Speaker Grills

Wil Ferch · 06-20-2003, 12:40 PM

Ok, guys, I'm not looking for audiophile info here...just a simple request.

I've retained the 4x6 rears and 5.25" fronts on my 85 Carrera, but I've changed out to improved speakers..not a big leap..just better grade poly cones instead of the lousy paper cones of the stock set up. Now that they're in, I find that the "edge" of these speakers is a hard plastic, whereas the edge of the originals is soft rubber. As a result, the original grills fit, but have a large air gap around them...a kind of stand-off from the surrounding upholstery.

Can you simply get replacement grills with a "lift ring" or those that have a deep skirt design allowing it to fit?

---Wil Ferch

steve911 · steve911's Garage

Wil--
I too replaced the front & rear speakers on my '85 Targa and went with the new grills. It doesn't look factory, but I'm probably the only one who notices. I would think that any higher end car audio shop might be able to help. What did you put in?

bell · bell's Garage

yes any shop (even your best buys and such) will have a box of misc unused speaker grills.......
if the grill won't stay on you can use a byutil (sp?) rubber, it'll hold it on forever.
if the aren't "deep" enough to cover the new speakers there are 2 things to try.....
1.....figure out what is hitting it and keeping it from covering......things can be easily modified with a carefull dremel.
2.....sometimes the speaker can be mounted behind the door panel then use the grill on the outside (requires removing door panel)

if you have pics i could probably help more

Wil Ferch · 06-20-2003, 05:43 PM

I won't tell you what I put in ..too embarassed. Let's just say incredibly cheap fronts ( still, with better weather protection by nature of poly construction instead of paper) ...and for the rears, I was handed someone else's cast-offs ( Pioneer TS-A4612's). Actually, they sound better than stock so I'm OK with this "minor" upgrade.
As to Dremel and such, no... think if the perimiter of the speaker "just" outside the cone. All afteremarket units seem to have a hard ridge "surround"..the stock units have a soft foam cushion. This ridge is placed directly on the grill frame, immediately past the actual grill-work screen, if you can envision this. If I Dremel it away, there's nothing to bear against while screwing the grill on.

I'll check with the various audio shops and retail outlets as you guys suggest. I'm just looking for similar grills that have more "depth" with a ring skirt.

---Wil Ferch

toolman · toolman's Garage

I put Infinity 5.25 inch in the front doors and 6.5's in the rear with the infinity grille and they fit great!

Wil Ferch · 06-20-2003, 06:50 PM

OK...how 'bout this? ...
Does Infinity ( Pioneer, JBL, Sony, etc, etc)....offer their grills separately????

---Wil Ferch

bell · bell's Garage

check around for some mb quart grills, they are deep with a grill that is also deep (can be tin snipped to make it sit more flush in the ring).
also check for eclipse/crossfire/JL, these too are pretty universal.
good luck, if you can't find any pm me your addy and i'll send you some, although i know i don't have any quart grills.......

Wil Ferch · 06-21-2003, 05:01 PM

Bell:
I might take you up on that...I've been calling various audio places, ( both higher-end and the Best Buy type places), and am coming up short ("Yeah, dude..we sell grills, but starting at 10" diameter !!).

Contact me on WFerch911@aol.com, and I'll get you my address. I'd be happy to spot you the proper $ for your help...thanks !

---Wil

PS---saw pics about your car and the new issue with the gas tank on another thread. What's up with that , what happened originally?

bell · bell's Garage

here is the link for the wreck. well........what can i say.......she's dented pretty heavily....

most of the time when you call on the phone you get the min wage saleman who doesn't really have a clue.......you need to physically talk to an installer to get into their stash

and you have mail

MY83SC · 03:57 PM

When I purchased my car back in 2001, it already had an after market component AM/FM cassete stereo from the late 80's. Including speaker grills front and back, amp, voltage convertor etc.

I went with a Kenwood head unit, (one of the motorized flip units....lays flat in the dash) Alpine main amp, Alpine Sub Amp, Polk component speakers and and a Polk 10 " Sub . The component speakers fit right into the existing after market grills in the car. (wish I could remember the brand) New speakers are 5 1/4 Polks with 1 inch tweeters. Front and back. The Sub has an encloser sitting on the back seat that I can easily disconect and remove, or slide to the side, in the rare occasion I have a back seat passengers. If I didn't have air conditioning, I would have made a cut-out and put the Sub in the front trunk space for the A/C condensor. Neat MOD that a friend of mine has on his 70's car.

The sytem has plenty of juice, and would probably make a Hip-Hop guy happy. Myself, I listen at a lower decibel range, but enjoy the clarity and well rounded sound that the system delivers.

Mike
83 911 SC

Wil Ferch · 06-23-2003, 04:52 AM

Mike says:

The component speakers fit right into the existing after market grills in the car

That's my point...all the aftermarket grills I've seen are pretty much the same...they have a raised edge..the factory units do not. I think Bell and I worked out a deal so we'll see where this goes.

---Wil Ferch

MY83SC · 06-23-2003, 06:19 AM

Good luck with your project Will!!!