Blazer Speaker mounting problems

[old man jimmy]

Originally Posted by 1949gmc

I was hoping that old man jimmy would chime in here.... I knew he would be the guy to ask!

Thanks.. they came mounted in the middle hanging under the dash. Problem was, at highway speeds, their were so much wind noise and rattles you couldn't hear it very well.

[2003 silverado]

1949 that is what I have exactly. Old school your funny

[DeadheadNM]

Now I'm curious. The under dash speaker brackets have coarse threads that match those on the screws that holder a heater to the dash. Easy install if you don't have a factory AC truck. But the screws that secure the AC controller to the dash are finely threaded and don't match the bracket. So, did GM:
1) use separate brackets for AC trucks
2) Drill out the brackets threads
3) Mount the speaker in a slightly different fashion on AC trucks and/or use an additional bracket
4) Do something else and/or I'm just crazy for caring

Can anyone with a factory AC/under dash speaker equipped K5 put this to rest?

Turns out my Blazer has a dash mounted speaker but I may add the under dash speaker I have for the look.

Thanks, Pete

[2003 silverado]

Pete I brought something back to the top for you Stock speaker

[69-72]

I was just working on installing a speaker in my restoration. I started out trying to install the nut style bracket with not much success. I was trying to get it under the ac controls but it looks like it would only work to install it offset by the gas pedal.
I decided to check my stock and found another bracket speaker setup with a different shape and the nuts omitted. I tried it and it fits perfect under the ac but it needs to be mounted on the outer surface of the dash

[69-72]

Another note for the super purists. The back side of the bracket isn’t painted, just zinc plated.

[69-72]

Installed

[rsavage]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Now I'm curious. The under dash speaker brackets have coarse threads that match those on the screws that holder a heater to the dash. Easy install if you don't have a factory AC truck. But the screws that secure the AC controller to the dash are finely threaded and don't match the bracket. So, did GM:
1) use separate brackets for AC trucks
2) Drill out the brackets threads
3) Mount the speaker in a slightly different fashion on AC trucks and/or use an additional bracket
4) Do something else and/or I'm just crazy for caring

Can anyone with a factory AC/under dash speaker equipped K5 put this to rest?

Turns out my Blazer has a dash mounted speaker but I may add the under dash speaker I have for the look.

Thanks, Pete

I believe the bracket was originally offset towards the steering wheel. My 71 was an AC blazer and I centered it under the heat/AC controls as it looked much better to mr. Ground off he nuts and drilled the bracket and bent it some to put it more under the dash.

[rsavage]

This is an old thread that I responded to some years ago. I have to start looking at the dates

[DeadheadNM]

Good info thanks for posting.

[69-72]

Here’s another example. Looks original

[rsavage]

See post #8. That is the original mounting position. The brackets on the example you are showing have been flipped. The welded nut goes over the bottom lip so that the machine screws screw up into them and it was offset towards the driver's side.

[DeadheadNM]

It’s the case that are two styles of brackets. One seemingly earlier style was mounted in an offset manner toward the driver and these brackets had a threaded nut. At some point, GM began mounting them below the AC/heater control: these brackets do not have a threaded nut. The brackets are the same otherwise - I’ve had both in my possession.

Here is a survivor 72 St Louis Highlander that was owned by member SoCoC10

[DeadheadNM]

Here’s another example of the earlier style location - I think this was in a 69 blazer (wasn’t a 72)

These speakers were only used in double wall top blazers

[69-72]

So it looks like there are 3 different styles of brackets. The ones with the nuts are for offset and there are two different angles for the centered brackets

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by 69-72

So it looks like there are 3 different styles of brackets. The ones with the nuts are for offset and there are two different angles for the centered brackets

Could be. Maybe some just bent over the years though?

[69-72]

I would think so too but my brackets had the original finish and showed no signs of being bent

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

It’s the case that are two styles of brackets. One seemingly earlier style was mounted in an offset manner toward the driver and these brackets had a threaded nut. At some point, GM began mounting them below the AC/heater control: these brackets do not have a threaded nut. The brackets are the same otherwise - I’ve had both in my possession.

with Pete on that above part in bold, we too have had both styles of speaker brackets come in over the years. Here are a few pics of my personal 72 K/5 with the blazer/jimmy specific OE under dash speaker mounted directly under A/C control. Mel
.

[Mrcleancar]

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[randy500]

This is an old thread but a good one that shows both types of blazer speaker mounting brackets and loactions.
Most brackets are bent, people found the speaker and pulled it down to face them for better sound. Factory they mounted at an angle that matches the lower dash edge angle.
The brackets with the welded nuts mount to the left center under the dash panel with machine screws through the lower dash panel into the speaker bracket.
The brackets without the nuts welded to them mount in the center of the lower dash, the heater control panel screw goes through the speaker bracket then through the dash into the heater control panel securing both the speaker snd the heater control panel.

The brackets do not interchange and are bent almost exactly opposite of each other.

Post 32 shows the speaker bent downward for “more sound”
Post 38 shows the factory mounting angle.
Post 8 shows the left center mount location “brackets with nuts welded” which also appears to show the speaker mounting angle matching the lower dash angle.
Post 19 shows a bent bracket. Someone pulled the speaker down bending the brackets for more sound or so it can be seen hanging under the dash.

[69-72]

Post 32 is mine, the brackets aren’t bent. That’s the way they were made. I have another set of brackets with the exact same bend and they show no sign of being manipulated.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by 69-72

Post 32 is mine, the brackets aren’t bent. That’s the way they were made. I have another set of brackets with the exact same bend and they show no sign of being manipulated.

In post 31 you have a end view of 2 speakers, both with bent brackets, the foreground picture appears to be a set of brackets with the welded nuts removed, probably so someone could mount it in the center position.
In picture 2 of the same post the brackets are bent too.

Post 38 shows a pristine set of brackets with the speaker in the proper angled position dictated by unmolested brackets.

I suspect the brackets in post 32 were manipulated in a vise or brake but maybe you have the one set of brackets that place the speaker so it hangs straight down.

[69-72]

Originally Posted by randy500

In post 31 you have a end view of 2 speakers, both with bent brackets, the foreground picture appears to be a set of brackets with the welded nuts removed, probably so someone could mount it in the center position.
In picture 2 of the same post the brackets are bent too.

Post 38 shows a pristine set of brackets with the speaker in the proper angled position dictated by unmolested brackets.

I suspect the brackets in post 32 were manipulated in a vise or brake but maybe you have the one set of brackets that place the speaker so it hangs straight down.

I have another set not pictured. Neither set show any signs of being bent original paint. I believe there’s another set in this thread the same as well. It must be one of those mysteries just like how no one knows how it is decided that we even have the hanging speakers or not 😂

[randy500]

I agree there are some oddballs like blazers with upper dash speakers with the corresponding speaker holes ,just like the trucks have.

Blazer speakers are weird, in general i believe earlier blazers had the left center mount, 72 for sure center mount, some 72 blazers had regular truck dash speaker with the holes for it.

[DeadheadNM]

I’ve been tracking K5s with and without the pickup style speaker grill atop the dash in this post here related to single wall tops: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=701826

So far it seems only those built at Flint received the pickup style speaker and that switch occurred after the change to a single wall top. Some single wall examples received the older style below dash speaker. The switch to single wall tops then to pickup style in-dash speakers was made during the production run.