i have to remove the panel, remove the speaker, then make a new mount using the old speaker as a template for the outer mounting holes, then making a new hole for the new speaker - assuming the new speaker mounting hole is smaller than the factory speaker bracket outside diameter.

like this

 

That looks very clean. What goes up top inside the car with a setup like that? Does the speaker simply rest on the deck lid or is there another piece like that shown that sits up top? After I get through beating my head against that familiar wall of trying to find speakers that let me keep my OEM boxes and grilles, I'll probably end up building something like that. Will be a project for later, though. Once I find some factory pods from a DX or LX of my vintage I can see if those Polks 6½ will fit. I know they will fit bottom; it is getting the grille on top of them that worries me. All this to try to keep the stock look.

 

the OEM speaker grill still fits over this mount - the look is completely stock. i rarely remove factory grills or modify factory panels.

the door speaker build is detailed here:
http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubbthre...=1#Post1805987

here is another good example
http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubbthre...=3#Post1755977

 

Now I see that's a door in the picture. I thought it was a rear deck. Checked your links. Incredible work. I never knew it was possible to put that much money into car audio in a regular car. When I'm done trying other stuff, I might get the jigsaw out and see what I can come up with.

 

I did end up finding a set of new (old stock) Honda (Bose) 6x9's really cheap on ebay that fit in the rear deck. After break-in they sound great with the factory cassette head unit. They have much bigger magnets than the original 6x9's in my car but not so big that the torsion bar(s) gets in the way. They make nice deep bass and with the volume cranked up some they sound great along with the stock door speakers. I have some CrO2 high bias cassettes I taped over 25 years ago that still have excellent fidelity when played on the new setup. They have been in storage since about 1988 and I can't believe how good they still sound. Analog recordings are always going to have a place in my world. I love the sound.

Of course my Accord wasn't about to let me off without a little bit of a fight. Those Honda Bose 6x9's "fit" in my car but they weren't designed to fit it. The problem is that the wire connectors are riveted to the frame of the speaker at an angle. There was no way to seat the speaker fully into the opening due to that. I tried wiggling them every possible way but they just wouldn't fully seat, so I carefully drilled out the rivet and moved the connector up next to the magnet so the connector is fully vertical. There was already a slot up there that the connector sits in perfectly. I used a small screw and locking nut to hold it in place. It worked out well.

I should mention that I also lucked up and found a new old stock Honda factory equalizer and installed it. It might be why the speakers sound so good. It's only 7-bands but for my tapes it seems to be enhancing stuff I didn't even know was on those tapes. The factory headunit automatically detects metal tapes and the EQ allows for some tailoring. Overall better sound than I have ever had in my Accord and everything is still pretty stock.

 

Nice job. Did you add foam to seal the rear 6x9's?

 

Thanks. After searching, off and on, for 8 years I finally found some 6x9's to upgrade to, and they turned out to be Honda speakers.

There's already a thin layer of foam on the surface that the speakers mount to in the boxes that get bolted to the car and I put some foam strips (nothing special, just home weatherproofing tape) on the part of the boxes that actually rests on the deck lid. Despite the initial trouble getting the speakers through the hole in the deck, the speakers fit perfectly in the boxes using the 4 machine threaded screws to secure them. No discernible rattle or distortion in them. I'm really happy with the big, rich sound from the basic Honda deck. Anyway, if I should add some more foam where should I put it?

 

you don't want grilles behind factory panels - it prevents the crucial foam seal necessary.

is is rare to find a vehicle in which standard aftermarket speakers are a direct bolt-in, espeically for front doors. all of the speakers use plastic baskets for mounting. you remove the plastic mount and make or buy your own. pretty standard for most vehicles and a necessary step when upgrading.

 

In the back I just have the factory pods that hold the speakers. The pods come with a grille. Pretty nice the way it all mounts together. The speakers are nicely isolated in the pods so they can do their thing without rattling the vehicle itself.

Going to hold off on front doors, at least til Spring and just stick with the factory speakers up there. As you always suggest; getting the tweeters up closer to ear level is ideal, but it's something I'll need to plan out carefully. Your prior suggestion about custom door mount to get bigger speakers away from interfering with window operation is also still in my mind. The factory door setup in my car has an elaborate speaker pod with porting that supposedly enhances the sound using the same concept behind the Bose Wave radio. They do sound pretty decent. Especially now that I have the 6x9s in the back kicking out some serious bass and midrange.

I know how strange it must sound in this day and age, but, for now, I just hope my factory cassette stereo keeps working. I've seen some add-on ones that work with Honda/Acura CD radios but I don't think those cassette decks automatically detect metal tapes.

 

as long as you are happy, that's what matters. if you enjoy music through metal cassettes, i hope you can continue to enjoy them.