dustermaniac
Senior Member
I used a nut driver and put the nut into the driver and was able to "feel" my way to get the nut to thread on to the stud. it did take some work but it can be done.
[FOR SALE] I'm back with my dual 3.5" speaker brackets
- Thread starter '74 Sport
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I used a nut driver and put the nut into the driver and was able to "feel" my way to get the nut to thread on to the stud. it did take some work but it can be done.
Got my bracket installed tonight with Polk 3.5" speakers. Sound is awesome and crystal clear. One problem I did encounter was my hose on the passenger side was completely rotted. Got a new one from Autozone and am good to go! Thanks Jerry for the awesome product.
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Maybe this will clear up a few questions regarding the OEM speaker mounting screws. They are about 1/2" long, and as best I can determine are #10-24 (checked with my thread gauge.) As I said earlier, they are specially shaped and work in conjunction with a thin, stamped clip to fasten the speaker to the dash. The clip snaps into a slotted hole in the dash near the defroster vent. The nuts are speed nuts.
Jerry
Jerry
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Looks awesome, Scott. Thanks for the great photos. Although the brackets were initially designed for 3.5" speakers in my son's Dart Sport, I am finding out by others like you that 4" speakers are working just fine with the 3" holes I cut. Did you have to make any modifications or add any spacers to give your Kickers additional clearance from the dash grille?
Jerry
Jerry
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
No, thank you, Nick. Glad it all worked out for you so well (not that I expected any problems...
When you get a chance, could you tell us the Polk speaker model number and approximate price?
Mr Man
Well-Known Member
Hey Jerry,
I didn't have to make any modifications. The tweeters on the Kickers only stick up a tiny bit, so I didn't have to add spacers either. It was a quick and easy job :thumbrig:
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Nope, not at all. It's all done from underneath the dash. I have some very good photos that I'll post tonight which will hopefully answer all your questions about installation. Hang tight...
Jerry
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Grassy, maybe these pics will help illustrate what you are about to get into. Bear in mind that I took these with the dash stripped down quite a bit - glove box, defroster vents and hoses, instrument cluster, heater-A/C housing all removed. However, these will show you how much room there really is under the dash - once you get settled in the floorboard upside down and comfortable and reach your hand up through the maze of wire harnesses and vaccum lines. Overlook what I was doing in the photos (removing the heater-A/C bezel.) I'm just trying to show you what's going on under the dash. Don't worry, it's not really that bad - and you can leave your windshield in place.
You can see remnants of the black, sticky sealant they used to isolate the old 4"x10" speaker from the underside of the dash - that's where the new bracket will go. The middle hole of the three you see near the defroster vent opening is the one where you will find the speaker mounting screw. Obviously, if the defroster hoses are removed first, it will make it easier to get at the screws, but be careful - those original hoses are usually VERY fragile. It probably goes without saying that the shorter the better in choosing the nut driver you will use to remove the speed nuts.
Anytime some of you folks who have already done this installation feel like jumping in, be my guest. It's been a while since my son and I did his and I'm sure I am probably overlooking a handy tip or two.
Jerry
You can see remnants of the black, sticky sealant they used to isolate the old 4"x10" speaker from the underside of the dash - that's where the new bracket will go. The middle hole of the three you see near the defroster vent opening is the one where you will find the speaker mounting screw. Obviously, if the defroster hoses are removed first, it will make it easier to get at the screws, but be careful - those original hoses are usually VERY fragile. It probably goes without saying that the shorter the better in choosing the nut driver you will use to remove the speed nuts.
Anytime some of you folks who have already done this installation feel like jumping in, be my guest. It's been a while since my son and I did his and I'm sure I am probably overlooking a handy tip or two.
Jerry
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Although the brackets are cut with 3" holes, initially to accomodate 3.5" speakers in my son's Dart Sport, it appears that 4" speakers work just fine. Several of you have reported to me that you intend to use 4" versions (or have already), so I bought a pair of my own Volfenhag ZX 834-R 4" two-way speakers to use as a test.
As you can see below, they fit snuggly on my shortest bracket used in '64-'66 early A-bodies and '64-'69 B-bodies, but they do fit. Also, the speaker cones' rubber surrounds do not come in contact with the surface of the bracket. They even fit better on the longer brackets for '67-'74 A-bodies. This greatly increases your selection of available speakers to choose from. I can't "speak" for any other brands of speakers, but the 3.5" Volfenhags in Aaron's Dart Sport have served him faithfully for approximately 5 years without problems.
Here is a list of some of the speakers you guys are using:
Pioneer TS-G1043R 4", Kenwood KFC835C, ES3.5XV.2 The Powerbass Evolution, Legacy LS328, Kicker KS400 4", Rockford Fosgate P132 3.5", Polk Audio DXI 350, Volfenhag ZX 832-R
As you can see below, they fit snuggly on my shortest bracket used in '64-'66 early A-bodies and '64-'69 B-bodies, but they do fit. Also, the speaker cones' rubber surrounds do not come in contact with the surface of the bracket. They even fit better on the longer brackets for '67-'74 A-bodies. This greatly increases your selection of available speakers to choose from. I can't "speak" for any other brands of speakers, but the 3.5" Volfenhags in Aaron's Dart Sport have served him faithfully for approximately 5 years without problems.
Here is a list of some of the speakers you guys are using:
Pioneer TS-G1043R 4", Kenwood KFC835C, ES3.5XV.2 The Powerbass Evolution, Legacy LS328, Kicker KS400 4", Rockford Fosgate P132 3.5", Polk Audio DXI 350, Volfenhag ZX 832-R
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Thanks, Rick
Glad you are satisfied. As you can see in my photos above, 4" speakers fit snuggly on the shorter early A-body bracket I offer, so I expect your 4" Kickers will fit nicely on your longer later A-body bracket your car uses. Did you remember to take some pics during your installation. Was the swap easy for you?
Jerry
kmkint3
New Member
I am interested. I was looking to fabricate something to hold a pair of 3 1/4-inch Infinity Kappa coaxials where the original speaker would go. Please send me more info. Also, does anyone know where I can find an early A-body speaker grill (60-62 Valiant/Lancer)? My project is a 62 Valiant 2-door hardtop.
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Can you (or someone else who knows) confirm for me the distance between the two end mounting holes of the OEM speaker. Hopefully, it should be approximately 10-9/16".
Jerry
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
Hi, Gnome
To be honest, I have absolutely no experience with the Dodge trucks or Ramchargers. If one of the brackets I currently make doesn't fit the Ramcharger, I would love to have someone like yourself provide some basic information so I can develop one that does. Are you game?
As for ordering one for your Dart, please refer to THIS EARLIER POST where I give the link to a form you can submit with all the necessary vehicle, shipping, and payment preference information that I will need.
Thanks for your interest,
Jerry
To be honest, I have absolutely no experience with the Dodge trucks or Ramchargers. If one of the brackets I currently make doesn't fit the Ramcharger, I would love to have someone like yourself provide some basic information so I can develop one that does. Are you game?
As for ordering one for your Dart, please refer to THIS EARLIER POST where I give the link to a form you can submit with all the necessary vehicle, shipping, and payment preference information that I will need.
Thanks for your interest,
Jerry
Gnome
Well-Known Member
sure! i think i can pull it out this weekend and give you some measurements
do you have dimensions for your current ones?
'74 Sport
Well-Known Member
I know this is a site for A-bodies, but some of you have more than one MOPAR vehicle, including trucks. Therefore... I worked up a new dual-speaker bracket for Gnome's Ramcharger and can now offer them to the rest of you who have a Ramcharger or truck that has the 4"x10" dash speaker. See attached photos showing Gnome's installation. The prototype bracket was cut from an old street sign, which explains the bright colors.
I am getting ready to order another batch of car brackets from my supplier and I would like to get a feel for the level of interest for any of these new truck brackets - I may go ahead and order a few this round, just to have on hand.
Send me a PM if you are interested,
Jerry
I am getting ready to order another batch of car brackets from my supplier and I would like to get a feel for the level of interest for any of these new truck brackets - I may go ahead and order a few this round, just to have on hand.
Send me a PM if you are interested,
Jerry
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