Ok guys, I need help, stat!

I've got a pair of 4" Sony speakers to replace the stock dash speakers, and I'm a little puzzled as to how to make em fit.

This is what it's looking like atm:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/rhys_fairall/AMC/Photo-0005.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/rhys_fairall/AMC/Photo-0004.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/rhys_fairall/AMC/Photo-0003.jpg

I spoke to M4DDOG a little about this a bit over a week ago, so I know I'm supposed to cut that plastic plate out, as I've sorta started to do. Looking at it though, you can see the air con vent right underneath, so I got a little unsure as to whether the new speakers would fit. They have a 45mm mounting depth, and the depth of the dash with the plate out appears to be 43-45mm.

Question is, will they pop in, or am I going to have problems? If I need to, could a put a thick washer or something inbetween each speaker and screw hole to raise them a few mm or would that cause more problems? Oh and if I cut the plate and it doesn't work, will the stock speaker still fit in? That shelf/plate thing doesn't appear to be supporting the speaker as such.

Also once the mounting problem is out of the way, how do I wire her up, I see no other way to use the existing wiring than to cut it off at the speaker and strip it, then wire it up to the new speaker....is that what I should be doing? No amps are involved, just the hu, so I don't need nor want to replace the wire if I can get away without doing so :)

I need help quick smart, I want to get this done today :D

You have to cut that plastic shelf out... I've done it in mine (presumably with the same speakers you're about to put in... my front speakers are disconnected though, I hate sony :P )

Then all will fall into place :D

So yes, cut the shelf out, your speakers will fit without any repercussions.

You have to cut that plastic shelf out... I've done it in mine (presumably with the same speakers you're about to put in... my front speakers are disconnected though, I hate sony :P )

Then all will fall into place :D

So yes, cut the shelf out, your speakers will fit without any repercussions.

Awesome, thanks luci! About the wiring, just cut strip and fit right?

If my speakers don't fit ima chase you across the country for it! :P

I'll give it a go then I guess :P

Yep, just strip the end of the existing wires and attach to your new speakers. Will work fine.

4 inch speakers do fit in once you cut out the plastic as I done it on my KS Verada and TS Magna.The R/H is the hardest to do for some reason.

Yup everyone above has answered you correctly lol, cut the shelf out, and then use the existing wire and all will be sweet. You will also notice you can only mout 2 of the 4 holes (like i said).

What do I use to cut the plastic guys?

I'll be damned if I can cut the front bit (its sorta under that metal frame) with a stanley knife, scissors, a pocket knife or a small piece of a hacksaw blade!

HELP! dammit lol, anyone live in my area who feels like coming out tonight and helping me haha!?

I just used a really sharp stanley knife, worked a treat.

I just used a really sharp stanley knife, worked a treat.
I'm trying, its too damn big! Should I maybe go down to coles and get one of those smaller cheap plastic ones with the break off blades? Is that what you used?

Atm I'm trying to do it with just the blade out of the stanley knife, and thats sorta working, but its still gonna take me a month at this rate.

I'm trying, its too damn big! Should I maybe go down to coles and get one of those smaller cheap plastic ones with the break off blades? Is that what you used?

Atm I'm trying to do it with just the blade out of the stanley knife, and thats sorta working, but its still gonna take me a month at this rate.
A little hax saw blade would do the trick too, just gotta get your muscles behind it :P.
I used the break off blade ones, but not the cheap safeway brand, i used the proper metal handled one.

A little hax saw blade would do the trick too, just gotta get your muscles behind it :P.
I used the break off blade ones, but not the cheap safeway brand, i used the proper metal handled one.
Ah k. Well I'm off to coles now to get a new stanley knife, hopefully one with a better blade!

As for the passenger side being easier, I cant get the bloody cover off that side!!! :rant:

This is really peeving me off now lol

i told u to get 6's...so much easier to install!

i told u to get 6's...so much easier to install!
Thanks for that helpful piece of information, I'm not going into that again.

I'm really getting over cutting this bloody plate. I've got brand new blades now, and as far as I can tell I'm still getting no where! any other suggestions on what to cut it with. So far i've cut more of my hands off than the plastic!

Edit: I'm soooooo close to smash the dash apart with a hammer atm to put the bloody speaker in :rant: ARRRRRGHH!!

Showing my anger well enough?........:P

I've given up for now, I'll leave the dash in pieces and try again later tonight......this is your fault Leigh! :P The way you described it, it sounded easy! :rant:

Thanks for that helpful piece of information, I'm not going into that again.

I'm really getting over cutting this bloody plate. I've got brand new blades now, and as far as I can tell I'm still getting no where! any other suggestions on what to cut it with. So far i've cut more of my hands off than the plastic!

Edit: I'm soooooo close to smash the dash apart with a hammer atm to put the bloody speaker in :rant: ARRRRRGHH!!

Showing my anger well enough?........

I've given up for now, I'll leave the dash in pieces and try again later tonight......this is your fault Leigh! :P The way you described it, it sounded easy!
lol dude it took me like 15 mins a side, dunno what you're doing wrong :P.
Shame you don't live closer to me otherwise i'd come offer you a hand :(.

lol dude it took me like 15 mins a side, dunno what you're doing wrong :P.
Shame you don't live closer to me otherwise i'd come offer you a hand :(.
How bout you buy that comp from my mate and come down and give me a hand haha.

Nah I've got one side cut out now, totally screwed the brand new blade though, good thing I bought a 5 pack lol

I'll just leave it as is tonight, I'll try and do the other side tomorrow, then wire it up.

Look on the bright side, this hasn't take as long as it did to put the headunit and rears in so far.

If anyone has some handy hints they'd like to post before tomorrow, I'd love that! Left side is "supposed" to be easier, but I'm left handed you see unlike most of you guys probably, and I can only seem to get my right hand into the left speaker hole.

P.S I count 3 major cuts on my left hand, two more minor ones, and a couple of minor cuts on my right hand, from one side! :bowrofl:

oh god...I also just remembered a friend of mine is getting a TR for her 18th this month.....I'm runnin for the hills if she comes to me to install the speakers for her cd player!

If anyone has some handy hints they'd like to post before tomorrow, I'd love that!

buy some 6's?
lol


nah but seriously, get yourself a dremel tool...or a hacksaw blade. if it took me about 10mins to cut off the slats on a TS grille bare handed (which i might add is bloody tough plastic!), it should take you no longer to cut out this tiny plate.

Otherwise, if you get really stuck, go to bunnings and buy a down-light drilling kit. get yourself a "snake extension", plug one side into a drill and the other into the drilling kit, and bobs ur uncle.

I hated doin this i use a very very sharp fillet knife so i could get a bit more angle.
But i cnbf screwing mine in just connect wires and throw em in and put covers back and shes all sweet.
but much easier to put 6" the doors as i am doing next week.

buy some 6's?
lol
If I hear you say that ONE MORE TIME, I swear, I'll drop by your house one night and put some 6" speakers up your you know what! :bowrofl:



nah but seriously, get yourself a dremel tool...or a hacksaw blade. if it took me about 10mins to cut off the slats on a TS grille bare handed (which i might add is bloody tough plastic!), it should take you no longer to cut out this tiny plate.
Whats a dremel tool? I've got a hacksaw blade, that works alright, but it moves about 1mm every 5 mins through the plastic, not what I call timely fashion. Its about time you started giving some useful advice tho :)


Otherwise, if you get really stuck, go to bunnings and buy a down-light drilling kit. get yourself a "snake extension", plug one side into a drill and the other into the drilling kit, and bobs ur uncle.
Hmm...sounds like it'd cost more than the speaker...like the guy at JB said to me today, "would you like us to install it for you?". Knowing full well I'd say no, I replied "How Much?". After being informed its $55 to fit, I was like "you know, I don't really want to pay more than the speaker to put it in, I'll do it myself thanks". Other than the expensive sound, that sounds like an alright idea though.

If worse comes to worse, I guess I'll book myself in for that poker night, and then Leigh being the kind fellow he is, can install my speakers while we all play poker! Not that I know how to play or anything lol Sound good?

I hated doin this i use a very very sharp fillet knife so i could get a bit more angle.
But i cnbf screwing mine in just connect wires and throw em in and put covers back and shes all sweet.
but much easier to put 6" the doors as i am doing next week.
Hmm...4" speakers don't have a lot of bass, but I'd imagine when you crank them a bit they would create a rather annoying rattling from jumping around? I'll screw mine in I think, I've got a handy dandy 90 degree screwdriver that I got from Supercheap for that! :D

Hmm...4" speakers don't have a lot of bass, but I'd imagine when you crank them a bit they would create a rather annoying rattling from jumping around? I'll screw mine in I think, I've got a handy dandy 90 degree screwdriver that I got from Supercheap for that! :D

No rattle what so ever cause the speaker cover holds it all in place tight.

If I hear you say that ONE MORE TIME, I swear, I'll drop by your house one night and put some 6" speakers up your you know what! :bowrofl:

What a waste of a good set of 6's... might as well have saved the petrol and put the yann's ass 6's in ur car :P Didn't say nething. Mate of mine put 4's in his car, i helped him do it, and like u said, ran for the hills :P. When i got my ragna i just did the doors and unwired the 4's left em there. So much easier, recomend ur lady friend do the same, not much more for a set of 6's, least not enough to scare, also final product is better, though there is work involved gettin em into the doors. U could just out 4's or 5's in the doors, easier than mountin em in the dash. Worst method ever. lol

though there is work involved gettin em into the doors.

the downlight drilling kit has a punch big enough for 6' speakers adswell. wish I knew that when I was doing mine-use a size stencil anddrilled small holes around the perimeter and bashed it in with my fist...lol!

to the op- rhys, take the glove box + lining out and you'll find that the air-con vent bolts in just behind it. If you can, get your hand behind the vent with a lighter (just underneath the thing you're trying to cut- i forget the space around it.) and just melt it a little bit so that it makes it easier to cut. obviously don't take three hours before u cut it...
get in there straight away before it hardens.

The lighter idea sounds interesting, bearing in mind the wiring runs through there too, I'd have to be pretty damn careful heating it up though. None the less, I'll have a look at it today.

Cheers

I was gunna say a hot soldering iron..... May need to clean it afterwards but hey job would be easy.:D

Lol... Aussie inginuity right there. Instead of going for the sensible option, just take what's on hand an improvise. Lighters are actually a useful peice to keep on u, i have one in my tool box at all times... :P And i dont even smoke... cigarettes

DONE! Didn't heat anything up, just put a fresh blade in the stanley knife and away I went, took 15 mins tops to cut out. I can't really work out why the other one took me so long, must have had something to do with the slightly less space because of the instrument panel, but the drivers side certainly is harder. Took another half hour to wire up and screw in, sounds pretty damn good, by comparison to the stockies of course.

I'm happy with it, I know people like Ian are gonna keep knocking my choice of replacement 4" speakers, but they work really well and I'm happy.

Thanks a thousand times over for your help guys! :D

All I got in my is 4 inch speakers in the dash, 5 1/4 inch speakers in the back (wagon) with a 12 inch sub that gives me all the bass I need.It's just to much work to put speakers in the doors.