Cut the doors or Kickpanels?

[Hazieview]

My truck is a 1987 chevy!

Hey guys I just bought a set of 5" component speakers. I was wondering if I should cut my doors and put the speakers in there and put the tweeters in the dash where the stock speakers were or should I go for kick panels? I dont like the kickpanels with the "tweeter hole" in them like the qlogics, plus they are pretty expensive.

cutting the doors-
What is the downside to cutting the doors besides the hole? I mean if you wanted to remove the speakers, you could put sheet metal back over the hole along with the carpet and no one would know they were ever cut. I was also told water might get to the speakers but I am going to install rainguards on the top of the speaker inside the door to protect them.

kick panels-
From what I have seen kickpanels are pretty expensive and you have to modify the crap out of them to get them to fit. Plus they dont looks stock. However the good in them is that you dont have to cut your doors!

What should I do?

Are there any less expensive good quality kickpanels without the tweeter hole?

Thanks for your time!

[Jonboy]

Why not cut out the center hole in the dash a bit? Put the 5" speakers together in the center hole, and the tweeters in the holes where the 3.5's were?

[limpin75chevy]

Dont cut your doors youll regret it later. Mine have 6x9 in them and look like junk

[Captkaos]

I agree don't cut the doors.

[BowTieOgre]

I cut the doors in my Blazer (rusty anyway) for some 6x9s and really wish I hadnt. You can make some kick panels with some fiberboard, hobby shop wood, a t shirt and some fiberglass.

[Hazieview]

I kind of hate to cut my dash too but I thought of that as an option. The only thing is that the speakers are so deep I think it hits my air vent duct.

I wonder how bad it would effect the imaging by putting two speakers that close together.... hmmm...


Thanks for the suggestions... Keep 'em coming... Anyone else have an alternative solution to my problem?

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

I kind of hate to cut my dash too but I thought of that as an option. The only thing is that the speakers are so deep I think it hits my air vent duct.

I wonder how bad it would effect the imaging by putting two speakers that close together.... hmmm...


Thanks for the suggestions... Keep 'em coming... Anyone else have an alternative solution to my problem?

I looked at it as that it is a single cab pickup, imaging wasn't really on the top of my list. That, and being on a budget moved imaging further down the list. Mind you, I wasn't going to any sound-offs with it, but it wasn't too bad. A cheap 10" sub behind the seat, 4 channel amp under the seat (with 2 channels bridged for the sub), and done.

You could also get some strap from Home Depot or Lowe's and put 6x9's in the cab corners. Some of these trucks came with 4x10's there, but 4x10's seem to be a lot more costly.

[75sierraclassic]

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/me...y_Code=7387INT

the link above is to some kick panels pods that have been mentioned on this board before. I have no experience with them, so I can't vouch. I made some custom 4" speaker pods out of fiberglass for my 75. It was my first glass experience and it went along pretty easily. DIY!

[AceX]

Guess what? I've done both...

If you're having to choose between the two, cut the kicks and place the tweeters in the dash in the corners. The kick panel provides a MUCH better anchoring point for the speaker and is totally protected from water intrusion. Cut the necessary holes, add a little bit of Dynamat and some sound deadener and enjoy your day.

[Hazieview]

Anyone know where to get some good kickpanels? Not the Q-Logics...

[bb1979]

Kick panels are the way. PO installed the speakers in the doors and ruined a good set of door trims. Now the speakers are wrecked because people usually slam there knee into them exiting or when pulling the door shut

[68GMC454]

i hate speakers in the doors, because if you got old doors, you got old seals and they leak water, so eventuly the speaker is gonna get wet...second, my fett do touch the doors when i get out of the truck, so my nice speakers are gonna get kicked.. so i just put everythign behing the seat,,,i dont cut doors...

[boatpuller]

i wouldn't cut em.if you want to get away cheaper than buying kick panels.do it the old fashioned way.drill the kick panels with a hole saw.this was the way all the stereo shops around here did it for years when these trucks were newer.i had mine done by a stereo shop thats done several for me over the years.you gotta have a big drill motor and a sharp bit.and the knowledge of where to drill or you can get into the outer cab and let moisture in.they charged me like 35 bucks to drill the 2 holes.i know i sounds like alot.but he was sweating when he was done that drill motor was trying to torque him around.its alot cheaper than kick panels.but i'd make sure theyv'e done it before.not much room for error.but the install looks great and out of the way.sorry about pic quality.

[bigtruck81]

cutting the kick panels is not a good idea if you're thinking it will better protect the speakers from the elements. the truth of the matter is, its worse. the wiper cowl routes down into that area, that is why when you open the vents (on trucks so equipped) you get fresh air while driving down the road. they're open both top, and bottom, presumably so that any debris that gets past the cowl screen can pass through.

[boatpuller]

i had them there in a 77 i drove for 10 years back and forth to work and never had a problem.that was the standard way of doing them before after market kickpanel enclosures came out.i bet to be on the safe side you could put them in those foam top hats or the plastic covers they sell.i have had door speakers get wet.kinda puts a halt to sound quality. its just another option.

[bigtruck81]

the hats are a decent option for any sheetmetal mounted speaker. in my experiences, they'll sound extremely hollow if mounted alone in the door or the kick panel.

[knightlife]

I'll throw you a pic or two tommorrow after I get the passenger side kick panel off, cuz Im doing THE EXACT same thing as you are (5.25" speakers). anyway.,.,.,. I will show you an easy way that ensures a true fit to your vehicle only, that way you dont have to cut anything, at most, you will have to drill a hole through the stock kickpanel for the wires to go through.

[Hazieview]

So you have kickpanels? What kind are they?

[knightlife]

they are stock 83 chevy kickpanels Im meerely fiberglassing the speakers onto them

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by knightlife

they are stock 83 chevy kickpanels Im meerely fiberglassing the speakers onto them

Next week I will be trying kind of the same thing. I am going to take that plastic piece off the kickpanels and make a wood cutout of it and then fiberglass a pod for it. I've seen it done on here before but I dont rememeber the link. Let me know how it goes. Anyone else have any suggestions or mods?

[Captkaos]

As stated above, cutting holes in the kick is worse as that is where the cowl drains. If you put the there I would put a liner on it, or use marine speakers. Putting them in the door is just as back especially if you glass seals are aged or not sealing.

We sell the kicks linked above, tvblazer has some he modified if you want feedback.

[knightlife]

thaz what I be doin... if the damn post office here on base will let me have my stuff tommorrow! yea... Im pretty preturbed bout it, I wanted to at least get the first two layers glassed on today. :/

[75sierraclassic]

Here's the pod I made. It is only a 4" speaker, which I used to try and keep as much foot room as possible. I wish I would have done a 6.5" though, the 4" doesn't do much for mid range and bass. I left the plastic kick panel in place and made the pod to fit over it.

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by 75sierraclassic

Here's the pod I made. It is only a 4" speaker, which I used to try and keep as much foot room as possible. I wish I would have done a 6.5" though, the 4" doesn't do much for mid range and bass. I left the plastic kick panel in place and made the pod to fit over it.

That is exactly what I am thinkging about doing. I want to put 5" component speakers in mine. How did it work out for you? Any regrets? Any advice?

[75sierraclassic]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

That is exactly what I am thinking about doing. I want to put 5" component speakers in mine. How did it work out for you? Any regrets? Any advice?

I first cut out a piece of 1/4" plywood for a backboard that would fit in the recessed area of the kick panel (make sure you allow for about an extra 1/4" of fiberglass). Then, made an MDF ring for the speaker to mount to. The hard part for me was figuring out where I wanted to point the speaker and how to test it. I ended up using pipe strapping to attach the ring to the backer so that it was flexible enough to move and support the speaker. Once I had the position figured out, I cut pieces of 1/4" dowel rod to support the ring and hot glued them into place. I then removed the pipe strapping, stretched a t-shirt over the whole thing, applied resin, applied glass, and finished it off with a little bondo to smooth things out. I was actually surprised how simple it is. Its definitely a pretty easy DIY project.