‘83-‘88 Optional Speakers?

[DirtBronco]

Pulled these out of an ‘85
Was this a factory option or dealership install? I’ve never seen them before.

I’m tempted to yank the speaker out and swapping in something more modern, but keep the OEM box for looks.

 

[RobbieD]

Factory option.

 

[SenorNoob]

I've seen similar boxes in lots of Fords in the junkyards. Getting less likely these days just cause of age.

 

[JoshT]

Factory option. More common on the late first gens and second gens. I've salvaged a couple looking to add rear speakers to my '85 when I rebuild it and wanting to keep it looking stockish. I can tell you that they, like.many old oem speakers, are an odd all size. Don't expect to buy off the shelf speakers that bolt right in and look right. Either they are too small diameter or too large diameter. I'm opting for trying the smaller size, mounting inside the box, and keeping the original grills.

Speakers mount from the inside, so you have to be careful working the back of the box off. It's glued on pretty good

I'll get back on it someday, and once I figure it all out with the first one and I'll post pictures with the second.

 

[DirtBronco]

As a millennial, my search capability is not what it once was…

 

[RobbieD]

As a millennial, my search capability is not what it once was…

Millennial, hell! Try being a dinosaur.

I miss the old card catalogs at the library.

Come to think of it, I miss libraries . . . and books.

 

[DirtBronco]

 

[DirtBronco]

JK… love what you do @RobbieD

 

[JoshT]

@RobbieD ... RDAllen


Robbie, you got a youtube channel and ain't posted in in a sig or something?

Actually worked for the public library system as a teen. If I'd been smart, I probably would have followed a career in that. I feel you on missing libraries and books. What I don't miss is dealing with the patrons. Most were good, but the few...

As a millennial, my search capability is not what it once was…

Saw the part one video, might have seen that one too. He (and likely you) have completely different goals that I do for speaker repalcement. He already had the speaker pods in his truck and his goal for his speaker replacement was getting speakers installed and tunes playing. I did not have speaker pods in mine from the factory, and if getting tunes were the only factor, I'd have done aftermarket boxes. I'm going for getting speakers, tunes playing, and an outwardly stock appearance. I specifically weanted stock boxes installed to stock brackets, and stock speaker grills. If you look close you will be able to see the aftermarket speaker behind them, but not at a glance.

To achieve my goals the 5" speaker was too large. To make them fit I'd have had to lose the stock grill. To keep the grill I'd have had to install a spacer between the speaker and box which would put a 5" into the removed access plate. I'm going to have to use a 4" speaker, and still use a spacer, but it will fit inside the box and retain the factory grill. Still be louder and have better sound that the factory 5", and I don't listen to music very loud anyway.

Different strokes for different folks, I'm just relaying what I'm planning for mine.

 

[RobbieD]

@RobbieD ... RDAllen


Robbie, you got a youtube channel and ain't posted in in a sig or something?

Actually worked for the public library system as a teen. If I'd been smart, I probably would have followed a career in that. I feel you on missing libraries and books. What I don't miss is dealing with the patrons. Most were good, but the few...

Naw; I barely know what a YouTube is. Hell, I don't even have a cell phone (but I still have dimes in my penny loafers, "just in case I break down" and need to call somebody).

I very, very rarely watch any videos; occasional "how to"s, and otherwise sometimes classic rock performances from back in the day.


I've got at least one set of these Ford rear speaker boxes, from past trucks that I've had. The problem that I have, is that with a standard cab every inch of space behind the seat is too valuable, for tools and fluids storage, than to be sacrificed for speakers.

On a first-gen standard cab I'd much rather put a pair of good 5" speakers in the doors, and some decent 3 inchers with bass limiting caps in the stock dash location.


Working for a library would absolutely be a cool gig. After I got out of school, somehow I ended up . . . installing car stereos. What a long, strange trip that was . . . .

 

[JoshT]

I've got at least one set of these Ford rear speaker boxes, from past trucks that I've had. The problem that I have, is that with a standard cab every inch of space behind the seat is too valuable, for tools and fluids storage, than to be sacrificed for speakers.

Speaking from experience, when the seat is all the way back there is still plenty of room for these little factory boxes. I understand you on the tools, but when I'm done with this truck (85 Reg cab, long bed, 2wd) it shouldn't need much more for tools than the factory spare tire jack and lug wrench. Anything more than a flat tire or dead battery and it'll get towed. Ideally by the JoshT Towing LLC (Not For Hire), but I'll also have a roadside policy.