I have a 67 convertible. I'm going to install a sound system. speakers in the front middle (where the old one was) and in the kick panels.Any suggestions on where to place rear speakers?
Thanks in advance!

 

You have to cut, but the rear quarter panelis where mineis at.

 

I just put two Alpine 6 1/2 up front in new kick panels, andtwo 6 1/2 in the back-I had to get a spacer ring for the back ones to give me some depth.I put a small amp in the trunk and a single disc cd in the dash. It sounds great ! With the top down your going to need a small amp to get some descent sound.Be careful cutting into the back-hydraulic lines for top,piston,gears are behind the panel.
Scott

 

Before you cut, ask yourself how many old Mustangs you've seen for sale that looked like attractive buys except that you'd have to repair holes cut because of audio equipment. I'd do my best to adapt your equipment to the car, not the car to the equipment.

I know, probably not a popular answer, but ...

FWIW, my brother had two speaker boxes which could be placed on the rear seat or floor and easily removed as needed for passengers. It wasn't ideal, but it did keep the car intact.

Good luck!
Jeff

 

I've done this several times in my convertible, getting more aggressive each time. I finally have something I can enjoy. I think it's easier than cutting panels, but you have to spend a little of your trunk space, (and a little $$ as well). I have the head unit where the original radio goes... I used a Custom AutoSound which fits the original space. Not top quality, but it does a good job. I get the impression they're getting better with time. I have an amp in the trunk that takes the signal from the head unit and splits it into 2 left and 2 right channels, as well as a sub-woofer output. I have a left and right speaker mounted in the single space in the center of the dash. Again, Custom AutoSound makes a center mount with two small speakers that scream high pitches off that windshield. No cutting. The secone pair of left and rights go to the kick panels. No cutting. I have no speakers in the back seat at all. Don't need 'em. I have a sub-woofer in the trunk. Surprisingly, this does not sound like a 86 chevy celebrity with 13 separate resonating panelsvibrating with the music. Our cars are more substantially built. No vibrations. Yet when you sit up front, you can't really tell the bass is allcoming from theback... it'll boom if I want, or it will sound like are really well balanced system if you dial it in properly. I had never experienced how bass will cut through the car and mix in with the rest of the speakers. It really is cool. And all of it is completely reversable if you need. If you're looking for the cheapest solution, you may be back to hacking the rearquarter trimpanels. Good luck!

 

Really, from a car audio standpoint. You shouldn't have rear speakers unless they are only playing frequencies below 500 hz.

If you want a great stereo for the money list a budget, but all will include this.

You will need a set of component speakers in the front, they range in price from $99 to $800. (The $99 are much better then you'd think!)
You will need an amplifier to powerboth the front speakers, and a sub to put the rear for low frequencies. (It can be one amp or two depending on budget)
You will need a subwoofer to reproduce low frequencies.

There are a number of knowledgeable people in the car audio section that can give you great advice as well. You could also go to a quality audio store, not best buy or circuit city, and hang out a little while.

Do your mustang a favor and don't cut any metal, you can get a great stereo in locations that require no permenant modification!

 

If you have a 67 convertible, who needs a stereo?? Isn't the wind and engine a better sound ? Sorry, had to give my opinion. Everyone has their own taste, but installing a stereo system in a car like that never makes sense to me.

[IMG]local://upfiles/73430/88364B42E3D842CCA925C8FEA0FF5C81.jpg[/IMG]

 

I have been looking at the kick panel replacement that mount speakers. I am having to fill the holes in that were put in the door for little speakers. Has anyone thought of or put your speakers in your seat riser. I was also thinking about making a removable plate in the top of the riserand mount my amp in there so I dont see it in the trunk. Do either of these sound like good options? Wasn't sure how much moisture gets in that area. Didn't drive the car before dissasembly so i dont know.

 

Disclaimer: I am not an automotive acoustical engineer.

Several issues should be considered regarding speakers, their size, their placement, how many, etc... I will touch on a few - do not want to put people to sleep.

The longer wavelength bass sounds (i.e very low frequencies) readily and easily pass out of most cars in addition to getting reflected inside the car. Think about your personal experience; in cold months, you can unfortunately hear, and sometimes feel, neighboring cars pumping bass-heavy music... with both your and their windows UP... but rarely do you hear their higher frequency content.

It is the small size of a car, not so much what type, that prevents us from obtaining a really good and even bass sound. This lack of good bass sound also touches on phase-related problems (constructive and destructive interference of waveforms). This is a topic that has occupied many a chapter in studio recording texts. All small rooms have peaks (boosts in amplitude) and nulls (dips in amplitude). If you happen to sit in a location where certain frequencies "drop-out" or "Boom" you are experiencing a less than optimal acoustical environment. Suffice it to say that the sound conditons for listening to a wide and even frequency spectrum with few "Dropped-out" or "Booming" lower frequency bands is very difficult to achieve in cars. The more speakers you have generating frequencies that are similar to the other speakers (very common situation), the more chances you have for phase-related issues. And this does not even take into account the multiple reflections and variable absorption issues that differ between cars.

The strength of the reflections also depends on the density of the walls, with rigid walls reflecting more frequencies and lower frequencies.

For a more detailed explanation on bass response in small rooms, check out <http://www.ethanwiner.com/waves_wl.html>. BTW, I have never heard of anyone putting studio bass traps in cars but maybe there is a niche market for this?

Take home message is: Great, studio quality sound is not likely to be achieved - typical car interiors do not allow one to create a space that both absorbs (does not reflect) and diffuses (think scatter) your music to perfection - keep this in mind. If you want to truly enhance your listening, block out the outside noise as much as possible (insulate) and think twice before plopping down a lot of money on 12-, 15- or 18-inch woofers and sub-woofers (the latter is usually 80 Hz and lower - really low frequency) - unless you want the cars next to you to hear and feel your music - these huge monsters rarely enhance your fidelity and the loud volumes they produce can lead to hearing loss. As for the number of speakers, consider how many people commonly ride in your car and this can help with number and placement considerations - you do not want to crank the rear speakers and damage the kids in the back seat's hearing just so the front passengers can hear!

Note: Whenever our ears ring from loud sounds, hairs cells in our cochlea are damaged and can lead to hearing loss. I unfortunately know this from experience (freaking Zep, Skynyrd and the Who live - yes I'm that old.). I strongly recommend this article by Dr. Charles Limb (hearing disorder specialist at Johns Hopkins and the NIH) for those interested in loud sounds and hearing loss - <http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_ears_7/index.html>. This is a growing problem with iPods and loud car stereos!

That is my $0.02 plus tax.

 

exactly! Nothing dates a restoration project faster than the stereo. That stuff is constantly improving. Whatever is put in now will probably be considered outdated by the time you sell the car...or even if you keep the car forever, you'll eventually want to upgrade it again. Destroying parts of a car to put in something that will probably only be there for a few years probably isn't the best thing for your car.