Can anyone advise me on where is the best place to mount front speakers for a 1971 Chevelle. I just bought some Alpine 6 x 9's for the rear and will have no problem putting them in, but my car was not originally set up for front speakers and I got some 4" round Alpine speakers I'd like to put in the front. I really don't want to cut into the door panels, and the kicker panels don't seem strong enough to support these speakers. I'm on a budget and really don't want to have to replace the kicker panels.

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Keith

keith there are a few ways you can do this the kick panels. here is how i did a 70 monte carlo http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/001-12.jpg the speaker sets in behind the plastic kick panel which has the speaker grill on it. or you can go this route like we did on our el camino http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/el%20camino/001-14.jpg again the speaker is mounted to the sheet metal behind the kick panel but this kick panel will not have a speaker grill. your other option is to find a company that makes the 4x6 speakers that go in the dash. the after market 4x6 everyone has trouble on the drivers side but as you can see in this picture i did not http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/007-3.jpg

What brand are the 4x6 speakers you used? Do you know the mounting depth and other dimensions? Thanks!

Cliff

I've got a pair of Polk 3.5 inch speakers in a home made bracket mounted in the stock center location on my 67. They sound good, but no stereo separation. If you don't want to build your own, there are several options, including dual voice coil single speakers.

I know you're on a budget, but there are kick panels made with holes to mount speakers in.

Even then, cutting your kick panels is easy, and they are one of THE least expensive and easiest parts to replace when needed...

To add to midnight's thread on this topic (as I am looking to do something similar for my 1972), what are the best kickpanels to get for a muscle car(quality & sound)? I have some polk audio speakers so these would need to be able to hold a depth of a modern speaker magnet. Thank you in advance.

Midnight - I would love to see some pictures on your project when you get some. I am needing the same thing.

I have 6x9's in back and two 4" speakers (with 600 Hz bass blockers) in the center dash location in my '71. I didn't have front speakers before and it sounds a lot better than it did before, but you're right about the stereo separation. The same head unit in my '88 Cutlass Classic with cheaper rear speakers and 3.5" speakers (w/800 Hz bass blockers) in the stock stereo dash location actually sounds better overall than the Chevelle system does! That's why I was thinking of getting a stereo dash pad for the Chevelle and moving the 4" speakers outboard (and possibly going with 4x6's or 5.25's). However, based on what I've been hearing from other forum members about fitment issues, I'm wondering if I should just leave well enough alone. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Cliff

I have '69 Chevelle and mounted 4" speakers under the dash. Built custom brackets. Sounds very nice with 6x9 in the rear. First two pics are passenger side and third pic is drivers side.