Rear Speaker Covers Project
03-11-2013, 03:41 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Rear Speaker Covers Project
Here's a weekend project I completed. I recovered the old rear speakers covered with carpet with black speaker fabric. What a difference in sound! Can't believe any sound made it out of that thick carpet and metal screen!
Sorry for the blurry pic, couldn't get focused for some reason!
Sorry for the blurry pic, couldn't get focused for some reason!
03-11-2013, 04:13 PM
#2
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
X2!! I did the same thing and was mortified when I saw what GM covered the speakers with! YIKES! WTF were they thinking??? New covers in the front will help equally.
03-11-2013, 04:46 PM
#4
Drifting
Thread Starter
[QUOTEHow did the sound improve? ][/QUOTE]
Just imagine your speakers covered with carpet! The only way the sound came out with the old Bose was through the plastic grill at the end of the speaker!
How did you do the front speakers on yours? Do you have pics? I have 4 inch round Alpines in the front.
Just imagine your speakers covered with carpet! The only way the sound came out with the old Bose was through the plastic grill at the end of the speaker!
X2!! I did the same thing and was mortified when I saw what GM covered the speakers with! YIKES! WTF were they thinking??? New covers in the front will help equally.
03-11-2013, 05:13 PM
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
It was fairly easy to do once you get the carpet and metal mesh off. The right speaker was easy as all the carpet and mesh came off with little effort, but the left one was really stuck with glue, so I had to use a utility knife and razor blade to get it off.
Once I got the old covers off, I used the carpet as a template and added an extra inch all the way around. I used elmers glue stick (goes on blue then dries clear) to attach the fabric to the frame, then used double sided carpet tape on the back top and bottom to keep it secure.
The only other problem I encountered was getting the plastic strip that runs across the middle with the bose emblem off. They are snaped on, so I had to push the plastic ***** with a small phillips screw driver on the back of the cover to get them to pop out (be carful not to push too hard and break the plastic) Then I reattached them with carpet tape.
Once I got the old covers off, I used the carpet as a template and added an extra inch all the way around. I used elmers glue stick (goes on blue then dries clear) to attach the fabric to the frame, then used double sided carpet tape on the back top and bottom to keep it secure.
The only other problem I encountered was getting the plastic strip that runs across the middle with the bose emblem off. They are snaped on, so I had to push the plastic ***** with a small phillips screw driver on the back of the cover to get them to pop out (be carful not to push too hard and break the plastic) Then I reattached them with carpet tape.
03-11-2013, 06:31 PM
#8
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
I did basically the same thing; I took them apart, pulled that heavy carpet off and then covered the entire outer cover w/the same material as I used in the rear. Looks like your material. TOTALLY opened up the front sound stage, big time. Those poor fronts didn't have a chance, the way they were covered/smothered before. I have a 4x6 and a 5-14" round on each side, up front.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; 03-11-2013 at 06:33 PM.
03-11-2013, 08:34 PM
#9
Instructor
I just did all four of my speaker. I put 6.25 w\mids and 3/4' tweeters in all four corners.
Now I'm thinking about recovering them like you did. Looks great.
Where did you find the material?
Now I'm thinking about recovering them like you did. Looks great.
Where did you find the material?
03-12-2013, 01:46 PM
#13
Drifting
Thread Starter
Bought the material at JoAnn's like speedycat3 said. I was going to use red fabric, but my vette is a red and black theme inside. I paid $9.99 for a whole yard of speaker material incase I made a mistake!
03-12-2013, 01:50 PM
#14
Drifting
Thread Starter
[QUOTEX2!! I did the same thing and was mortified when I saw what GM covered the speakers with! YIKES! WTF were they thinking??? New covers in the front will help equally.][/QUOTE]
How do the front speaker covers come off? Do they just pop off or is there some screws? I assume your 92 has the same interior?
How do the front speaker covers come off? Do they just pop off or is there some screws? I assume your 92 has the same interior?
03-12-2013, 02:13 PM
#15
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
Yep. the '92 is the same.
You have to remove the vertical, black plastic trim piece at the rear of the door, held on by two phillips screws.
Next, remove the door sill piece, which runs from the rear of the bottom of the door, to the front, and includes the front speaker cover. I believe three phillips screws hold that piece in.
Once that piece is out, you can access several speed nuts on the back side of that sill panel to remove the actual speaker grille.
You have to remove the vertical, black plastic trim piece at the rear of the door, held on by two phillips screws.
Next, remove the door sill piece, which runs from the rear of the bottom of the door, to the front, and includes the front speaker cover. I believe three phillips screws hold that piece in.
Once that piece is out, you can access several speed nuts on the back side of that sill panel to remove the actual speaker grille.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; 03-12-2013 at 02:22 PM.
03-12-2013, 02:17 PM
#16
Drifting
Thread Starter
Thanks,
I will have to check that out one of these days, but not this week, the temp is going to be 70deg here in Idaho! The targa is coming off!
I will have to check that out one of these days, but not this week, the temp is going to be 70deg here in Idaho! The targa is coming off!
03-12-2013, 02:24 PM
#17
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
Sweet! Same here (or close to that temp). My car is still "sleeping" though. 
Enjoy the top-off days!
Enjoy the top-off days!
03-13-2013, 12:36 PM
#19
Racer
Great idea, AirForceOne. I'm just putting my interior back together after adding noise/heat insulation, so your timing for posting was perfect for me, thanks. Did the rear speakers with black speaker cloth, installed them and they look good. Started to do the fronts and held up the "carpet" currently covering the speakers and held them up to my fluorescent lighting in the garage and was surprised by the amount of light coming through. I just may leave the fronts alone as they will get a little more abuse from feet coming and leaving the cockpit area on both sides and the current black covering does blend in better then speaker cloth. It would appear that GM went with some sort of speaker covering that has the appearance of carpet but still allows sound to come through, perhaps not as much as regular speaker cloth. I waiting for a new stereo to be delivered so I have some time to think about this.
03-13-2013, 01:35 PM
#20
Drifting
Thread Starter
I'll have to check the front covers out this afternoon. I would have thought they used the same carpet as the back? Your right they would get a little of abuse from getting in and out. I also suppose they would be a little harder to cover than the backs!