Plan 2: Half completeBefore I get into this boring write-up, does anyone know how to get a power lead from the battery (engine bay) to the rear of the car? I could not find a traceable wire.
Giving a write-up while this is fresh in my head--probably won't be able to get back to the Aero for final install until next week. Hoping our little community can learn the challenges associated with installing a modern head unit and excising those horrid 4-inch stock speakers.
Work to date: mocked-up placement of 6 3/4-inch speakers, tweeters, cross-overs, amp, and associated wiring. Wired speakers to old head unit and gave it a listen.
To be completed: - Find a way to get power to the amp
- Install amp
- Finalize tweeter location
- Install head unit
- Button it all up
Regarding speaker placement: Not many options 6 3/4-inch speakers. Utilized the stock holes for the 6 3/4-inch speakers. Getting or fab'ing a new backing board (the vertical board behind the seats) was not an easy option. The largest issue is speaker depth. Cutout hole is not 5 5/8 inch. The backing board has a stamp in the middle for rigidity, and while unproven, making larger holes could make the board weak.
The 6 3/4-inch are ~3-inches deep--t
hat's about as deep as you can go in the stock speaker location without getting into clearance issues with the fuel tank and emissions equipment.For the tweeters- I couldn't find a lot of good options for surface mount. My primary with a surface mount behind the seats was accidentally ripping a tweeter loose (I actually use the parcel shelf and area behind the seats), and routing wires. Ultimately I chose a location that is sub-optimal placement for sound quality, but is one of the few areas that is: easily accessible for wiring, does not put the tweeters and a "danger area", does not put the tweeters behind the roof when it's folded down. If the tweeters are not coming through I explore other options.
Regarding cross-over installation: the cross-overs are rather large and there was no room to place them behind the mounting panel. For now, they are tucked away on the passenger side of the trunk. The installation is clean, and it is very easy to pass wiring through the existing trunk hinge (thus obviating drilling another hole in the car).
Sound quality: lacking the head unit and amp: WOW, an order of magnitude better. Obviously going from a crappy 4" to higher-end 6 3/4" is going to be better.
In sum: For a minimal amount of money (~$200 for "good enough" speakers),
it is possible to install 6 3/4" speakers that allow you to listen to enjoy music and talk at highway speed without any "tin can" sound effects.Hope some of you find this of value. My next update will have the finished product. I'm sure we're all as sick as I am of seeing an undying thread on speaker.