[6pack] Six inch speakers?

[Navarrette, Vance]

        Dave:

        The problem with 6" speakers is that there is little material left for
structural support after you carve up the kidney pads to make them fit. The
kidney pads need a certain amount of stiffness and ruggedness to survive, and
6" speakers would significantly degrade this. How successful you would be is a
matter of conjecture on my part, since I have not tried it, but I would say
that the 4" speaker kidney pads are none too robust to start with.
        Now, perhaps if you used 3/16" plywood instead of fiberboard you could
go with 6", but then you would be making your own kidney pads. While making
your own would be pretty simple (plywood, black vinyl, 1/2" foam and some
staples) it might be more work than you would prefer.
        The other question is how worthwhile would it be. The location of the
speakers in the kidney pads is a disaster for fidelity. You might consider
putting the effort into mounting speakers on the parcel shelf  and a subwoofer
in the passenger footwell, for example.
        Don't forget that the original radios only put out 2-3 watts per
channel, flea power by today's standards, so you would be looking at a
separate amp(s), or some sort of high powered head unit. Then there is the
issue of getting enough juice out of the alternator for modern electronics,
etc, etc, etc. Sigh.
        That's why I never turn on the radio in the six, and instead listen to
the siren song of the motor.

        Vance


      Vance Navarrette
    Cogito Ergo Zoom
    I think, therefore I go fast

-----Original Message-----
From: 6pack-bounces+vance.navarrette=intel.com at autox.team.net
[mailto:6pack-bounces+vance.navarrette=intel.com at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
forzion at maine.rr.com
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 10:47 AM
To: 6pack at autox.team.net
Subject: [6pack] Six inch speakers?

Hey list;

Some of your browse through TR6 stuff on eBay, from time to time. On the list
of parts amnd sellers is a guy who typically sell the "kidney pads" into which
many lister mount their radio speakers. he sell them with  NO holes or with 4"
holes. I asked him what about mounting six inch speakers -- how could someone
accomplish that with a four inch dia. mounting hole? He answered: "Can't be
done, use smaller speakers!" I know I have seen many folks with six inch
speakers mounted in their tranny-side "kidney" panels -- did you buy panels
with NO holes then cut your own to suit?

Thanks for any insights.

Dave