4 replies to this topic

[Deev]

I've been putting off fitting my wooden dashboard upgrade for ages (read: months) because I've been umming and aahing over the finer details of installing speakers in the vent holes. I know that there are pros and cons, and highly conflicting opinions of doing this, but for reasons I won't bore you with here, my vent holes were welded up long ago, so it's a bit of a no brainer (in fact really it's the only practical option!). I've read many forum posts and articles, here and elsewhere, but I'm still missing the answers to a few questions:

 

Size - I'm aware the vent hole is 9cm in diameter, but the popular choice speaker size is 10cm. I imagine in a 10cm speaker that the actual cone is slightly smaller so won't foul the vent hole - or should I consider putting spacers in to avoid this? I intend to mount the speaker behind the dash rather than sink it in from the front so I won't have any clearance problems that way.

 

Fitting - as I'll be screwing the speakers into the wood at the back of the dash, I want to avoid the screws protruding through the front any - I'm sure there are horror stories of this - but what screw size/type are best for this? I'm aware that I'll still want the speaker to be pretty secure. OR (and this idea gives me the horrors slightly) would you recommend drilling holes through the entire dash and then using the same holes to mount the grilles with long screws all the way through? The only other option I can think of for the grilles is glue and I can see that having the potential to be untidy... or I could just leave them without grilles, although that in itself is risky...

 

Do I need to consider boxing off behind the speakers or are they fine open-backed into the dash void? I'm no expert on this but I'd imagine closing it off will give a "tighter" sound. If so, what can I use for this? Is there anything on the market or will I need to fabricate something (something else to rattle no doubt...)

 

Any other pitfalls I should consider/be aware of? And any speaker recommendations?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Dave.

 

[Norfolk Boy]

In mine I modified (butchered) the actual vents and glued in a set of Focal tweeters, then put midrange speakers also Focal in pods underneath the dashrail. Used some silent coat behind dash and under the carpet, in my opinion it sounds great.

[Bat]

Hi,

Depends upon the speakers. I think most 10cm speakers have screw holes in the grille so you would be best to drill right through and use appropriate nuts and bolts to sandwich the dash between the grille and speaker.

Cheers 

[harrythehat]

bought some (supposed) 4 and 6 inch speakers from fleabay came from the land many miles away, generally producing crap, believe it or not there a dam good sound and were not that dear. £31 delivered  Look posh, blue and chrome cone with a shaped black cover, did look at speakers over here but come up expensive by comparison

 

6 inch for the parcel shelf  there about 10mm smaller than the standard equipment from looks of creases on parcel shelf.

sat in position you cant see the difference

 

front speakers

Looked at putting them in the door cards but were to deep and fouled the window, looked at the dash and found I could hide them between the rest of the gubbins in there just about. leaving the vents free to use.

didn't worry about trying to box them in or direct the sound, as Jasper is pretty loud, and the true quality of sound cant really battle against that, Can it ?

jasper has been thoroughly sound deadened with both sides of the bulkhead done anti vibe on floor with thick underfelt and carpet OTT 

 

fixing became a little problem as screw holes would not fit, try and fit speaker to holes it was off centre so used a dab of sudoflex and stuck them (rubberised acrylic} fitted centrally and don't move, yes can be pulled out if need be.

 

IMA Happy bunny with that job

[roblightbody]

As someone who drove Minis for twenty-odd years in my youth (in all weathers, in the West of Scotland) - I can't understand how you can cope without your dash vents!     Do you just block them up, or do you vent the air downwards or something?

 

On a crappy wet day, these 2 dash vents are able to keep the car demisted on their own (as long as you're travelling at a decent speed).  I actually did this yesterday on the motorway driving back from my MOT in heavy rain and mist - the passenger vent was blasting air into the car keeping it mostly demisted on its own.  And I can remember on previous IMM adventures across Europe, loving the blast of cool air from the vents!

Edited by roblightbody, 07 April 2019 - 11:23 AM.