Door speaker installation question

[ramonesfreak]

Im replacing my 5 and 1/4" speakers with 6.5" speakers

for some reason I thought I had 6.5" speakers in there

Im obviously going to need to enlarge the hole in my door panel and obviously I only get one shot at doing this right

is there any trick to getting the door panel hole lined up exactly with the hole in the sheet metal of the door?

I think the answer seems obvious and that this sounds like a stupid question but I was planning on cutting the door panels from the rear so I wont be able to eyeball it

maybe im overthinking it....how did you go about this

[ramonesfreak]

oh and any thoughts on how to best cut the door panel?

Can I use a dremel with a specific bit? Im guessing a razor blade isnt going to do the job. Plastic feels pretty thick

[ramonesfreak]

just had a thought

assuming the existing hole on the door panel is mostly centered with the hole in the metal door, i could probably use the included round mounting bracket that comes with the new speaker to mark the new circle that needs to be cut on the back of the door panel....making sure that the bracket is centered with the existing hole?

sorry, i failed geometry

[JK930]

you can do it, just take your time

this is what i would do

1-trace the back of the door panel with the speaker template to the correct 6.5 size
2-peal back the leather around the speaker opening
3-with a pair of right turn tin snips cut the cardboard door panel not the leather
4- now that you have the new opening re-glue the leather around the speaker opening
so it looks factory again but with a 6.5 opening
5- put door panel back on door
6- with a sharpie trace your new opening
7- cut the new opening with tin snip or small air saw
8- test fit
9- wire it up
10- mount new speaker
11- repeat other side
12 have a few drinks and listen to your new tunes

[sigchuck]

I bought some .5 or .75 inch spacers on amazon for less than $10 that let me use a 6.5” without cutting the door.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by JK930

you can do it, just take your time

this is what i would do

1-trace the back of the door panel with the speaker template to the correct 6.5 size
2-peal back the leather around the speaker opening
3-with a pair of right turn tin snips cut the cardboard door panel not the leather
4- now that you have the new opening re-glue the leather around the speaker opening
so it looks factory again but with a 6.5 opening
5- put door panel back on door
6- with a sharpie trace your new opening
7- cut the new opening with tin snip or small air saw
8- test fit
9- wire it up
10- mount new speaker
11- repeat other side
12 have a few drinks and listen to your new tunes

Thanks. It occurred to me while looking at the doors and my old speakers that the answer would be alot clearer if I actually had the new speakers in hand....but I dont. Wont be here until Tuesday

I got shallow mount speakers (Infinity REF 6532ex) and it may be that they will take up much less space than I am imagining

I was curious to know where the sizing of a speaker actually comes from so I measured my old ones and the 51/4" is actually from mounting hole to mounting hole across diagonally, not the speaker cone itself...

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by sigchuck

I bought some .5 or .75 inch spacers on amazon for less than $10 that let me use a 6.5” without cutting the door.

I assume your talking about something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Plastic-Adapter-Spacer-Speakers/dp/B00DJG80YA/ref=pd_sbs_200_2/134-1537715-8837119?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00DJG80YA&pd_rd_r=89e246f9-6234-11e9-b12e-253105b62179&pd_rd_w=oXiqG&pd_rd_wg=KoI4P&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=T4MNXB28T382YDM0NF0F&psc=1&refRID=T4MNXB28T382YDM0NF0F

And I assume the purpose of those is to keep less of the body of the speaker from actually going into the door?

[sigchuck]

Yes, exactly! They blend nicely with my speakers (very conservative Rockford Fosgate) and don’t push them out so far as to hit the map pocket (assuming you don’t have RS style door panels).

[scottrx7tt]

Kicker 6.5” speakers will fit without cutting anything

[AG81]

Originally Posted by sigchuck

I bought some .5 or .75 inch spacers on amazon for less than $10 that let me use a 6.5” without cutting the door.

^
I built a set of these using plywood.....this was in 1988.....for a 79 911 (my brother). We wrapped them in door vinyl. It worked but the look always bothered me. Kind of an after thought look...... but it does work.

[Mocker]

Buy a pair of speaker spacers from:
Porsche 911 Speaker Spacers (one pair) | Apex Paddles

See this thread for the hows and whys:
Door speaker spacers

[jac1976]

Originally Posted by Mocker

Buy a pair of speaker spacers from:
Porsche 911 Speaker Spacers (one pair) | Apex Paddles

See this thread for the hows and whys:
Door speaker spacers

Beat me to it!

[ramonesfreak]

Cool. If I can’t get a good fit with the included bracket and fasteners, I’ll get a set of those

[Jack Stands]

Those brackets also provide you with a great flat surface to mount the speakers.

[Jack Stands]

[ramonesfreak]

After getting the speakers today I see that I don’t need to cut bigger holes

I do however need those spacers so I just ordered a pair. Hopefully they being in Canada wont cause a huge shipping delay.

Anyway thanks for the suggestion

[911pcars]

Surface mount speakers or speaker covers with any significant depth will interfere with window wind handles. This doesn't apply if your vintage 911 has power windows.

Sherwood

[ramonesfreak]

Btw anyone that used those spacers, did you need longer screws than what your speakers came with?

[Mocker]

Speakers normally come with a variety of screws in different lengths. Mark the holes with a scribe or pen/pencil and drill pilot holes. Don't forget dynamat or similar on inside of door sheet metal. And always install new moisture barriers--they are cheap insurance.

[ramonesfreak]

Yea my speakers came with some longer screws. Just not sure they will go far enough into the spacers


Ok one last question for anyone using those spacers. I will need to remove the door panels several times this summer to address door dings etc

I’m worried that unscrewing the speakers from the spacers is going to strip the holes. Should I be concerned about this or is the material the spacers are made off able to handle having the screws in and out