Speaker Install Done
 

OK, so I'm sure many of you are tired of me blathering on about all this stuff, but (finally) the speakers came and I got around to installing them over the holiday weekend.

You can read all about it, including pretty exhaustive install directions (with pictures), here:

http://byrneweb.com/sunburn/newcar/install.html

I'd love any suggestions on fixing up the rear door panels. <sigh> :(

The good news is that they sound great and I'm sure will sound even better when I get around to getting the amp in there.
:bt:

dude, if you're happy, that's all that counts! congrats! :)

Ouch - why did you even install the JBL grilles? All you had to do was leave the grilles off and put the door panels back on.

I had to trim the "ring" on the inside of the door panels' grilles (fronts only) to get some extra room between the speaker and the door panel, otherwise my panel wouldn't go on, but no way would I cut holes in them!

Anyway - what you might be able to do is VERY CAREFULLY cut out the remaining portion of the stock grille - use a Dremel tool - buy, borrow, or steal one - you will need it for this.

Do it with the door panel off the car - bring the thing insde so you can work on it. Cut out the remaining portion of the stock grille, but do it in such a way that it remains a "ring" - don't cut off pieces, or make a "C" out of it - keep it as a ring. There is no substitute for the Dremel - use the thinnest bit you can find, so you are making the skinniest cut possible in the panel - you don't want to remove a lot of material, just enough to get the "ring" out.

Now that you have the remaining part of the grille out in one piece, clean up the edges of the door panel where you cut - get any burrs or slightly jagged edges fixed up. But be careful not to take much off of the inside edge (where you just made the cut). Then, get some grille cloth - the kind used on home speakers. You can even find the stuff on eBay - won't cost you a lot, just a few bucks.

Stretch the cloth over and around the "rings" - use some sort of glue (maybe 2-part epoxy or a hot-glue gun?) to attach the cloth to the backside of the ring. I think doing two layers or more oughtta be pretty good.

Then the "rings" will probably fit nice and tightly back into the space it was cut from. You could probably use a strips of plastic inside the door panel to help hold it in place - glue them to the ring w/cloth, and to the door panel itself.

Take off the JBL grilles, and put the door back on. I think if you do his REALLY carefully, it will come out looking pretty good.

Jeez - okay, my brain hurts. But it's the only idea I can think of to fix up those nasty holes.

hiho, I never intended to install the JBL grilles. I did just what you suggested, just put the door panel back on. But the door panel was pushing on the speakers (the tweeter part that sticks up). I did try shaving down the "ring" on the inside but it still wasn't enough.

You're right, though, I should have found something else to do besides cut holes, but it was late and I was really tired and wasn't thinking too clearly, and I had just cut off the rings so I had the cutter handy. Bad idea.

Anyway, thanks for the idea on fixing them up. That sounds like a pretty good plan.

WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!

Dude, I mean I'm sure you realize that you gots a pretty fucked installation there so I ain't gonna rub any more salt in the wound. What's done is done, and ain't no point dwelling on it. The way I see it ain't no grille cloth gonna help that. It's cut way too irregular. The only way that I know (without purchasing another panel) that you can make that look descent again is too mod up a fiberglass pod. Working with fiberglass is kind of a pain in the ass, and uhh no offense, but judging from your cutting skills, you probably shouldn't attempt it. If you know anyone who has the skills, or can find a good shop that will do it for a reasonable price, then that is the solution I suggest. Oh well, sorry bout your doors man, jeez.

So where can I buy the Scosche speaker adapters? I'd rather not mail order if I didn't have to. I'm picking up my '02 ES hopefully sometime this week, and I'd like to pop in my old Boston Acoustics Rally RX57's (5.25") up front and Infinity Reference 612i's (6.5") in the back.

Also, any advice on a suitable amp? I want to keep the stock deck, so I realize I'll be using speaker level inputs. With that setup, how does the amp know when to turn on and off?

Some amps can "sense" the voltage in the speaker wires, and will turn on and off with that - otherwise, I think there is a unit made just to do this. Not sure about who makes it though.

I got the adapters from sounddomain.com, so I'm not sure where one could pick them up.

As for amps, hiho is (again) right--there are a bunch that sense voltage on the speaker-level inputs. I bought the JBL P80.4 and it has this feature. I don't have it in the car yet so I can't tell you what I think about it, but the reviews I've read have all been exemplary.

Thanks!

No problem. Let us know how your install goes and if you go with an amp, what you get and how you like it! Always fun to hear this kind of stuff.

Will do! I'm almost at the first step now, taking delivery on Thursday night. I can't wait to turn the key in it for the first time.

hey multipath, if you haven't already, visit the local vancouver protege forums.

One of the guys local to us is selling those.

I can't remember if he visits this forum or not, but his nick is TeamBattleSpeed.

Here is the url:

http://pub70.ezboard.com/bprotegepower


also check out our club webpage at

http://mpsport.net

It's very unfinished now, but there are some pics from a few of our meets we've had in the past year.

Cheers.

Thanks! I've added the sites to my bookmarks.