Replace Interior Speakers - Remove Stock Plastic Cans? (2000 Air)

[intrlaz]

I removed the piping and drilled pilot holes directly into the plastic can to mount the speaker. On a few of them I used a long screw to hit the fiberglass behind the can if the speaker holes didn't line up with the can.

[jamiewilson3]

When I put the db651 in my 1997 SN, I pulled the fabric grill off of the plastic ring, and used adhesive to actually glue the speaker directly to the ring. The speaker mounts perfectly flush and essentially becomes a press fit into the original hole with no permanent attachment whatsoever. Works perfectly.

This would not work with any speaker, because you have to have a seat that mates to the ring, but the db happens to sit perfectly into the ring.

[Super_sport]

I just bought 4 Polk DB651 on Amazon ($56 / pr).. I hope they are as good as everyone thinks they are... I am going to try to mount them from behind the vinyl like the stock speakers... but it will take some mods since the DB651 speakers have that tweeter that sticks out further than the surround.. so I will have to come up with an adapter ring to mount thru to push speaker back away to allow the speaker to move freely. Shouldnt be too hard. In my 95 SS.. the speakers are mounted to the side panels and the side panels mount to the fiberglass. The fiberglass is cut out so much that the speakers dont come in contact with it. There is a lot of free air back behind the speakers.. does anyone think I should make something to fill that space to create a closed cavity behind the speakers? or just run them free air with no insulation? maybe use a think foam pad or something similar?

[cdrymalla]

...There is a lot of free air back behind the speakers.. does anyone think I should make something to fill that space to create a closed cavity behind the speakers? or just run them free air with no insulation? maybe use a think foam pad or something similar?

This was my original question in the thread, but I still have not recevied much comment one way or the other - right now I have no cans behind them and they sound good to me.

Also, I am not sure how your speakers mount in your app, but in mine, the stock speakers mounted at the back of the panel, with the netting/mesh at the front of the panel with several inches in between which I think would give room for the tweeter.

[Super_sport]

Mine is probably the same as yours. they mount to the vinyl pad/assembly facing out. There was a small plastic ring that shimmed them back 1/8 or so away from the back of the pad panel. The mesh is mounted to the front of the ring, so the few inches of thickness of the Padding/ring would allow the tweeter to fit in the hole forward. most speakers sound better inside an enclosure (unless they are made for free-air app). If there was a way to seal off that area (foam or other) I would think they would sound even better, but for now I will try them free-air and see. If I come up with a solution for enclosing them, I will post. I tried to build a small box from MDF, to put up inside the gunwall, but there really isnt enough room for that since there is wiring and tubing running up there. I have an idea, but will save it until I get the speakers and start install to see if it will work. Thanks.