E-Body Convertible rear speaker placement?

[TripleBlk70]

Question for convertible owners: where/how do we fit rear speakers in these cars? I had a 70 challenger hard top in the past, so dropping a couple 6x9's in the back package tray was a no-brainer. This is my first convertible and I want to fit it with a decent sound system, hoping for 4 speakers, with two of them in the back.

Any advice is appreciated, and pics would be awesome.

 

[EW1BH27]

I threw in my 2 cents on the .org forum.

 

[340challconvert]

Just some thoughts on speakers in a convertible. I would suggest never cutting the rear quarter interior panels; they are hard to find and even repros are expensive. I got lucky, someone started to outline speaker holes in mine back in the day but did not follow through.
They did however cut the kick panel and fit speakers there. These panels are easier to find so not as valuable. Also, it is also easier to hear the music with the top down with the extra speakers in this location IMO.
Difficult to put speakers in the back well area where the convertible top stores when down.
Other thoughts on this; possible speakers set under the front seats facing to the rear, small boxed speakers to be set on the back seat. You could put speakers in the trunk which could be heard when the top is up or very muffled with the top down.
Personally, I would put speakers in the kick panels.
Just my thoughts

 

[TripleBlk70]

So I found this pic of a car 1970 challenger convertible that sold @ Mecum earlier this year.

First, the idea of kick panel speakers is a great one and I was already planning on doing that. My last project was a 55 chevy and I fabricated some kick panel mounts from ABS that I had my interior guy finish to match the rest of the car. Here's a link to a google album in case anyone's interested in seeing that project.

I really want a decent sound system and to me that means at least 2 speakers in front and 2 in back. I think I can probably make 2 6x9's work like the ones in the photo below.

I know there's a place for a 4x10 in the dash, and depending on what amp I use I might put one there too. I have a 10" powered subwoofer in my 55 chevy and would like something similar here, but need to see how that will fit in the trunk.

 

[pschlosser]

I really want a decent sound system and to me that means at least 2 speakers in front and 2 in back. I think I can probably make 2 6x9's work like the ones in the photo below.

Go ahead. Cut up your rear interior convertible panels. And put some big fat speakers in there. You may evade the discovery most convertible owners learn, top up or down, the sound quality ain't that great. And not worth the holes you put in them panels.

 

[TripleBlk70]

Go ahead. Cut up your rear interior convertible panels. And put some big fat speakers in there. You may evade the discovery most convertible owners learn, top up or down, the sound quality ain't that great. And not worth the holes you put in them panels.

LOL, thanks for your opinion.

 

[DetMatt1]

What condition are your rear panels? Mine are good other than the speaker holes so maybe we should trade even up.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Just from the comments it should tell you what should be done. Just like cutting a sunroof in a convertible it will diminish the value.

 

[EW1BH27]

And good luck ever trying to replace them once you regret cutting them. Even aftermarket ones are out of stock at a lot of places. This becomes even harder yet if yours are a colored interior.

 

[Litchkar]

I bought kick panels with speakers installed. I also bought a dual channel dash speaker for my convertible. It does get loud with the top down. I would never cut the rear panels, but that’s because I am not a rich man lol.

 

[Katfish]

What about just mounting them behind the back seat.
Back in HS we added 12" woofers in a Hyundai.
With enough amplifier, speakers behind the seat could work.

We could get a back massage with those 12's thumping with a 1000W Rockford Fosgate amp. Wonder if they still exist.

Or better yet, what about in the seat........

 

[challenger6pak]

I don't have a pic of my car when I had the speakers in it. I used speakers like these. I made brackets and mounted them on the top of the back seat. They looked like headrests. I attached them under the boot strip on the seat. Since they didn't have a lot of range I added a couple of subs in the trunk to round out the sound. I cut rear panels in 1980 to mount 6X9s. I found that you hear both sides of the speaker. The boot on helps a little with sound. Any speakers with a large magnet would hit the top pistons when mounted. These speakers are similar to what I used. You can clear the top and use the boot with them mounted.

 

[TripleBlk70]

The car came with a pristine black interior, plus an extra console and some extra (not as nice) door panels.

I get what people are saying about not cutting up the panels for what might be minimal sound quality gain. I've never owned a convertible so this is a first for me, and I'm thinking about configuring an "all front speaker" setup between dash speakers and kick panel speakers, plus a powered subwoofer in the trunk (which I will do no matter what).

I will probably start there and see how it sounds, because that's the least invasive option and I can make kick panel speaker mounts myself. I can always cut the back panels later and piss a bunch of people off.

 

[EW1BH27]

I can always cut the back panels later and piss a bunch of people off.

LOL, now that was funny.

Before doing that, take up DetMatt1’s offer.

 

[TripleBlk70]

LOL, now that was funny.

Before doing that, take up DetMatt1’s offer.

LOL yes I would do that - but it's going to be a while I'm not even reassembling the car yet. Little by little.

 

[pschlosser]

In a convertible from this era, if you want sound fidelity, top up or down, I recommend a nice set of headphones and you're there. Again, do as you will, OP, with your convertible interior rear panels.... wait... wait. I got me an idear

I recommend a trade. There are many out there with barracuda convertible interior rear panels with speakers holes in them, that would welcome a chance to trade, straight across, at no cost to you, your set for their set...

Then you can knock yourself out puttin in them thumpin speakers with less loss to mopar humanity.

 

[terrywalker]

In a convertible from this era, if you want sound fidelity, top up or down, I recommend a nice set of headphones and you're there. Again, do as you will, OP, with your convertible interior rear panels.... wait... wait. I got me an idear

I recommend a trade. There are many out there with barracuda convertible interior rear panels with speakers holes in them, that would welcome a chance to trade, straight across, at no cost to you, your set for their set...

Then you can knock yourself out puttin in them thumpin speakers with less loss to mopar humanity.

Unfortunately the Challenger and Barracuda rear panels are different but there are lots of Challenger ones that have been cut like DeMatt1's.
Terry W.

 

[Avalanche]

I have a 70 challenger vert.
What I did was to put a sub (bazooka) in the trunk, took the center speaker out and installed 2 tweeters and reinstalled the speaker cover, put mids in the kick panels, and put box speakers under the front seats (speakers face backwards to rear).
You need the early seat tracks that don't have the wire going from one track to another. Also have the amp in trunk.
Sound is great.

 

[larry4406]

Craislist ad for challenger vert rear panels, $250 for the pair.

Perhaps clean these up, paint with SEM, and do your speaker surgery on these.

Mopar E Body Parts - Cuda Challenger - auto parts - by owner - vehicle automotive sale - craigslist

Mopar E Body Parts 1970-1971 Challenger Convertible Rear Panels (fair condition) $250pr 1971 Barracuda Gran Coupe Rocker Moldings (one year only) $475 pr 1970-1974 V8 k-frame (came from a 72) $ V8...

cnj.craigslist.org

 

[Cuda Hunter]

Larry's got it.
Use another pair for the speaker holes or find a pair that has them cut already.
Just use those and put up your nice ones until you are ready to either use them or sell them. It's pretty easy to find a pair that has holes cut into them.
250 is a great deal, well worth that cost.