Want to make some noise: radio questions

[S-G-Covin]

While I could listen to nothing more than the engine growl its way to and from work/school, there comes a time (usually three minutes into a trip) when passengers begin fiddling with my radio.

Wha HA! Much to their chagrin, I have no speakers in the car. Muahahahahaha!

But, being the conscientious and courteous driver that I am, I’ve decided that its time to put some new noise. To that end, I want to ask two stupid questions now, lest I feel the fool later:

The electronics stores in my area have 4”x 6” speakers. Considering that everything I’ve dealt with in the past (present and future too probably) is metric, I want to make certain before wasting money on something that won’t fit.

Question the first: will 4”x 6” speakers fit into the speaker panels?

Once I have the means to make extra noises, I would prefer those noises not all be static. I’ll probably use the FM radio for a good while until I decide CDs and MP3s are a must. However, the antenna doesn’t appear to work. When I turn the radio on, I was led to believe the antenna would extend. It remains fixed in the lowered position.

Question number 2: is there something special I need to do to get the antenna to rise up, or is it simply broken?

Thanks in advance for your replies and interest.

[1987944Sick]

i tryed few 6 x 4 speakers they bolt up but then i can not put the black cover over them..i would get some from ebay that say it will fit the car..

[Aslet]

#1- 4" by 6" fit, but there isn't much depth, so like 1987944 said, you may not get the cover on or something. Mine were too deep, but I used the mounting brackets it came with and some washers to push the speaker out enough.

#2- The power antennas should raise when the radio is turned on. There is a wire from the rear of the head unit that gives power to the antenna. So it may not be wired correctly (if someone changed the stereo around) or the antenna motor may be dead.

[John_AZ]

Front door 4x6" speakers with power windows are MAX 1.75 inch deep. You will need spacers or have speakers sticking out of door panel and look goofy.
Rear--no problem other than access. You could put in larger than OEM if you wanted to.

GL
John_AZ
1988 924S + 1987 924S DD

[mikepellegrini]

Clark's has a good section on speaker replacement: http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/elect-03.htm and http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/elect-24.htm

It's a little dated, but is still helpful.

I ended up putting the Eclipse speakers in the front of my 83 NA - they fit perfectly. $99 at Crutchfield - http://www.crutchfield.com/p_099SE8465E/Eclipse-SE8465E.html?tp=105

They sound really great.

[bearone2]

which vehicle are you talking about with the power antenna?
the only thing close in your sig is an 87 924 and i'm not sure if it's antenna is in the windshield too?

the late 944's have the antenna in the windshield.

[Zero10]

The 924S has a power antenna in the driver's fender.
In the radio wiring harness there is a wire that leads to the power motor for the antenna. IIRC it needs constant 12V while the radio is on to keep the antenna up. If that wire is disconnected then the antenna will not raise.

It is also possible it is broken, but check this first. Sorry, I don't know which wire it is since I have never had to go hunting for it. If it is anything like the late cars it will be bundled with the antenna wire itself.

For the front speakers, 4x6 fits, but as already mentioned, 1.75" MAX, and they do mean MAX.
For the rear speakers, 4x6" is the standard size, however some cars come with block-off plates for a 6.5" opening. I had these in my 87 951, and 87 is the year they started putting these plates in, but I don't know if they were on 924S's as well. For my installation, I turned the plates around and used tin snips to cut them to fill the 4x6" hole, then installed 6.5" speakers. You could just as easily cut another piece of metal to fit the opening as well. Pretty much no limit to depth here, I haven't seen any 6.5" speakers that are deep enough that they would not fit. Some people have also taken this a step further and cut the opening out for larger speakers. I am sure 5x7 or 6x8 would fit, and probably even 6x9. If you don't want to go digging around and pulling windows / trim pieces, you could also just mount some 6x9" speaker boxes in the hatch area.

[bearone2]

thanks

[vdoman_pro]

In my 84 944 I put 4x6 in the front. I used Diesel audio speakers as these were the only ones I could find that had covers. They were also the thinner ones but they werent thin enough to allow the original covers to go back on. For the rear speakers I installed 6x9's in the cubby holes in the rear. I cut a piece of plywood that was cut to fit exactly to the contours of the cubby holes. I covered the plywood with carpet that was as close as I could find to the interior carpet and have the 6x9 sitting in it. I like that because I just lift up the speakers and I still have storage in the cubby holes.

[jkrustchinsky]

I recently did a stereo in my 944, i always like to retain a stock look. I used 4x6 speakers front and rear, pioneer 4x6 fit in the front doors, to use them you must first remove the black pioneer trim piece, and then tuck the inluded spacer behind the stock speaker cover. fits perfectly and looks stock.

i also tried a set of raptor 4x6's, great quality speakers, can get them at most good stereo shops. they are very shallow, they fit perfectly behind the front speaker covers with out anymodification. I have these mounted in back quarter spaces.

it sounds great with good 4x'6s, loud enough for me and since i only listen to rock they are perfect. since they are just 4x6's they dont have alot of base, rap sucks anyway. Josh

[S-G-Covin]

Sorry I've been away for a few days: tests before the holidays and work have kept me slam-busy.

Thanks all for the info. I bought some cheapy 30$ 4x6's for the moment to get some noise and I'll move them to the back seats later. Radio is working, but the antenna isn't going up. I'll hunt for that wire and get back to yall.

[thekidd]

the '87 924S did have the speaker block-off plates in the rear to mount 4x6 speakers. I took that out and fit 6x9 speakers in the rear, but if I remember right, I only had 2 screw hole for mounting, but it worked. Only the 85.5 and later 944's had the antenna in the windsheild, not the 924S. Largest speakers that can fit are 4x6 in the front, 6x9 in the backseat, and whatever you want to do in the hatch. Seen subs in the spare tire compartment, and nicely nounted speakers in the rear hatch compatments behind the tires. Hope you can rock on soon, good luck.

[bland vanilla]

In my 84 I was able to get Polk 2-way plates to fit in the stock front area by taking the door panel off and mounting them them putting the panel back on and installing the stock grills. I used 6X8 Ford / Mazda spec Polks in the rear sides and 6X9 Polk woofers in the back in custom sealed boxed under the carpet in the wheel well area. I have a SONY 250 Watt sub amp under the passenger seat running the woofers and a Blaupunkt AM-FM-CD in the dash running the corners from 80 Hz up w/ the internal 40 W / ch amp. The seat had to be raised up abouit 3/4" w/ spacers but it does not effect the seating comfort, you cannot even tell it when you sit there. I also mounted an MP3 player to the left side of the dash w/ velcro and use it as my main music source. It sounds very good for a 944 and looks factory.

Steve

[bland vanilla]

I found photographic evidence of what I did to my stereo in the 84.


New dash cap w/ white gauges


New Battery and 2ga cables. 60 Amp Monster fuse block for amps


MP3 player on dash w/ velcro



Blaupunkt 40X4 AM-FM-CD. Remote radar detector receiver to left of radio. Extra switches do: 1 turns on the reverse lights manually w/ higher wattage bulbs than stock to blind a-holes who are behind you w/ brights shining iin that big window. 1 turns off all the running lights including brakes but leaves the headlights on for getting away at night, not that I would ever exceed the speed limit.



Polk 2-way plates installed behind factory grills, A VERY TIGHT FIT. These are capped off @ 60Hz to preclude excursion limiting on the little 4" woofer. The rear sides have 6X8 Polk coaxes also capped @ 60Hz


Rear carpet looks stock and conceals (2) 6X9 Polk woofers in sealed boxes running up to 100Hz. SONY 250 Watt sub amp is under the passenger seat.

Steve

[bland vanilla]

Forgot the amp and woofers







Steve