Speakers in fresh air vents.

[Ronw435]

Was wondering how many have put speakers in the fresh air vents? Those that did , did you block off the fresh air from coming into the back of the speakers?

Thanks for any information.

Ronw435

[PGSigns]

I have the speakers in the kick panels. I don't have air conditioning so closing off the vents is not an option.
Jimmy

[Bret B]

If you don't block off the top of the vent, you're gonna get water, dirt and junk in behind the speakers. Which means, you really don't have a choice if you intend to do speakers, and not do damage to them over the long term. I'm sure there are ways to fab an enclosure which would "encapsule" the speaker and still be a useable as a vent. I can see it, in my head, but I'd probably never be able to make it.

[Ronw435]

Bret B when you say "block off the top" what exactly do you mean? What I was thinking of doing is block off the back of the "box" that comes out when removing the screws and removing the insides.

[Maddoxdb]

Something like this could work also to protect your speaker. I would think you'd want something to prevent stuff from getting down there in the first place. These also would help to push the sound into the cab. As a small speaker box.
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_762/Foa...s.html?tp=2809

[Ronw435]

Good idea Maddoxdb, I will look into those. I have some small oval pioneer speakers that the PO had put in it and it looks like it has the boxes for those as well. I'm just not sure those little speakers will do the job being down there. Thanks for the information Maddoxdb

[Hugh in NC]

The previous owner of my truck put speakers in the vent holes. He put some heavy duty plastic in the hole, then installed the speaker. The speakers sounded awful. I think the air pressure on the back of the speaker plus humidity was the problem. I took them out, sealed the vent with sheet metal, and mounted these surface mount speakers there.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_068P661...RPOD6-612.html

I have had no problems with the limited space they require and they sound much better. Next I need to get a new radio to replace the Audiovox radio/cassette player currently installed.

[Bret B]

Ronw435, what I mean by "block off the top" is, using a piece of metal cut to approximate shape of the vent profile up where the wiper transmission arms are. Essentially a "D" shaped panel or similar, welded (probably difficult to weld in, I don't weld, so I wouldn't know) in, blocking off any water and junk from getting down behind the speaker. One would also have to drill some sort of passage for the water to escape from the vent. The other alternative is to encapsulate the speaker in a cup and then install in the vent. Making a cup to surround the speaker would allow all the water to still pass thru the drain slot at the bottom of vent box, in theory of course. I hope this makes some sort of sense. I can see it in my head, but how to explain it all isn't always easy.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I used the vents. I blocked off the back. I can't remember how I did it but I think Plexi-glass was involved. I know I used plexi where the speaker mounts. They sound really good.

[Ronw435]

Thanks for the photo Chevy Fleetside, looks like a good idea.

[Gooker928]

I'm going to put some 6x9s in my vents. I'm thinking they should work just as well as the door speakers that most manufactures use and door get a lot more moisture and debris than those vents ever will. I'll keep you updated.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by Gooker928

I'm going to put some 6x9s in my vents. I'm thinking they should work just as well as the door speakers that most manufactures use and door get a lot more moisture and debris than those vents ever will. I'll keep you updated.

I can't remember but I don't think they fit. I have some 6x9's behind the seat and I think I tried to fit them there but they were just to long. I am over 50 so I could be remembering wrong.

[64shortbed]

I took air vents out and took the flap out of each one. then welded patches front and back. And welded any other holes that needed it and cut a 6" hole in the front for speaker and put everthing back in. worked great. Seam sealed them up before mounting speakers.

[wutnxt]

If you put speakers into those fresh air holes if it's a daily driver you need to build a fiberglass bucket and put sound deading around it to keep it all clean/dry and from rattling . The other problem is that if you put them in flat the sound shoots across and just hits the other sound from the other side. If your putting out any power you need to aim your speakers back towards the seat and aim them up towards the top of the seat . You get a left and right clear sound that way and it's easy to do . I build kick pods and jamb them full of speakers and aim them like i suggested.....pull out the gas tank from behind the seat and build a rear seat box and stuff in 2 - 12" subs . Kick pods are easy to build and give great sound...I think on my Street Hulk thread i have some pictures of the pods i built if that helps you out for some ideas ?

[Chevy Fleetside]

I did seal them off and insulate them. It sounds good enough for my old ears... haha

[corvettejim1968]

i went a different wrought . i did the plate with two 4in coaxial speakers in the dash. the sound stage is much better than down by your feet. i also used Fat Mat to dampen any surrounding metal.

[Ronw435]

Great ideas everyone. Wutnxt do you have a finished picture of your speaker install? And Corvettejim did you use the existing speaker louver in the dash for your install or did you modify the dash?
Thanks for all the ideas everyone.

[wutnxt]

Originally Posted by Ronw435

Great ideas everyone. Wutnxt do you have a finished picture of your speaker install? And Corvettejim did you use the existing speaker louver in the dash for your install or did you modify the dash?
Thanks for all the ideas everyone.

=======================================================

I did a similar thing on my 58 build and there are alot of pictures to give you a idea of where i was going with it ...You can stuff alot of sound down in those kick pods but i also have a pair of 4"stuffed up in the dash as well . The sub boxes it the 58 aren't anything fancy but i was in a big hurry to roll and I will redo those later .....But the sub box in the Hulk truck is very sexy and I have installed a bunch of sub boxes in other customers trucks since then .....

[wutnxt]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=527123&page=8

check out page 8 on the 58 build....i forgot the link my bad

[corvettejim1968]

Originally Posted by Ronw435

Great ideas everyone. Wutnxt do you have a finished picture of your speaker install? And Corvettejim did you use the existing speaker louver in the dash for your install or did you modify the dash?
Thanks for all the ideas everyone.

i did not modify the dash at all. the plate came with a couple brackets and i used fat mat to help as well

[Ronw435]

I appreciate all the replies guys, Thanks a lot.

[MisterC]

I have this photo in my stash of possible future projects. Looks like a solid way to go.

[Blue666(2)]

Just today I bent up a 12 x 12 piece of 22 gauge metal. With just two bends you could mount the speakers in rear corner.

That's a 6 x 9 speaker. I need to cut just a bit off the door jam side so I can lift it up higher in the corner, I'm not sure if I will weld or use a body panel adhesive to hold in place.

I think if you used a 12 x 16 piece of sheet metal, you could probably fit it around that metal from the rear window area.

[LDO]

Originally Posted by Blue666(2)

Just today I bent up a 12 x 12 piece of 22 gauge metal. With just two bends you could mount the speakers in rear corner.

That's a 6 x 9 speaker. I need to cut just a bit off the door jam side so I can lift it up higher in the corner, I'm not sure if I will weld or use a body panel adhesive to hold in place.

I think if you used a 12 x 16 piece of sheet metal, you could probably fit it around that metal from the rear window area.

that looks great! Does the rear of the 6x9 hit the wall of the cab?

[Chevy Fleetside]

Does the seat go all the way back? Is the seat in front of the speaker? Just wondering.