Dash speaker fit issue

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Khayward

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I'm replacing the factory speakers, nothing special, just Metra 3.5" 'stock replacement' units from wallyworld. Having trouble with the driver side: these only have two tabs and mounting them with the wiring towards the windshield ends up with the terminals shorting on the dash, but rotating them 180 pushes the terminals against the cluster. Bothe ways the speaker ends up crooked. Tried bending the terminals a hair but it didn't help much.
Anyone else encountered and solved this?
 
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Just did this yesterday! This cheapie (amazon) fit pretty well. I had to fashion braces at the ends but clearance is great. Wire connectors positioned perfectly.
I padded at antenna entry spot with 3m puddy stuff as a cushion. It’s a $20 speaker, works fine with original am/fm delco radio.
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Khayward

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Just did this yesterday! This cheapie (amazon) fit pretty well. I had to fashion braces at the ends but clearance is great. Wire connectors positioned perfectly.
I padded at antenna entry spot with 3m puddy stuff as a cushion. It’s a $20 speaker, works fine with original am/fm delco radio.
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Thanks for the reply, but the speaker in the picture is a 4x10? I'm working on the 3.5s in the dash. I'll keep these in mind for the rear speakers though. I rarely have the radio on but it'll be nice to have it when needed.
 

Snoots

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Are you using push-on style connectors?
 
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Thanks for the reply, but the speaker in the picture is a 4x10? I'm working on the 3.5s in the dash. I'll keep these in mind for the rear speakers though. I rarely have the radio on but it'll be nice to have it when needed.
Oops.. mine is a c78, center dash only.
 

Snoots

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So the connector housing caused interference?
Is it possible to cut off the connectors and solder the wires directly to the speaker (using heat shrink)?
 

Khayward

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So the connector housing caused interference?
Is it possible to cut off the connectors and solder the wires directly to the speaker (using heat shrink)?
There seems to be interference beyond just the terminals, I'll see if I can add a photo later. Almost feels like the side of the basket is too big.
 

Rusty Nail

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My '88 has 4 x 3.5s in the dash.

There is a cool 4x10 adaptor for two 3.5 inch speakers installed in the center hole and one 3.5 in each corner mmhmm.

6x9 adaptors in the 4x10 holes and you can end up with a system way more ILLER and (louder) than the factory offerings very simply.

Times are getting ILL.


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STEREO > MONO
 
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mtbadbob

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Thanks for the reply, but the speaker in the picture is a 4x10? I'm working on the 3.5s in the dash. I'll keep these in mind for the rear speakers though. I rarely have the radio on but it'll be nice to have it when needed.
I had to eliminate the factory speaker towers & mount my Kickers right to the dash opening. This puts the terminals below metal dash surface.
 

Khayward

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Messed around with this a bit more this morning after taking a picture of the problem (attached). I was able to bend the tabs on the speaker more towards the magnet and rotate it so it faces the gauge cluster. Just enough clearance and now it's not resting on the sheet metal and A-pillar trim. These speakers sound bad enough without adding buzzing and rattling to the mix!
One day I'll do a 3-way setup or something like that but for now this gets the Bluetooth radio functional. Now to clean up the dashpad a bit.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
 

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dvdswan

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Put a couple of wraps with electrical tape on the terminals and fold over a piece on dash part where the terminals contact.
 

Grit dog

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Just stuffed new 3.5s in the dash corners of the '86 yesterday. No fitment problems under the dash (and decent size magnets, 50W RMS rated speakers), but they do sit maybe 1/4" higher up than the OE speakers. Haven't unboxed the new dash pad yet or tried fitting the old one back in.
Any guesses on clearance or warnings that they may not fit under the dash pad?
 

TPISly-C10

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i install a lot of those in the past and present (ex worker at auto radio store) and never add a issue even today modern 3.5 fit great and sound amazing ;)
 

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