Installing 6.5" speakers on doors of Pickup

[L8sho2003]

try talking to an expert at crutchfield.com. Keep in mind that we can't answer a question regarding a speaker just based on diameter. Pioneer alone has at least 5 or 6 models in the 6.5 diameter all with differing mounting depths. I left the install business to start a radio station with some friends so I no longer have the info on each model of speaker.

[L8sho2003]

BTW, I like the idea of using the side compartments in the rear. I might have to try that. Also, plexi is nice. Paint it on the backside with a metallic enamel such as r/c car paint and you can backlight it if you are in to looks.

[4x4banger]

Another cool thing is plexiglass is cheap. I spent a little over 10 bucks on materials. I used a smoked plexiglass which is aready kind of tinted, but you could used a backlight just fine. I would go with tinted as well because it looks awesome.

[89blutoy]

hey ncsu, i have alpine spx 4.5" components in doors. i put the tweeters in the stock location under the dash, and i stuffed the crossovers whereever i could under there. they sound great. i also have pioneer 3 way 4x6's in the rear side compartments like mentioned, they good as well, but they do cause a lot of vibration, i havn't found the source yet. then i have 2 8" jl audio subs in the large storage compartment in the back which i made into a box... its just about the perfect size for them and you don't lose any space in the cab, it great. also, my amp is mounted under the passenger seat that powers the front alpines and the subs. i'll try to get some pics up soon. write back with any questions.

[89blutoy]

oh by the way, i have an 89 extra cab 4x4 6 cyl, 5 spd. it doesn't have the vented windows.

[NCSU]

Alright, I have a few more questions...

1) For those who have mounted into the side compartments with Plexiglass, did you just screw down the plexi to mount it? Also, did you put any foam around the edges to prevent vibrations? I already have a vibration from the factory doors that cover that little compartment. Where can plexiglass be purchased from? Would Home Depot or Lowes carry something like that?

2) I am not a car audio expert by any means, but I did wire up my CD player, bass tube (unamped, just runs from the deck) and replaced my factory speakers with new ones on my own. So, I don't exactly know what a crossover is, what it does and how you install one (like what its hooked up to). So, anyone mind explaining that.

I would love to see some pictures of what everyone has done with their speaker mounts (door or rear). I like seeing new ideas, it gives me ideas for new projects, something which I always like. So, post pictures if y'all have them and don't mind.

[4x4banger]

89blutoy, i'd like to see those pics whenever you get them up. As for the side compartment mod, I just screwed the plexiglass in on top and bottom. I did use foam around the edges of the plexiglass and speaker to help with vibration, and also put stuffing in the compartment.

[89blutoy]

4x4banger, i'll get those pics up as soon i can.. i gotta take some first. as far as the side compartments, i used plywood cause i am broke and i had it lying around, it works just as good but it will eventually rot out but i am not concerned with that. and i just screwed it into the plastic with self tapping screws, i have put any foam or anything to help the crazy vibrations yet, but it does need it.

[Mike Kelly]

I don't exactly know what a crossover is, what it does and how you install one

A crossover takes the signal (sound) from your source (Head Unit) and separates the signal into high and low (some models will do a mid also). This is used to send the low signal (bass) to your subs and the highs to your mids or tweets. Why do this?? Well, if you like to pound the bass, that will kill your mids - the sub in you mid was not designed to take the beating that the subs are. By removing the low end bass from the mids, you save speakers, and only send them the signal that they were meant to carry.

Crossovers are typically powered (although i have used some REALLY cheap ones that were not). You feed the input on the crossover from the pre-amp out (RCA cables) of your head-unit. From there, you typically go out from RCA cables to an amp. 1 amp for your mids/tweets, and 1 for your subs. Or, if you want, just go to the subs. In my truck, I left all the factory speakers alone, and setup a crossover and amp to my subs. This will keep the highs out of the sub (subs don't have tweeters anyway) and make it sound real nice.

Crossovers also have adjustments on them to let you determine just how much bass you want to allow through. I keep mine pretty low - so ONLY the low end bass gets through. Seems to sound better to me.

Good luck!

[WALT]

I know I am late with this post and NCSU, you may have seen this on my site. But this is a modifaction that was made for me by a car stereo shop. I am sure you can make yourself. But to add what 4x4banger said they do get kicked a lot if your not careful. As you can see I have 6 1/2" MTX's that the Grill has been kicked a few times, but still hold up ok. I beleive you'll get a better sound if you dont mount them directly to the door itself. just my .02.....Good luck

[NCSU]

That looks good Walt, I appreciate the pictures. I can't remember if I have seen your website before or not, there are so many on cardomain to look at that I forget. Alright, so I have a new dilemma. I bought some 6.5" speakers today in the mayhem of shoppers in the Day after Thanksgiving sales. I have read all of the responses on here, but now I can't decide whether or not to install these speakers in the front on the door, or in the rear in the side compartments... any suggestions or pros and cons from experiences of your own? I'd welcome any more input

[4x4banger]

I have 6.5's in my doors, and in the rear compartments. I like having both, but if its was one or the other i say doors because the sound is better. As for pros and cons, if you decide you don't like them in the doors because you kick them a lot or something, you're SOL with a big hole in the door, but i doubt that will be the case. I think you'll like them, they sound awesome there.

[L8sho2003]

From the perspective of actual sound and imaging, you'll want them in the door. It all comes down to personal taste, but from an installer's point of view the front would be the choice with no contemplation. If you sat down looking at a band on a stage, it would be weird to only hear music from behind you, right? This would be what geeks like me call imaging. If you go in the doors, I recommend using tapered spacer rings to point the spkr back up at you as much as possible. They are available at most install shops. You could also make some out of wood and have them coated with spray on bedliner for a finished look.

[4xfred]

;D Absolutely in the doors. You'll thank yourself later. You sit in the front, shouldn't your speakers be there too? Later...

[NCSU]

What is the best way to wire the new speakers up? I have the speakers in the front dash running off the head unit and I have wired my 8" bass tube that is in the rear off the head unit in place of the rear speakers. So, would it be alright to just splice the new speakers on the door into the wires that run to the dash speakers?

Whats the easiest and best way to get the window cranks off if you don't have the specified tool?

[WALT]

What I used to remove the window cranks was a cloth, a shop rag will do fine.

Take the cloth and slide it between the door and the crank from the bottom. It will push the snap ring right up and off. But be careful not to pop it all the way off and have it go flying. If the ring was taken off before and not put back on right (so the open end of the snap ring is down) then you may have to slide the cloth from a different direction. The crank should just slide right off then.

[NCSU]

Alright, sounds good. Lets hope that I now have obtained enough information to do this. I feel like I may have taken this thread a bit too far... 3 pages seems like alot, Oh well... I'll post some pics on my website whenever I get finished with the speakers and CB installation

[89blutoy]

Don't run the door speakers off of the dash ones... you can use the existing wires and make them longer if its easier for you, but don't keep the dash speakers running too. if you do it will create the wrong ohms for the deck and it could damage your deck or speakers. also, you should run the bass tube off of an amp, it will be a lot louder and much clearer which is most important. in a way, it's worse to underpower a speaker than it is to over power one.again, hopefully my pics will be up soon. good luck with the install!

[NCSU]

So, there is no way to run the setup I have and add the new speakers? I don't have enough money to get an amp right now for my bass tube, unless someone on here has a decent inexpensive used amp they might consider donating or sell for cheap?

I never powered my bass tube because it was a cheap Jenson tube I got from Wal-Mart for like $40 just to have a little kick from the back. Since it was so cheap, I never really worried about amping it and all that.

[4x4banger]

Chances are if you're running the bass tube off deck power it is being underpowered. As 89blutoy said, this will hinder your sound quality. I don't know about the speaker/deck damage, but i do know what sounds good and what doesn't. To get the best sound with what you have now i say... unhook the bass tube, and hook up your 6.5's. Hopefully you have enough deck power for them. You may not have the low bass, but the sound quality will be better. And, when you can afford it, buy an amp for the tube. Or look into getting a new sub as well.

You can get cheap amps and subs at www.shoppersadvantage.com