New 6x9's Don't fit.

[PowerfulSquid]

Well, I recently bought 2 pairs of 6x9 Pioneer 4-way speakers, and had planed on installing them even though I knew that the stock speakers were 6x8, but I had not realized that the magnet on these new speakers were going to be too deep to fit into the same place the stock speakers went.

Now I know that I'm going to need to speaker spacers, which I had planned on cutting out of 3/4 thick plywood that I have lying around. What I would like to know is if you guys have any tips or suggestions for me before I go ahead and start, because I've never done this and would like to get it done in one day (opposed to screwing up and having to work on it another day). Also if anyone has done this themselves, if you could just briefly explain what you did so I could have a better idea of what to do that that'd be great.

Thanks!

 

[Alec]

I would use MDF instead of plywood. It will be less prone to rattling, is easier to work with, and much more resistant to chipping.

 

[M.Scott]

Because I was lazy I used plywood too and it worked just fine but I also cut out gaskets for everything from 1/8" craft foam. I love this stuff for quieting little rattles. It comes in paper sized sheets with self adhesive backing, is pretty dense, and can find in walmart for $1 sheet (multiple colors too) .

So just cut out the inside hole with the template provided with you speakers. The outside circumferance can be almost any shape you want. Resist trying to make a perfect looking spacer that fits just under the speaker. It will likely be too skinny in spots and you will crack it while tightening the screws. Use washers and/or lock washers on the screws to prevent loosening. In general you will attach the speaker to the wood with shallow wood screws and then attach the wood to the door with longer sheet metal screws. You may have to go out and get some long screws. If you position it right some of the long screws can do double duty and go through the speaker holes and into the stock door holes.

But before you go drilling holes in the door look for the best place to do this first and then make you spacer big enough to reach these locations. You don't want to screw into a window or window track. Oh yeah, when playing around with measurements and designs keep the window retracted so you can see how much room you have. I once did a kick ass job but then the window bottom hit a screw when it came down. Dumb ass me. My spacer for round components was far from round! It was closer to square and butt ugly.