xj_maniac_newb

Put some speakers in the dash, wrote a little write up on it. Not really difficult enough to justify a write up, but hell figured i might as well do it for ****s and giggles.



Before i get into this, my photos arent the best quality as they were took with my phone, which happens to have a busted camera screen. I dont own a camera so get over it, im poor

Ok, so here in the last month or so i've found that it is absolutely terrible driving my jeep with only the completely blown speakers in the soundbar to listen to when im going doorless. So last night I decided i would go ahead and try to solve the problem.

This was what i intended to do, i actually had the jigsaw out and everything when i had a sudden idea, "wonder if i can fit em in the stock spot for the tweeters?" And after a little more thought and measuring, I found my foot would hit the speakers here every day should i put them in the kick panels.. So that only leaves mounting them in the dash!

Kick panel speakers





Where im putting my speakers.








So to start. These are the only tools you'll need! Besides wire and tape of course





This all started for me by robbing my recently remade radio cooler of its speakers.. Second time this has happened, but at least its to serve a better purpose! lol





STEP 1.

Remove the top screw in the plastic cover that makes things look pretty so it'll hang down. If not, you'll go insane hitting it while you're trying to put the speakers in.






STEP 2.

Remove both kick panels. There should be 2 screws and a bolt per side, but be careful to not break the panel that overlaps it when removing the kick panel.





STEP 3.

Now its time to run the wiring for the speaker, as its alot easier to do it now then later. I actually found a stock speaker connect for the optional premium sound system, which just happened to already be ran and ready to go. This particular plug i used was ran behind the grill, right where the speakers were installed. There was also a second plug that was labeled as a speaker plug as well, however it was not connected. In my application I just clipped the end on the stock wiring and extended them out about a foot for good measure, then put a quick disconnect in just in case.

Here is the plug i wired in for the speaker.





If you would rather, you can also splice into the wire for the door speakers, which you will be able to find easily with the kick panel off. Just look for the other side of this grommit and splice in anywhere, however if you do this i recommend you put in a quick connect so you can disconnect the speaker when you put the doors back on. Should you want to just run new wires the easiest way is to just follow the harness, also using a coat hangar to push the wire through will really help.

xj_maniac_newb

STEP 4.

Test fit your speakers to see if their overall size will allow you to use them. I actually used new stock 5 1/4 speakers as they were the only things i had at the time. I didnt measure the thickness of the stock speakers (which is the deciding factor on whether they fit) but the stock speaker thickness seems to be the thickest you can use, as the passenger side is a very tight squeeze.

For example the 6" kickers i had in the doors were just slightly too thick to fit, so they'll be staying in the doors.






The speaker was much easier to put in on the driver side, as theres not really anything to get in the way. The only thing you gotta do on the drivers side is move a little box over that is velcroed down, i merely pushed mine over out of the way.





It takes some wiggling and pushing to get the speakers in, but once you get the angle right your good to go. I chose to use zip ties to secure the speakers in, as the speakers seemed to stay in decently well on their own.. and to be honest i was too lazy to fab up some kind of mounting system when i already have zip ties laying around I ran a connection from the speaker to the support bar in the dash, and then another from the other side of the speaker to a hook thats meant to hold down the harness behind the kick panel. You could also just zip tie onto the harness in a few spots if you would rather.


Here is the best under side pic of the drivers side I could get with my sucky phone.





Now time for the left side.

To install the speaker on the left side I had to pull out on the dash and slide (more like shove) the speaker in. Once its in there (may take a few minutes), more then likely you wont be able to easily get it back out, so preconnecting up the speaker wires to the speakers would be very benefitual here. Once the speaker was in, I zip tied from the speaker to the harness, and then on the other side i went from the speaker to another part of the harness. The speaker really didnt require all that much support, the zip ties were mostly to keep the speaker from rattling around really.





Also here are some under dash shots, these are the best i could get.











All in all I found the speakers work great, and actually sound great in the location they are in. The speakers are completely unseen, and arent hanging down in any way. They are covered nicely by the grill, and they are clear of any mud/ dirt that may get slung into the vehicle with the doors off, along with being covered from the rain and weather.

FleXJ01

looks like it works good.

tgordon

pic in first post only one i can see
wassup w that?

Jeepineasy

What size speakers?

Edit 5.25 got it!

xj_maniac_newb

works really great actually! The acoustics from that spot give good sound, and so dart even when getting mud slung into the jeep they stay nice and dry.

And as far asd the speaker size goes, its not so much the diameter of the speaker, its more the thickness. I plan on putting in some 6" or so once I find one that fits

94XjSport94

6.5's don't fit on he passenger side lol

xj_maniac_newb

Lol i should have updated it.. If you take loose the lower part of the dash (just those few screws on the side you're working on) then you can fit 6.5's in there once you pull out on it. Come warmer weather i got some Rockford Fosgates taking those speakers place and i'll rework the thread when i get the other one in.. Already put the passenger in, just didnt have time to mount it (gonna actually mount them this time) So i took it back out. But without taking that lower dash a little loose.. They're not going in there lol

94XjSport94

God your avatar made me Lol once I saw who it was hahaha

I'm gonna put my 6.5's in the door And the 5.25's in the dash I reckon

xj_maniac_newb

That'd probably be best. 6.5's will fit, but i've yet to find how to mount them in the passenger side.. However the one i put in did stay in there for like 2 weeks without moving really.

And i like to keep my avatars lol'able whenever possible..

94XjSport94

I was like who is this...? Oh hahahaha

I'm gonna work on it now without making anything worse lol

xj_maniac_newb

Lol i've been meaning to put mine in forever. Wish it was warm outside, i love riding around doorless.

94XjSport94

X2 I'm so ready for it to warm back up

Cherokeekid4x4

Good write up! Going to try it soon

xj_maniac_newb

A word of advice, take loose the screws holding the lower dash on (3 on each side of the ashtray, then 1 a piece underneath on each end) before you go to sticking speakers in there. You'll have the option of actually having something solid to ziptie the speakers to (when i installed some 6.5's it was necessary to take that part of the dash loose for the passenger side speaker to fit).

On the drivers side i used the metal frame behind the lower dash panel and a random hook i found above the kick panel to secure the speaker.

On the passenger side i used the grating of whatever the hell that box for the heat is (never can remember the name of it) and a wire loom my fingers found pretty high up in the dash that seemed very sturdy. The passenger side speaker really wont need much holding it in.. once you put the screws back in the dash its pretty snug in there, the only mounts you really need are to keep it from moving around.

If you need any help with it (although i doubt you will) feel free to ask.