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83-88 dash speaker adapter


@Bobs Ford Anger ,

There is more than 1 way to install a speaker in any space. With one exception, I have always made my own. The 1st system that I installed in my Ranger, the 5¼" speakers came with their own mounting system, which is still in use today after 24 years.
 
@Bobs Ford Anger ,

There is more than 1 way to install a speaker in any space. With one exception, I have always made my own. The 1st system that I installed in my Ranger, the 5¼" speakers came with their own mounting system, which is still in use today after 24 years.

Any pics?

I just cut holes in the grilles from my parts truck and bolted the speakers on top... which although kind of tacky looking has worked for like 20 years so far.

One of the biggest glitches once a guy gets past mounting is depth, the dash vent ductwork is pretty tight to the speaker.
 
Any pics?

I just cut holes in the grilles from my parts truck and bolted the speakers on top... which although kind of tacky looking has worked for like 20 years so far.

One of the biggest glitches once a guy gets past mounting is depth, the dash vent ductwork is pretty tight to the speaker.
thats the prob want it to look factory
 
Is there room to put them in the doors? If you mount grills over them, they'll look factory.
 
They sell 1½" wide roll of flat metal with holes drilled in it, I think it is primarily for plumbing support. I suspended my speakers with a basket of that, underneath the stock speaker grills.

It let me position the drivers exactly where I wanted even on the angle I wanted.
 
Is there room to put them in the doors? If you mount grills over them, they'll look factory.
Second gen had them in the doors so I’m sure there’s space to do it. For that matter could even probably use second gen door panels and skip mounting grills
 
I made a set of the adapters out of a solid piece of plastic. No reason the couldn't be done from metal or even wood. Pretty sure a cheap clipboard would have enough material to make both.
 
I made some out of plywood to fit some 6.5” components into a 6x8” opening in one of my cars, they were a tad thick (used 1/2" ply or slightly thinner), but the wood worked. Have to watch the thickness though so the speakers don't rub on the door panel / speaker cover / trim, once it's clipped back on.

For those that have a plasma cutter, it might help make some nice metal ones, some 1/8" thick steel adapters would be quite strong / stiff, yet still thin.

A jigsaw and wood is very easy though and pretty quick. Make a template out of cardboard, and transfer that to some wood. Can even cut plastic like this, but not as easy if you've never done it and would need to research cutting plastic before attempting it.

As others stated though, many materials to DIY something for odd shaped adapters. If I couldn't get the correct adapters, or just being cheap :LOL:, I'd surely make something up.
 
Most plastic cuts very well with a bandsaw. I'm lucky enough to have access to one at work. And lost of scrap plastic in various shapes.
 
I robbed my childhood erector set and used to pieces to fit my 4 inch speakers in the dash.

It aligned the stock holes to the speaker holes. Didn't have to modify anything. Just used j nuts that came with speakers on the erector set flat bar with holes.
 

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Another option is to gut the original speaker out and attach the new 4” speaker to the original rim. See pic attached.
This was a mod I found in my parts truck and used with my new Clarion speakers.
 

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