To replace my 1960 speaker with a new one, not being able
to find one that matched in shape, I:
Went to Radio Shack with the old one. It was a hyper-oval
shape and quite "funny" in relation to what has been
standardized on today.
Got a new, cheap-o, round (that's important) car speaker
that had the same diameter as the narrow section of my oval
OEM speaker.
Went to a heating and ductwork place with speaker and a
sheet of paper on which I had impressed the shape of the
opening in the dash by running my fingernail around the
shape and embossing the dash-shape and mounting screw holes
into the paper template.
They cut a piece of sheet metal that was soft and wiggly
into a shape that was slightly larger than the hole in my
dash. They then used a duct hole cutting tool that worked
not unlike a compass that you put a pencil into. The hole
matched the speaker perfectly.
I then drilled pilot holes for mounting the plate to the
dash and the speaker to the plate.
Spray painted the plate flat black.
Lastly, I used silicon goo and screws to mount the plate to
the dash and the speaker to the plate.
All speakers operate on the principal that the front and
back faces are acting against different bodies of air A
speaker that is freestanding, or has spaces around that
allow air to pass between front and rear areas, is terribly
inefficient (that's why speakers are always "installed"
into something unless they are horns or membranes).
Sealing the speaker into the dash is important, be it with
foam gasket material or goo or whatever.
The radio sounded fine for an AM unit, and I was out about
$20. The speaker was only visible through the grate on the
dash when viewed from above and the black paint meant that
I was the only one that ever noticed because I went out of
my way to inspect it.
I hope that this helps if you don't find what you need.
=====
Kenyon Wills
6o LeBaron - America's Most Carefully Built Car
73 LeBaron - Long Low & Luxurious
San Lorenzo/SF Bay Area
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