Anyone still making kick panels for 67-72?

[SamMargritz00]

Anyone still making custom kick panels for speakers? I need more speakers up front of my 72 blazer. Already have 4 in the back panels and sounds awesome back there, but I'm up front or where to find them other than lmc?

[69GWC]

These guys do.

http://www.vintageautoradio.com/inde...mart&Itemid=67
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[SamMargritz00]

what about the custom fiberglass ones people were making?

[olrosa]

I'd like some too
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[jimmydean]

Just make some, it's so easy.

[SamMargritz00]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

Just make some, it's so easy.

is there a build thread somewhere on how to do it. I have great metal working skills, but when it comes to fiberglass.....it always ends up in a mess.

[jimmydean]

Fiberglass is messy.

Here is how I built mine, you can do it literally a dozen or more ways.

1. I used cardboard to make a template of my kick panel.
2. Transfered the shape to some thin (3/16?) mdf
3. I wanted the speaker to fit in the hole where the vent was to keep it out of the way, so I cut out the hole for the vent, too.

4. To protect the back side of the speaker, I used the vent I took out to make a pocket mold

5. Make a template ring to mount the speaker(s) to
6. Figure out where you want the speaker to fit in the panel (high, low, in the middle, flush, aimed, whatever)
7. Mount the ring to the panel in the position you want (I use dowels or scrap wood and hot glue to hold it in place)
8. Using some fleece, stretch it over the panel and glue it to the panels back side (hot glue works well)
9. Mix up some fiberglass resin and brush it until soaked into the fleece
10. Using fiberglass mat/cloth, drap it over the fleece and brush with resin
11. Repeat as needed (I like to do at least 3-4 layers of cloth)
12. Once the glass has cured, you can use regular body filler to smooth the surface of the panel if it needs it
13. Once you are happy with the shape, cover with vinyl, carpet, paint, leather, monkey fur, shag, whatever.

For mine, I used a small amount of padding and vinyl that matches my seats and doors.

There are a lot of youtube videos to show it in action.

[jimmydean]

Here is a pic of the kick panel with the fiberglass pocket installed.



Here is what it looks like once the fleece is soaked.



Showing what the fit looks like.



Wrapped



I haven't cut out the hole for the speaker yet, I will do that last once I am happy with everything else. I am using some interior clips to hold them in place, but you can screw them in, glue them in, whatever you want to do.

I made sure the speaker fit before I did the fleece and while not flush, they stick out very little and I have more than enough room to hit the dimmer switch on the floor. I wanted them aimed slightly as well. My 6.5 mids have a very large magnet, so it was a very tight fit, but I didn't have to cut any metal in the truck.

[SamMargritz00]

thanks for the wright up! actually doesn't look to bad to do.

[jimmydean]

It's not, you get better with practice, too. I have made a few dozen or so fiberglass panels over the years and make slightly less mess now than I used to.

[utee05]

Did you have to do any sanding down of the panels or does the body filler help smooth things out on its own? Do you happen to remember how much resin you needed to make the kick panels? This will be my first attempt at using fiberglass so your write up was very helpful. I have had some components sitting in my garage collecting dust waiting on me to make some kick panels.