Speakers in Dash Help???

[BP68]

Anyone tried mounting speakers under the left and right sides of the dash?

I am considering my options. I do not want to cut my un-cut doors, and kick panels are an option.

I was thinking of maximum foot room, and just wondered if anyone has made holes/put speakers on the left and right top of the dash like some of the newer vehicles are doing.

Also anyone using the dual speaker setup designed to mount in the original center speaker location?

[fastom]

Make some kick panel enclosures, they are easy to make.

[Riveted1]

Go for the kick panel. If you do them right, they won't take up much leg room at all. Dash speakers would be a PITA to install and replace. Also, the glass affects the sound more than I care to explain in this post. Just my .02

[Mint68]

I would go with kick panel speakers as well. I think I would also look into the new small tweeters to mount higher up. I would stay as far away from making new holes as possible, but it is your truck. If you did put them into the dash, I think you could get a much better sounding system.

[BP68]

Keep the comments comming. Especially anyone who has done some in the dash. I want to avoid cutting the doors, but the dash will have a custom made full cover from the base of the windshield to the top of the dash.
Maybe I could recess them into the kick panels at an angle, cutting them isn't a prob for me.

[samwise68]

For what it's worth, I jammed 2 6-inch speakers into the stock location. Made a plywood fixture for them (translated: cut two holes and screwed them in), and put them up there.

2 small screws through the slots of the original speak opening hold the whole works there, and it doesn't interfere at all with the head unit.

It's not glamorous at all, but it's decent sound quality when couple with the 2 boxed 6x9's under the seat, and i can't ask for anything more than that.

just my two cents.

-Sam.

[brak]

I'm actually considering putting 4x6's in the dash, like the newer pickups.

I'm thinking about mounting them underneath, and perforating the dash, similar to the stock center, which would give it a stock appearance.

the hardest part for me right now, is figuring the best way to make the perforations. I'm thinking dremel and a Jig, but if i could find a way to stamp it, that would be awesome.

not exactly, but something like this:

[Riveted1]

Originally Posted by BP68

Maybe I could recess them into the kick panels at an angle, cutting them isn't a prob for me.

I'm still a proponent for putting them in the kick panels. It sounds like you are determined to put them in the dash though.
If you are at all concerned with sound quality and imaging, the kick panels are the way to go. (This is not ALWAYS the case as someone will surely post, but is the case in a simple setup involving our trucks) The distance between the source and your ears is increased, which helps keep the soundstage in the middle. (Band sounds like it is coming from the center of the vehicle as apposed to one side.) This is all dependent on how you "aim" the drivers, but there are tons of articles on proper placement on the web. Also, high frequencies are greatly affected by glass, and by putting speakers in the dash area, (which I'm assuming are full range and not some sort of image enhancing high-frequency drivers) you are asking for very harsh "high-end" and smearing of the image. As noted, some people put high frequency drivers in this area for imaging, but they use more complicated crossover networks and amplifier power distribution than I think you are going for.
By putting your speakers in the kick panels, you can put larger ones in (more bass, fuller sound) and you could use components or separates which will allow you to use a better quality crossover network and more power (from an amplifier). You can also cut into the kick panel like you mentioned to take up the least amount of real estate in your foot wells.
I could probably go on and on about the benefits of the kick panels over the dash, but like I said, you seem to be determined to go with the dash. I was a live sound engineer for many years, so soundstage/imaging and sound quality are very important to me. BUT, If you're just trying to get some tunes in the truck, by all means, go for it! If you don't like how they sound, you can always take em out.

[piecesparts]

I have full intentions of making my metal dash hold some smaller speakers on my build. The front glass is out and I am going to design a pattern for a friend to cut some billet grilles for the holes. It is not something one wants to do in a hurry.

[70c10]

Originally Posted by BP68

Anyone tried mounting speakers under the left and right sides of the dash?

I am considering my options. I do not want to cut my un-cut doors, and kick panels are an option.

I was thinking of maximum foot room, and just wondered if anyone has made holes/put speakers on the left and right top of the dash like some of the newer vehicles are doing.

Also anyone using the dual speaker setup designed to mount in the original center speaker location?

In my dad's 70' I mounted the dual speaker in the factory location and a pair of surface mounted ceiling speaker pods. For my truck I made kickpanels with surface mounted pods. On both of our trucks I mounted the CD players in the glovebox.