First thing I did was take the current speaker covers from the car and trace their basic shape onto a piece of 1/2" MDF.



Then, my helpers and I got out the power tools.



Cut the MDF down to size. I used a table saw, because I have one. Don't have one? Jigsaw or circular saw works fine, too.



Compare them to the originals...



Next, I figured out where I wanted them to go. The original location sucks, so I went a different route.

 

I drilled a pilot hole to be able to cut out the circular hole for the speaker using the template that came with the speaker.



Then, I drilled a pilot hole to cut out the piece that would hold the speaker. You will see a method to my madness later.



All cut and trimmed:

 

Because the stock speakers basically fire straight across the cabin and into the center console, I decided to angle them up and out.



I found the proper angle by test fitting the speaker and making sure it didn't touch underneath. I cut a couple pieces of MDF to hold it at that angle so I could cut some support pieces.




For the passenger side, I simply traced the same cuts I made on the drivers side, and cut them out the same way.



I then test fit the new pieces to the car. ****! Turns out the wiring harness on the drivers side would interfere. My solution? Cut the board. I will be covering these in fake black leather, so all I'm going to do is cut the leather in the same pattern as the original panel, slap a piece of cardboard onto the missing section, and velcro it up and over the wiring harness. Pretty simple.

 

As you can see, you need to take some breaks in between:



I lined up some MDF to the angle created by my new part, traced the line, and cut it out with my jigsaw. Then, I made 3 more pieces just like it. These four pieces form the supports for the speaker piece, and I sprayed them with 3M superduper adhesive to keep them in place. They will be attached with some seriously small screws, so as not to break them. If the screws break them, I will just make some brackets out of metal... I just didn't feel like going to Home Depot tonight.

So, this is where I'm leaving off for now. I will finish them up this weekend and cover them in the fake leather I'm using in the rest of my interior.

I decided to round off all the edges with my router. Why? I don't know, I was bored, and hadn't used it in a while.





Well, there you go. Simple, easy... I will probably make some speaker covers, because I have a square yard of grille cloth just sitting here.

 

man you are awesome. You must have alot of free time lately with these awesome projects you have going underway. Ordering all sorts of parts and rims and stuff I can't wait to see how your project starts piecing together!

These kick panels are a awesome idea though man, I think I will have to do something like this at some point because the stock front speaker position is worthless!

 

I see you are a big DIY guy i am getting inspired by you to do somethings to my car.

THANKS.

 

Yeah, I fucked up the edge of the drivers side with the router... That's what happens when you round off the wrong side, then try to round off the right side. If I can't hide it with the leather, I'll just make a new one. No big deal.

 

Actually, I have NO time. I just force myself to do this stuff rather than sit around and watch TV or whatever. I generally get home from work at 6:30 and work on these things until midnight.

 

Oh yeah... Coming next week: How to make a subwoofer enclosure where your storage bins used to be (that hopefully won't sound like ****!!!) Here's a hint: You won't be able to see the sub. At all.

 

Dogs suck.


Just kidding! I'm a cat person, but dogz are ok.

I like the DIY stuff...keep it up! But I wish you'd post smaller pics...it's too much work to resize them!

Rich

 

I take about 75 pics every time I do a DIY, and it would take forever for me to resize them. It wouldn't be worth it.

 

100 can u get a snap of them test fitted with you in the car, they look like they migt get in the way of your legs, unless its just the pics.. thx

\greg

 

I tried what you are doing and found that your legs will be killing them. It is better to make them on the doors, rather the kick panels, especially on the drivers side. Did you relocate the hood pop over there yet? I'm not down playing what you are doing, just dropping my experience.
Oh, let me know if you need help on the sub enclosure. Check out my step by step at my cardomain page.

John

 

$100T2, you are an inspiration, but im doing a painted fiberglass sub box in the back... But looking at the kick panels i might put some speakers there instead of covoring them up and putting them on the door panel, your how-to's are great just to let you know. 5 thumbs up for you!!! Now that i think about it, i may do the 6x9's that are in the back angled towards the front like you have.

/Brad

 

Nice work!

 

Hey! how much would you charge to make those? I need 3 pair!! Two pair black and one pair blue?

 

Nice Job! Awsome work!

 

Actually, this project has been scrapped. I figured out a better way, and will be posting it this weekend.

 

Just an idea... use photobucket.com would create all the folders to organize your projects and they will auto resize for you.



used to be a 1meg file .... now only 108k great for web usage.. and i keep the originals on my PC.

 

would you be interested in selling the pieces you started, since you
are scrapping the project?

i sent you a pm. maybe we can work out a trade

nick

 

Sure, if you want them, we can work something out... Let me know.

You might want to wait for the "new method", because if they turn out well, I will be happy to duplicate them and sell 'em.

 

The front of the RX-7 is crap as far as speaker placement. For someone like me, those panels you made would be useless as I am 6'3" and things are tight to begin with. Actually, the minute I saw the angle of the speaker, I thought to myself "thats useless for me, my legs would be hitting the speaker ALL THE TIME". I found the best spot was actually the stock location. The RX-7 just wasn't made to have large or uniquely placed speakers in the front. The best way to make it how you want would be to put a component set in with 5 1/4" woofers in the stock location with the tweeter in the dash area.

PS, throw out those POS sonys. I have NEVER heard a sony car speaker or any sony car audio equipment that sounds somewhat good. I generally rate them lower than Koss or something like that. Get some alpine or pioneer premier speakers. They are a little more money, but well worth it.

 

I'm also 6'3", and angled them so that they are in the spot least likely to cause interference. However, because I wanted to buy myself some more space, I have something else in mind.

As far as the Sony's go, I just wanted something I can screw around with until I figure out a final placement. I realize they aren't show car quality, but they are definitely better than the 15 year old paper woofers the car came with.