16 replies to this topic

[4Boys]

Thought I'd share how I mounted some aftermarket tweeters using the original dash tweeter mounts.

 DSC03620.JPG   391.44K   100 downloads
The original tweeter is kept in place by four tabs and some adhesive. Ginger coaxing and it will easily pop out.


 DSC03614.JPG   801.02K   70 downloads
For the new backing plate I used textured abs sheet $3 to $5 for a 1/8 " thick
12" x 12" sheet.


 DSC03616.JPG   311.68K   48 downloads
The old speaker outline and mounting holes are traced onto the sheet.


 DSC03619.JPG   230.81K   46 downloads
Large sheet metal sheers make easy work of cutting outline out. This was followed by a sanding on a oscillating belt sander to finalize the dimensions .

 DSC03627.JPG   314.82K   52 downloads
Once the burrs from sanding were removed the piece was taken to a drill press. A 5/16" drill was used for the four corner mounting holes and a 1 3/4" dia. hole saw specific to the tweeter.


 DSC03622.JPG   563.4K   89 downloads
Finished backing plate after burrs removed.


 DSC03623.JPG   814.32K   154 downloads
Backing plate just snaps into mounting bracket ready for tweeter .


 DSC03624.JPG   562.29K   194 downloads
The finished product.

Edit:
Did the rears. Same procedure as before minus drilling the four corner tab holes.
Make sure the mounting hole for the tweeter is dead center in the mounting plate or your tweeter may not fit. Do this by inserting it into the mounting bracket . Then scribe around the original mounting hole where the old tweeter was and find it's center I found it to be a 1" radius. As you can see mine was a very close fit.

 DSC03630.JPG   817.5K   140 downloads

[Gage]

Nice Work !!!!!!!

[Dave 54]

Very nice!!!

Very well may do this myself, i've never been one to hack into my door panels for a set of components. Grabbing a spair set at the yard to play with.

Any issue's with clearance of the stock grill?

[4Boys]

Gage, on 12 November 2009 - 04:25 PM, said:

Nice Work !!!!!!!

Thanks, overall fairly quick and easy to do.

[4Boys]

Dave 54, on 12 November 2009 - 05:25 PM, said:

Very nice!!!

Very well may do this myself, i've never been one to hack into my door panels for a set of components. Grabbing a spair set at the yard to play with.

Any issue's with clearance of the stock grill?

Plenty of room.
 DSC03629.JPG   760.01K   86 downloads  DSC03628.JPG   783.28K   82 downloads

[Mossback]

I really like this. I've never been impressed by the OEM system's high end and also don't believe in cutting up the doors/dash. This might be just the improvement to try.

[beadgc23]

First kudos - I started with something similar but using much less professional techniques (artboard and an x-acto knife...) However bouncing treble off the windshield through those comb-filter grilles gave me a very ill-defined front stage. About a month ago I moved my boston tweeters to the door sailpanels, using the angled mounts that came with them (I'll take photos tonight) and stashed the xovers in the doors. The front stage improved 200%. It's well worth experimenting with if you have appropriate mounts, and sail panels are easy to source if you need to return them to stock.

Of course, I had to complicate things when the center channel dash arrived which also bounces treble off the windshield - still trying to work this one out!

[4Boys]

beadgc23, on 13 November 2009 - 05:04 PM, said:

First kudos - I started with something similar but using much less professional techniques (artboard and an x-acto knife...) However bouncing treble off the windshield through those comb-filter grilles gave me a very ill-defined front stage. About a month ago I moved my boston tweeters to the door sailpanels, using the angled mounts that came with them (I'll take photos tonight) and stashed the xovers in the doors. The front stage improved 200%. It's well worth experimenting with if you have appropriate mounts, and sail panels are easy to source if you need to return them to stock.

Of course, I had to complicate things when the center channel dash arrived which also bounces treble off the windshield - still trying to work this one out!

Agreed. Mounted them so they could pivot and experiment with. Ideally they should be mounted closer to the midrange for impoved imaging. Def. want to check out your pics.

[nedskifta]

wow, I'm gonna go do this right now, really elegant idea!

[beadgc23]

4Boys, on 13 November 2009 - 06:00 PM, said:

Agreed. Mounted them so they could pivot and experiment with. Ideally they should be mounted closer to the midrange for impoved imaging. Def. want to check out your pics.

Finally got around to it - phone pix I'm afraid...



For shame the dust! Left is pointed at the head of the passenger, right at the driver. Stereo image is very stable across the hood, center channel adds center front midbass but blurs the image slightly so I plan to add a boston tweeter to it.

The tweeter mounts are attached with two bolts + locknuts & springs. They hold solid but can be rotated at need. Cables run down with the mirror connections to the xover which is plastic bagged and foam mounted behind that plastic access hatch at the bottom of the door.

NB These are the only visibly non-stock audio items in the car, other than the iPhone cable and the sub which is covered in the trunk.

I did the d pillar tweeters with a pair of large diaphragm Boston 8ohm hifi tweeters, had to epoxy them to some spare mounts. Great depth for the pro logic setup without calling attention to themselves.

[Dave 54]

Very nice, but i'm not sure that would work in the 850's, appears it would either hit the dash when closing the door or image right into it, our dashes are alittle taller and vertical on the driver's side.

[dimasp]

4Boys, on 12 November 2009 - 04:18 PM, said:

Thought I'd share how I mounted some aftermarket tweeters using the original dash tweeter mounts.

DSC03620.JPG
The original tweeter is kept in place by four tabs and some adhesive. Ginger coaxing and it will easily pop out.


DSC03614.JPG
For the new backing plate I used textured abs sheet $3 to $5 for a 1/8 " thick
12" x 12" sheet.


DSC03616.JPG
The old speaker outline and mounting holes are traced onto the sheet.


DSC03619.JPG
Large sheet metal sheers make easy work of cutting outline out. This was followed by a sanding on a oscillating belt sander to finalize the dimensions .

DSC03627.JPG
Once the burrs from sanding were removed the piece was taken to a drill press. A 5/16" drill was used for the four corner mounting holes and a 1 3/4" dia. hole saw specific to the tweeter.


DSC03622.JPG
Finished backing plate after burrs removed.


DSC03623.JPG
Backing plate just snaps into mounting bracket ready for tweeter .


DSC03624.JPG
The finished product.

Edit:
Did the rears. Same procedure as before minus drilling the four corner tab holes.
Make sure the mounting hole for the tweeter is dead center in the mounting plate or your tweeter may not fit. Do this by inserting it into the mounting bracket . Then scribe around the original mounting hole where the old tweeter was and find it's center I found it to be a 1" radius. As you can see mine was a very close fit.

DSC03630.JPG

[dimasp]

Hi! I'm new to this page, I own a '95 850 GLT, and I just read about your work and I think is great and well done. If it's possible can you tell me what model or size the tweeters are?
Thanks
DimasP

[beewerks]

Very nice. I did the same thing with a pair of Focal tweeters a while ago. I just chopped out the already blown stock tweeters and dremeled out the back of the mounting plate.

[Serge]

How does it sound? Better I'm guessing.

[nautic70]

The install part looks very slick but how is the staging with the tweets bouncing of the windshield?

[Vagabond]

nautic70, on 13 February 2011 - 07:39 AM, said:

The install part looks very slick but how is the staging with the tweets bouncing of the windshield?

Sounds fine.

Did the same a few months ago.