Rear door card speaker adaption

4th August 2006, 23:38

Well as ive got some free time at the mo thought id modify my rear door cars to incorporate my vibe black hex 5.25" speakers i know some may say if youre gonna do it why not use larger speakers etc etc but i think these speakers are amazing they are currently on my parcel shelf!! i know! so i want to fit a standard shelf which i have already and fit the speakers into the door cards and possibly run them of a small amp...
Speaker spec:
polypropylene metalic woofer
Solid vibe reactor basket
High performance inverted dome tweeter & midrange
specially formulated rubber gasket
t-yoke mounted tweeter terminals
concept hex snap on off grill
in-line crossover
subwoofer motor structure with oversized magnet
increased bass power and handling

5.25" 2 way coaxial speaker 300watts each

so as you can see nice spec anyway back to the thread im gonna mod my rear door cards and will update this thread as i go i have started already but i have work tomorrow so might not get to do any more till sunday!!

ok to start simply removed the cards easier than i thought...
1. undo driver and front passenger seatbelt bottom and top bolts
2. open rear widows and pull the seal up thats around the bottom of window not the whole thing not needed!
3. take plastic caps out of door cards that are around the seatbelts
4. pull rear seat base forward and undo the two bolts at the front and take seat out of car
5. hold on to the door card around where it meets the door piller and pull forward to release the side should be able to pop most of them from here
6. twist rear seatbelt lower bolt to the front
7. pull rear seats forward a little and removal of the card should be clear from here simply wiggle and pull when you here a ping its probably the magnet on the speaker against the metal simply hold the bottom of the door card and pull down and forward at the same time
(as haynes says fitting is a reverse of the removal!!!)

ok so here are the pics of mine so far i have removed both easy peasy! but i only had time to cut one before i went to work this evening. As the speakers are 5.25" or 13cm ish i need a flat surface this size the rest will curve bend etc but basically i will have the speakers facing forward and slightly up but this wont be visable to you till i get the pod/bracket made up. I will be using mdf and bodyfiller to make them and a trusty dremmel! anywho here you go more pics to come as i progress in next few days......

PS these are the only door cards i have so if it goes wrong im screwed so fingers crossed!

4th August 2006, 23:49

good luck with it mate. I wont go into issues with rear speakers etc here.

Its a different approach than what most do for putting different speakers in the rear and your going to learn a hell of a lot doing it this was so get stuck in

4th August 2006, 23:52

i thought it would be a nice change to do it this way rather that chopping up the whole card etc i wanted to keep it looking almost standard and build the speaker into it plus i just did a product design degree and while im doing nothing its always good to add to the portfolio but well we shall see how it turns out at the end!!

5th August 2006, 01:39

ok i just made a cardboard mock up of the part that fits in the hole i cut but to dark and late to take pics now so will put them up sunday when im not working let me know what you think of what im doing peeps possitive and negative comments welcomed would like to hear your thoughts plus i hope this will encourage more people to try stuff like it.

5th August 2006, 10:47

ok just quickly before work these are pics of the rough mock up i made out of cardboard all the harsh edges will be sanded to give a nice curve but this is just an example for now....

6th August 2006, 00:33

Ok fingers crossed ill get time to work on these more tomorrow on my day off wo wo be interested to hear what people think on the idea and the way im doing it cheers guys

6th August 2006, 08:35

Now try putting that mock-up back into your car and see if the panels fit without crushing hte cardboard!

6th August 2006, 11:06

will look good if you can pull it off mate.... would have baught a spair set of cards thoe

6th August 2006, 11:07

thats a good point but if you look at the original pictures before i cut them the speakers stick much further out than the card on my mock up granted i still have the speakers to go on this but as its at a different angle it should be ok plus behind the door cards is some fluffy sound proofing so fingers crossed itll be ok!! ill go see tho just incase

6th August 2006, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob5axo

will look good if you can pull it off mate.... would have baught a spair set of cards thoe

i hope so and yeah the more i get into it the more im thinking i should have to!! but oh well ill just have to try extra hard to make them well!

6th August 2006, 14:18

ok guys here are a few pics of the vibe black hex im gonna be fitting ive made a few measurements and they should fit in theory but again i think its gonna be more trial and error to start with but het thats what mock ups are for!!.....

6th August 2006, 14:27

look forward to seeing more progress pics ! good luck !

6th August 2006, 14:29

cheers fella gonna pop to b&q if there open still get what i need maybe pop to argos for some tools and motorworld for some filler then get started on the real thing!

6th August 2006, 16:35

ok so im back from shopping and here are the bits i purchased to help me on this little job...

jig-saw

dremmel like tool!

monster circle drill pieces 127mm!!!!!!!

filler (glass fiber)

along with mdf and a work bench oh and adhesive! let the work commence

6th August 2006, 16:44

i don't think that's gonna work. looks like you need to bring it out more. i'm saying this because i couldn't even get black hex 4's in mine and there smaller. the problem was with the depth of the speaker as it was hitting the side of the car and the door cards wouldn't go back in properly.

6th August 2006, 16:46

were you putting them straight onto the original grill tho? theses are gonna be at a sight angle to so might me slightly different to the way you tried but im gonna make a mock up out of mdf see how that goes

6th August 2006, 16:53

yeah even tried cutting some of it away to make extra space. but if there going on an angle it might work.

i'd try to check as much as possible though before you go to far with the project. maybe make a template the same size as the speaker and attach it to you door card to check if it hits anything.

6th August 2006, 17:00

yeah thats what im gonna work on now the mdf was only £3.50 for a meter long sheet wich will be plenty and aslong as i get one side sorted the other will just be a mirror version but ill get pics up asap of the mdf mock up and let you know if it fits

7th August 2006, 23:51

ok lads and lasses i managed to get most bits cut out of mdf today before it started raining!! and i could do no more outside. didnt manage to get pics either because of the rain but ill try and get some up at some point tomorrow and show you the progression so far im fairly pleased with where its going just time will tell if its gonna work out or not!

8th August 2006, 10:57

im keeping tabs on this mate

looks good so far

8th August 2006, 13:44

im loving this i wanted to do exactly the same but didnt have the balls to just do it RESPECTA

8th August 2006, 14:25

ok guys glad youre liking this im just puttig a bit of filler on the first one but i have an idea for how the finished thing will be cant wait to get it done and fitted!!

10th August 2006, 00:30

ok my fellow dj's i have taken a few quick pics of where the speaker adaption is up to now all i need to do for this tomorrow is sand back the filler with the dremmel and cover with sub box carpet which should look quite good i think but hey like everything so far will have to wait and see here we go so far then....

10th August 2006, 00:32

sorry the ones with it in the door its just layed in thats why the fit is a bit off but its nice and tight when pushed in i promise!

10th August 2006, 00:35

looking good mate, wanna see the final thing now

10th August 2006, 00:38

i was hoping to do more today but i was replacing my dented door took longer than i thought changing lockes etc but back on track with it for tomorrow now really wanna see it finished to!!

10th August 2006, 01:01

lookin good, im gettin some boston sx50's for the front, and was told to leave the rear disconnected but im now thinkin otherwise. and would the bostons fit in a similar lay out to what uve done, are the vibes as good as the bostons?

10th August 2006, 01:06

not the place to go into rears in this thread really but bostons better, rears no need.

Carry on though looks like your doing a good job, interested to see how you finish the joins to the door card?

10th August 2006, 01:06

lots of questions there firstly the person that told you to just disconnect the rears probably likes their base from behind and vocals up front i preffer a steady base and loud vocals hence rears to the vibe black hex have an oversized magnet as you can see in the pic so if they can fit like this im sure any could i love the sound i get from the vibes but cant say ive heard the bostons there are some black hex 4s in the for sale section tho mate but up to you i recommend doing what ive done as its a good laugh doing something yourself and something different to everyone else

10th August 2006, 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

Carry on though looks like your doing a good job, interested to see how you finish the joins to the door card?

im interested to hahaha the whole thing is a very tight fit with about 6 main pressure points holding it in with the carpet fitted around it and a bit of forcing it will fit nice and snug in the hole and look seamless in theory! and the back i thing ill wrap the carpet outwards and secure it to the fiberglass foam for extra safety ill try and get it done before i go to work tomorrow

10th August 2006, 09:12

look good mate.
Might have to try this myself.

10th August 2006, 12:18

Are you going to re-trim the whole door card or just the new speaker pod?

10th August 2006, 12:52

johnny where'd u get that avatar mate, quite good.

10th August 2006, 13:17

looks good, I wanna see the finished article tho ! ! ! !

10th August 2006, 16:41

ok guys heres what i did today little left to do to tidy up but not much let me know what you think....

quick compare:

10th August 2006, 17:59

looking good, lets hope it sounds as good as it looks!

10th August 2006, 18:21

where did you get that carpet stuff? i need some of that for a box im builiding for a sub...

10th August 2006, 19:15

looking good fair play by the looks of it you will just get it in with the vibe speakers

10th August 2006, 19:44

sweet build mate. Wouldnt have used that carpet though. Think you should have the whole thing re-trimmed.

10th August 2006, 21:52

carpet is from halfrauds big roll of it i wasnt sure about using it at first but now i reckon it looks ok if i was to re trim the whole card it would mean doing the opposite side to and the fronts coz then they would look out of place and then the seats etc etc etc i think doing just a little section should look good when in the car itself but im gonna get making the other one tomorrow before they go back in. thanks for the feedback tho guys

10th August 2006, 22:24

use grey carpet mate

10th August 2006, 22:29

i thought about that but i prefered the black plus the speaker grills i cut out were black it should look good in the car i hope and atleast this way people wont elbow them from not seeing them!

10th August 2006, 22:47

any pics of them in the car yet

10th August 2006, 22:50

not yet matey i had to go to work so didnt get a chance as soon as ive finished the other side ill put them both in and take pics

11th August 2006, 01:22

Lookin good mate think you have done really well, you wana start making these and selling them on here good work!!

11th August 2006, 01:24

yeah i'll buy one but with out carpet

11th August 2006, 01:41

hahaha then it would defeat the point in me making them to not follow the trend tho i guess it would be ok if i was starting it! i dont really have the tools for a mass production plus everyone has their own ideas about them such as no carpet grey carpet..... will wait and see maybe if i havent got a job in a month ill take orders how much you reckon theyd sell for????

11th August 2006, 02:08

not sure but if you fiberglassed them and then sprayed them they would probs sell for more and would look better IMO

11th August 2006, 02:12

cost of the cards then 50 notes? dunno mate, there yours, copyright them lol!!!

u could build to order with variations in colour and material, full card trim even the cut out in the card ie not square, use the same design but change the outer edge shape.

ps if u do go into mass production i want a cut for my input lmao

11th August 2006, 11:58

umm think ill just work on getting mine done first but work always gets in the way like tonight and all day tomorrow!! i will get it done and in the car eventually!

12th August 2006, 01:18

havent had much chance to work on the other one today as i was sorting bits to do with the door change i did i managed to get the hole cut out of the other door card tho so just the same process all over again for the opposite side post pics when its done

12th August 2006, 19:27

trimed off the same colour as the rest of the card n tht would be perrrrrrrfect, but even now i love it, if u start making them i want dibs on first set, think they look well good.

13th August 2006, 01:56

Nah mate ill have first dibs on em, seening as i gave him the idea off selling them!!

13th August 2006, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by argylefan1985

trimed off the same colour as the rest of the card n tht would be perrrrrrrfect, but even now i love it, if u start making them i want dibs on first set, think they look well good.

yeah if i had some of the material that was on the door cards it would look wicked as they would just look like standard but different if that makes sense which is what i wanted! good to know i have customers before i even start hahhaha guess with a little adaption they could fit larger speakers to! feel free to leave rep by the way

16th August 2006, 00:22

ok people this little project is nearly done thank god made a few changes as i couldnt get the edges of the hole i cut out how i wanted i decided to alter them slightly so using a trusty little staple gun i did this....

and this is how the otherside looks all finished im quite pleased cant wait to put them in the car

16th August 2006, 00:34

not bad not bad shame on colour of carpet used, stands out abit too much but great idea! they just 13cm speakers?

16th August 2006, 00:37

actually put the speaker grills on if possible and it will look much noicer

16th August 2006, 00:37

i chose the black carpet so people sat in the back would notice them and not elbow them plus the grill i cut out was black! yeap just 13cm speakers but 300w! think ill wire them up to an amp to sound better

16th August 2006, 00:39

i was gonna put the grill on but think i might have made the fit a bit to tight!! was hoping no one would say the! ill give it a go tho coz i do prefer them with the grills

16th August 2006, 00:45

umm just tried and no the grill wont fit basically because i wanted to fit the speaker into the card using the smallest are needed for it but didnt account for thickness of the carpet so the speaker is some what snugg! in its mounting

16th August 2006, 01:20

Doesn't matter about the grill mate i think it looks spot on, and your right about doing them in black as you don't want them to get damaged after all that work. Iv'e just bought some vibe black hex 6x9's still awaiting arrival do you no if there any good cheers mate.

16th August 2006, 01:25

10/10 for effort matey, but i honestly think the black stands out way too much (whether u wanted ur mates to notice or not), it cheapens the whole look, some closer coloured material would have looked so much more professional and looked more factory!

But nice work none the less!

ben

16th August 2006, 01:25

i know they look wicked but i havent heard them tho if there anything like the speakers i have theyll be wicked these little things kick out 300w each so your 6x9s should be very good at handling the power i know alot of people dont like speakers in the back but i like my acoustics just as much as the bass so thats why i have them tho i have to agree with the back shelf i did think the sub was distorting them a bit but these adaptions should do the trick

16th August 2006, 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennivtr

10/10 for effort matey, but i honestly think the black stands out way too much (whether u wanted ur mates to notice or not), it cheapens the whole look, some closer coloured material would have looked so much more professional and looked more factory!

But nice work none the less!

ben

cheers i know where youre coming from and the good thing about these adaptors is they can be taken out quite easily so in the future should i buy a gti interior for example or a 2003 vtr interior they will fit better into the black door cards another reason for the black colour tho i do like them how they are and hope some people will change their minds when they see them in the car but will have to wait and see

16th August 2006, 01:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTaaRon

cheers i know where youre coming from and the good thing about these adaptors is they can be taken out quite easily so in the future should i buy a gti interior for example or a 2003 vtr interior they will fit better into the black door cards another reason for the black colour tho i do like them how they are and hope some people will change their minds when they see them in the car but will have to wait and see

:thumbup:

16th August 2006, 17:15

Looks well good mate, Top Notch Mod :Y:

16th August 2006, 17:19

they will only run at 50W though as your headunit prob only gives out about 50 - 55w per channel unless like u said you amp them then they will be loud

shgould sound good aswell as they are facing the front and are at head sort of height

17th August 2006, 09:44

theyll be hooked up to an amp asap thinking a 1200w should do the sub and speakers nice

17th August 2006, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarylVTR

they will only run at 50W though as your headunit prob only gives out about 50 - 55w per channel unless like u said you amp them then they will be loud

maybe if lightning hit the headunit! No chance a headunit can produce 4x50w just look at the thickness of the power cables to it and the head that it would generate would melt the head unit

17th August 2006, 12:00

good point my bad LOL

18th August 2006, 16:00

hows it coming along? get them fitted man! want to see them installed

18th August 2006, 16:05

hey guys sorry i havent been to well been trying to do what i can bit by bit as it turns out when i tried to fit them in my car i found they would fit perfectly if only id taken into account putting them in in the design! so i have altered them and will get pics up asap work thisevening but may manage to get pics when i get in the new design involves the same black carpet a staple/nail gun and some ipsons fiberglass filler stuff! makes them much better lighter thinner and will definatly fit in!

18th August 2006, 17:02

hey guys took some pics quick while still light out heres how the cards look now....

18th August 2006, 17:03

oh yeah there you go daryl grills on for you

18th August 2006, 23:04

spot on mate look good with or without the grills god work!!!!!

19th August 2006, 00:25

well you guys the time has come! they are finally fitted in my car i couldnt wait so fitted them when i got in from work plus the fumes from the fiberglass were doing my head in so wanted them out the house. But like i say they are now fitted wired up (only to the HU ate the mo) and working nicely. Will get pics up asap but i do really like them in there think they look good but im bias.............FINISHED wooo woooo

19th August 2006, 01:32

look smart mate

why not just get some phase 2 rear cards and have them black?

19th August 2006, 01:35

hopefully in the future ill get a newer interior so hope to change the whole lot then but for now its do best with what you got for me im afraid

19th August 2006, 02:53

I see you have changed the setup to the boxed section, as they are now parellel to the rear cards. Was this to accomodate for the rear of the spreaker?

19th August 2006, 09:08

not so much the rear of the speaker the way it was was fine but behind the card the metal frame came down to far and caught the top of the box i made i could have cut it slightly but i thought best not to there is loads of room behind them now and when in the car they are slightly angled forward ill get pics up in a bit

19th August 2006, 16:56

IMHO........ Why black cloth? looks bodged!

19th August 2006, 17:20

He's only got 4 toes

19th August 2006, 17:27

Wheres your other toe?

19th August 2006, 19:02

that little piggy went weeeeee all the way out of shot! i do have five its ok and yes thats five on each not all together, ill try and get pics up of them in the car asap so you can see how they look fitted

20th August 2006, 20:12

Ok here you go people ive taken a few pictures of how the speakers look inside the car hope you like let me know.....

21st August 2006, 00:00

does no one like them???

21st August 2006, 03:38

Look sound mate well done, when you making some for me then?

21st August 2006, 04:21

not too sure about them. think they stand out to much. but saying that i like the idea... totally original

21st August 2006, 10:38

black door cards mate!

very nice tho

seatbelt pads

21st August 2006, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by yate5y

seatbelt pads

hahaha yeah were in the car when i got it the fronts dont even match the back quite comfy tho, was looking at maybe either getting a mk2 vtr interior or gti interior but now the rear of these pods are reinforced with fiberglass i can just cut them out and put them onto the new cards when i get them and there should be enough room behind them to not have to cut the new cards to which means when i sell the car i can just take them off and leave them standard in theory!

22nd August 2006, 22:16

Deleted account!

22nd August 2006, 22:28

top marks for the effort you have put into them, but they don't fit with the car, they don't do you justice as they look last minute bodge

22nd August 2006, 23:16

feel free to leave me rep

23rd August 2006, 15:13

good job matey, they look good top marks for diy too, they would look mint though if the whole doorcard was retrimmed the same, go on do it u know it makes sense lol

3rd September 2006, 19:36

look good mate would look better in grey like this :thumbup:

3rd September 2006, 19:39

yeah that looks good or in the same material thats on the door card but if i get a mk2 vtr interior like i hope to the ones i made will fit in perfect as there black