Ok guys I have a fairly simple question for you... I just started working on my newest project a 68 Cutlass S, and I picked up a custom auto sounds factory looking stereo for a song, but need speakers. It looks like the factory cut outs in the back are made for 6x9 speakers and that's easy, but I would like to put a speaker back in the dash. It still has the funky metal support that might be a 4x10 speaker??? I don't want to put speakers in the kick panels, I like the cool fresh air they provide, and I am not a teenager that's gonna cut huge holes in the doors.....so any good suggestions would be great. I'm not looking for a killer set-up, just nice tunes for cruising...

 

I just run 6x9"s in the rear of my '68. You will be wasting your time with that dash speaker. JMO.

 

The dash speaker is a pain to install. Took me a couple of hours. It is a 4x10. It fits above the dash vents on my 72. Not sure if your 68 is the same. I got a slim dual voice coil speaker that accepts the right and left channel. It was a good upgrade but cost twice the price of two 6x9s. I forget where i got the speaker.

 

When I installed replacement speakers in my '67 Delta 88 convertible, where there is one in the dash and one in the center of the rear seat, and where I also have an '80s-era aftermarket AM/FM/cassette player that fits in the old-style dash opening (the original was an AM-only radio, so the rear speaker was "reverb" or "bi-phonic" or whatever), I didn't bother trying to find the odd-shaped, 10-ohm speakers that would fit exactly in the existing mounting holes.

Rather, I just bought a pair of good-quality, modern, 8-ohm speakers that would fit in the space (6 x 9, I think), and I mounted them to a bracket I made by cutting a thin piece of plywood to slightly larger than the dimensions of the old speaker, drilling holes through it so that it could be mounted to the existing speaker mounting holes, and cutting a large, oval-shaped hole in the center of it plus screw holes for the new speaker. Then I just mounted the new speaker to the mounting holes on the plywood. It works very well, and you can't see any of this because it's all hidden behind the dash or rear seat. And, or course, it can always be returned to an original setup by removing the plywood bracket. I didn't do anything to the existing, original mounting setup.

I wired it up so the dash speaker is the left channel and the rear is the right, and it sounds fine, as, like you, I wasn't about to start cutting new speaker holes in door panels or anything like that.

 

I have been thinking about maybe 2 3.5" speakers in cutom plywood mount, it will be high in treble, but the 6x9 speakers should give more bass. I had a bad feeling that this wouldn't be a simple fix....

 

But like I said I am not going to bump down the road or go for a stereo competition, just looking for a decent sound while out cruising with the family!!! The biggest problem and dunno why they still sell them, the stupid head unit while looking fairly original has a cassette player-they still mass produce these things too....I can add a cd changer for like $200 bucks, but I'm thinking if I go for a long cruise I will put my Sirius in the car and enjoy!!

 

You don't have to settle for just a woofer, just a high-end, or whatever. There are many 2-way and 3-way speakers out there for auto use.

Here's a JBL that has a woofer, tweeter, and super-tweeter, all in a 6 x 9 size.



http://www.jbl.com/estore/jbl/us/pro...larProductOnly


There are LOTS of online places that sell automotive audio, and there are probably several auto sound shops in your area if you live in a large-enough city. Shop around. I bought my speakers at a local auto sound shop.

 

The problem with the old-style dash openings is that they're not wide enough to fit a CD, so if you want to keep a truly original look, and you also want to listen to CDs, you have to put something aftermarket under the dash, in the glovebox, or something like that, or bite the bullet and cut into the dash.

In my searches, I have found very few new radios that will fit in old-style dash openings. With it having been so many years now since we moved to the "DIN" sizing, and with everyone wanting CD capability now, there is very little demand for the old style radio.

This is why I went with an older aftermarket unit for my car. There were still plenty of these around in the 1980s, which is when my unit dates from. I bought it for $20 at a swap meet from a vendor who said he takes the old radios, makes sure they work or fixes them up, and sells them. It's been working fine for three years now.

 

Yeah definitly get a 2 or 3 way speaker. It will have better sound.

 

Oh yeah I plan on a decent pair of rear speakers, at least 3 way, but it's the front that I am trying to figure out...I have to rip the entire dash apart anyhow so it won't be that big of a deal, just wondering what you guys have used and with any luck...

 

This is just 1 example of a dual voice coil 4x10 front speaker that will allow stereo through your front opening. I had used this type of speaker for years for those who do not want to cut holes anywhere.

http://www.vintageautoradio.com/inde...mart&Itemid=67

 

Its the same on a '68.

I'm in the same boat with my '68, but my dash is stripped out now so installation won't be an issue.

There are a variety of solutions for the 4x10 dash speaker. You can go with a dual voice coil or a dual speaker setup. Here's a dual speaker rig on an Olds bracket...

Some good info here...
I would think a good 4x10 dual speaker in the dash with 2 6x9s in the rear shelf would sound OK.
(C'mon! I think more than half the cars at my high school had a pair of Jensen Coax 6x9s in the rear shelf...and they sounded great !! )

My plan now is to use a dual speaker 4x10 setup like above in the dash.
Other options I'm still researching are:
- Some 4"-ish speaks tucked up under outer edges of dash and aimed at floor
- Underseat slim subwoofer
- 6x9's in the rear seat frame (worthless when top is down)

Hope this helps...

 

That dual set-up is kinda what I'm thinking-do you have any info on it??? Like the size of the speakers and how are they mounted to the bracket?

 

Check the link below the pic...

Some good info here...

 

what speakers are these as I am having trouble to find a good speaker to fit and these look great

 

That is an aftermarket dual speaker setup designed to replace the single 4x10 dash speaker common in GMs of that vintage. There are a number of vendors who sell them.

https://www.carid.com/custom-autosou...-speakers.html

https://www.classicindustries.com/product/s5000.html

https://www.billtheradioguy.com/all-speakers

The particular one in the photo is from this vendor. Scroll down the page.
http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm