaning and adjusting the carb is next. A lot of adjustments are required to align the seams on the exterior. don't know if it will ever get back to factory specs for the seams. I'm still looking for rear speaker mounts for the covertible top well.

02-21-2007, 04:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,520	Richard, did you say Edelbrock engine, as in the block? __________________ Dan '46 2 door

02-21-2007, 05:43 AM	#14 (permalink)
richard Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8	Yes, I meant block thanks

07-17-2007, 10:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
Omicron Administrator & Motorhead Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 124	I too have a '71 CS convertible and have been giving this some thought. One solution I've been pondering for the speakers is kickpanel speakers, like those sold by YearOne, plus what I think are called "Thumpers" that are ~ 6" all-magnet speakers that are basically subwoofers, and mount under the seats (or possibly something like this setup) to provide low base you can really FEEL, and rear speakers in the left and right "arm rest" panels to round it all out. Some time back I heard a system similarly set up, and was impressed with the sound. The key component is the under-the-seat subwoofers, which fill in a lot of what smaller kick panel type speakers cannot do well: the bass frequencies. Anyone here tinkered with something like this setup, or heard one lately?

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