I'm considering installing a set of speakers in the kick panels of my 68. Would 5-1/4" or 4" speakers work?
Also which sounds better-placing the speakers in the original dash speaker hole or the kick panels?

Separating the channels will sound better than two speakers right next to each other, but you will have to cut the kick panels. If your panels are in good condition, and your car is stock, I'd look for a pair that are already cut, or buy the aftermarket ones and cut them.

If your car is not stock looking, then just do what you want, without worrying about messing anything up.

Does anyone have a line on the after-market kick panel speakers? For a convertible they seem to be the only answer to get decent sound to the front seat.

The repro speakers/grills fit there as you might expect. That is what I used. I think that any other ones will be difficult to install. There realy isn't any extra room behind the kick panel for bigger setups.

-Mark.

The best speaker that will fit behind the stock speaker grill and still fit in the sheet metal kick panel pockets is an Infinity Kappa 4" x 6" plate. A bit of massaging may be necessary to the speaker frame but it can be done with a file. You can just make out the passenger side grill in the interior photo on my website.

Custom Auto Sound makes replacement kick panels with speaker cut outs and/or with speakers already installed.

This is one vendor that carries them > http://www.soundmove.com/speakers.htm

I used a 5" Polk audio speaker - if you cut the kick panel in just the right spot there is enough room for the speaker magnets to clear the uni-body up there. Can post measurements if you need them.

I'd post a pic but my dig camera died . . .

Eric68, I'd be interested in those measurements. I've got 5-1/4" Sony's that I might see if they work. I'd love to see pics if there's any way...

Btw, the kickpanels are original but in crappy shape with the discoloration.

I have been in touch with "soundmove". Unfortunately there is nothing available for the 1969 camaro. I really wanted the aftermarket kickpanel and speaker package; a) I don't want to cut into my originals, b) from what I've seen the repro's angle the speakers in slightly, c) it is cleaner and easier than getting out the jigsaw. Does anyone have a lead on these speaker packages?

OK, I cannot get a picture, but I carefully measured my speaker location. The center of the hole is:

5" up from the bottom edge of the kick-panel

4" from the edge of the panel on the door end (the very edge - not where it starts to bend around the corner)

So if you are looking at the drivers side kick panel from inside the car the speaker goes toward the bottom left (bottom of the panel toward rear of car).

I would suggest drilling a 1" pilot hole at the location I mentioned and looking inside the hole with an inspection mirror - this way if you need to offset your final cut one direction or the other you can see which way to go. There is a channel in the body there that will have enough room for a small magnet speaker.

A key-hole saw or roto-zip may be the best tool to use for the final opening that way you can take a little at a time.

I got my dimensions from my friend's 69 Z28 and the two cars were very close. I did have to make a dimple in the unibody on the passenger side speaker opening, but that may have been my fault for getting the hole center a little off.

Worst case scenario IMO is if you mess up your old panels you could always get new repops and just use the old panels for a template.

Good luck.

Hey thanks alot Eric for taking time out to do that! graemlins/beers.gif I hope to do this in the next week or two.

I put 5.25 Infinity Kappa's in my kick panels. Once I had the holes cut for the speakers, I saw what had to be cut in the jam behind it to clear.
I mounted my kicks without the speakers and made some mounting points for the speaker to bolt up to, otherwise you will suck the kick panel in when tighting the speaker bolts. I used some 1/2 inch square tubing and cut some off so it would fit to the jam metal and fit flush to the back side of the kick and welded them to the jam, now when I mount the speakers they are solid as a rock and does not suck in the panel. Looks good.
I WILL be spraying those SILVER grills on the KAPPA's semi-flat black before I install 'em.
Good luck,
Guy

PS: the 5.25" Kappa's have an ajustable tweeter that can be swiveled a little for better imaging.

I put two 2-way Polk 4" in the dash.