Speakers/Map Pockets? Fender Well?

[fillupd]

I have purchased new speakers for my Spider 124. I have speakers mounted in the map pockets now by previous owner. The new speakers are Polk 5.24" and seem to be pretty heavy to mount in the plastic pockets. They look like they will barely fit and maybe I could reinforce with some 1/4" plywood somehow and close them up on top.

The wheel wells are sealed up. Is it OK to mount the speakers above those pockets and mount the speaker with the rear sticking into the wheel well? I can try to find new pockets without holes in them or temporarily patch the pocket holes or even just leave the existing speakers there unused.

I guess I'm not sure how this would sound or if it is recommended on this year of a car. A 1978 1800. The speakers in there now don't sound terribly bad but I want to upgrade the speakers with the new stereo.
Thanks for any opinions or shared experiences.

[CajunMike]

I've got speakers mounted above the map pockets on my car that were either factory or dealer installed. I'll see if I can figure out how they were mounted. Might be monday or Tuesday before I can get to it.

[fillupd]

OK Thanks,
I wasn't sure if the metal in the fender would make it an echo or hollow type sound?

[Kingme2]

I have two down front, kick panel area, and i mounted two to the plastic covers that hide the hinged for the top... There is enough clearance that the top just misses them. I reinforced with some MDF.

[azygoustoyou]

You could add poly fill inside the speaker area and it will amaze you how better the sound is.

[fillupd]

OK, If I got this right, it is OK to drill a 5" hole above the map pockets and then fill it full of poly fill? Will the fill settle down and pack at the bottom of the fender? I have the panel out and the new speakers will take almost all of the inside of the map pocket area. Is this open area (not very big) be better if it was filled with poly-fill?
I have material to patch the hole in the map pocket and it will look pretty good. Any opinion about drilling a 5" hole above the pocket through the sheet metal and mounting the speakers up there? I assume the area is kind of roomy inside there, hence the fill?

Sorry if I sound confused, it probably is because I am. I don't want to screw anything up.

[fillupd]

I got some poly-fill so I see how this works now. I got to looking and I am not real crazy about the idea of cutting a hole in the sheet metal though. I might try the plastic mount pocket first.

[azygoustoyou]

This is what my car looks like. I have an opening behind the front wheel which lets the elements to the speaker. Make sure your area which sounds like it's closed in is water tight. I made speaker boxes to put my speakers in. I also sell them. If you have an opened area like mine. I'd make a speaker box like I did or I'll sell you one.

Where did you get your speakers?

[fillupd]

OK Thanks, I'll check a little further. I got my speakers from 6th Ave. via Amazon.com for $51.00 shipped. They are Polk DB521's. They are marine certified so I thought these may be a good idea because of the slight chance they may see moisture at some point.
I also bought a JVC KD-HDR60 for 98 bucks. It probably won't win any sound competitions but I thought it would be OK.

Thanks for the pictures and info. That helps a lot.

[parkcity124]

I used baffles, behind MB Quart 5 1/4" component speakers, in that location. It made the install clean. Did not sound great. I think there is room for larger speakers.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_237XT55/XT ... ml?tp=2809

[Daniel]

Installing speakers that far under the dash is a compromise if you want sound without speakers visible
above the map pocket sound quality will suffer greatly do to the map pocket responding like
a echo chamber . The sound waves from the mids and highs firing into the floor mats and center
console . Tweeters need a direct line of site to your ear to be effective or you will not hear them clearly !


Daniel