Putting 6 1/2" Speakers in a 911

[Tom Oxner]

I remember reading somewhere in this forum about fabricating some brackets to allow putting the larger speakers in the doors of a 911. I have a 72 with RS door panels and no speakers. If someone remembers the link about making the brackets, would you please post it for me. Thanks for your help.

Tom w/o tunes

[4flyboy]

+1 I'd love to know.

S.

[imcarthur]

Here is Peter Bull's wonderful post: Pelican Link

Here is my application of his idea: Rennlist Web Link

Ian

[dipso]

If you are not concerned about weight, dyna mat on the inside of the doors makes one heck of a difference.
I added it to mine and really improved the speaker sound. I have separates and the bass improved dramatically after installing the dyna mat. I also have a sub under the drivers seat and the sound quality is pretty good now.
It also cuts down a lot of road noise, a secondary benefit.

One thing you might want to watch out for.
Be careful where you mount your crossover, if you have one. I velcroed mine to the inside of the door skin and when I rolled down my window( electric windows) it caught the crossover and put a little dent in my passenger door. From the inside it pushed it out, so it looks like a little zit on my door now.

If your using separates you will have a crossover, just be careful where you mount it. The arm for the window really travels a lot in there.

[Tom Oxner]

Thanks for your help. I may finally have some tunes in time for Porschepalooza. This was a great help.

Tom

[rfn026]

If you can actually hear tunes in your Porsche you have the wrong exhaust system.

Richard Newton
My Blog
Autocross Performance Handbook

[4flyboy]

Originally Posted by rfn026

If you can actually hear tunes in your Porsche you have the wrong exhaust system.

Richard Newton
My Blog
Autocross Performance Handbook

I have a large amp and a Becker radio out of a 996.........I can hear it fine unless you're talking about actually hearing? Huh?

Scott

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Tom Oxner

I remember reading somewhere in this forum about fabricating some brackets to allow putting the larger speakers in the doors of a 911. I have a 72 with RS door panels and no speakers. If someone remembers the link about making the brackets, would you please post it for me. Thanks for your help.

Tom w/o tunes

Most 6.5" speakers will mount in the metal door opening (don't mount on the door panel covering). The cone support structure is the part that must fit within the opening. As mentioned, you will want a speaker that doesn't protrude too deeply into the door cavity due to potential interference with the window wind mechanism. Mount the crossover electronics behind the interior kick panel material (next to the dead pedal area) along with the tweeter.

With a manual mechanism, the speaker grills must be flat to avoid blocking the window handle.

Sherwood

[Tom Oxner]

You guys have been a great help. Does anyone have suggestions for speakers that will not protrude too deeply into the door cavity. Being a tone-deaf fellow, I know very little about sound systems. Once again, thanks for the help.

Tom who may have tunes soon

[Netspeed]

I just put 6.5 Kenwood speakers into my 88 Carrera. I followed Peter's advice and made a template but I made one change. Instead of using the MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) like he recommended. I went down to the local Bed, Bath, & Beyond and picked up a 9"X13" (1/2" thick) plastic cutting board (the kind used in kitchens). That way, there's no need to worry about water damaging the MDF.

Also, to make it real easy to install the speakers, I used little T-nuts on the back side of the spacer so I could anchor down the speaker. I wish I could remember all the hardware sizes but I can't.

Good luck and please PM me if you need more insight.

[burgermeister]

I just put 6.5" speakers (2" installed top-mount depth) in the rear deck - they obviously require cutting the cardboardy material a bit, but they do fit, and sound infinitely better than the 4x6 units the PO installed.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Tom Oxner

You guys have been a great help. Does anyone have suggestions for speakers that will not protrude too deeply into the door cavity. Being a tone-deaf fellow, I know very little about sound systems. Once again, thanks for the help.

Tom who may have tunes soon

Tom,
Since speaker models change, uh every week or so, I think a better strategy is to remove the existing door panel and measure the free space behind the sheet metal speaker opening. Armed with this info, you can approach most any seller and ask for the speaker depth dimension, then choose wisely. You can spend $30 or $400 for a front speaker system.

BTW, I use a relatively inexpensive set of Infinity Reference component speakers (6.5"), about $100, but they're 4-5 years old. They sound fine in a noisy 911.

Sherwood

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Netspeed

(1/2" thick) plastic cutting board (the kind used in kitchens).

Good idea. I painted my MDF spacer to seal it but plastic would be better & just as easy to work with.

Ian

[RoninLB]

6.5" Focal separates

the wedge angles bass and mid unit at cabin space between passenger and driver's ears.

the mounted in door pic shows the thin edge of wedge.

threaded rivets were mounted in door tin.

car stereo shop foam baffles were used to keep water off cone. Baffles were opened at bottom to negate actual audio purpose.

[911pcars]

Ron,
Your Focal separates probably sound excellent, but that door layout only works in a power wind vehicle.

Sherwood

[RoninLB]

didn't know that


I'll also post that next time

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Good idea. I painted my MDF spacer to seal it but plastic would be better & just as easy to work with.

no, plastic is worse -- mdf is used b/c it dampens resonance

prob. not a big deal for these small, free mounted speakers tho

[imcarthur]

True, acoustically MDF is superior. I imagine cutting board plastic would resonate more & at a higher frequency. But in a car & at the price level, it wouldn't matter.

Ian

[RoninLB]

I space any mounting imperfections with Brown Bread or Dynamat. It's a glorified dum dum. Any sympathetic harmonics from the door tin or skin will be most noticeable in the mid range, I guess.

Specifically, you don't want any noise from the back of the speaker leaking forward.

6.5 need 50wx2 minimum. 75wx2 is very doable. It's nice to hear everything cleanly over a loud exhaust.

[SCWDP911]

Hey Tom,

Save your money and just drive behind me to Palooza. I reinstalled Ugly Betty this week!