I did the front speaker mod because I want my car to look STOCK. The cd player is under the seat, the factory radio sits in the dash....when you look in, you can't tell there are any aftermerket pieces anywhere. Of course putting them side by side doesn't give the stereo sound you would get from speakers in the doors, but I won't cut up my car and I won't have speakers sitting on the seat or cut into the panels. Thats just me. I enjoy the car and the music comes second. It is surprising though what an improvement those two speakers in the dash made. You guys need to quit beating each other up...everyone has different priorities. later Tim
Accually you will get better sound from Kicks, the reason is that having speakers in the kicks properly aimed and mounted. you get equal sound path lenghts giving the best sound. I have heard speakers mounted in just about every mounting postion. The best was the kicks followed closely by corner dash mount. with mid or midbasses in the kicks. As I have said before I build compitition sund systems and have been competing for over 12 yrs. :bglasses: and have won many throphies. Hey If you like the sound from center mounted speakers go for it. For me I will be building kicks for mine. I also intend on adding a upgraded head unit to it Scanlon, I am looking at eather a 73 GS 455 or maybe a 72 Skylark Suncoupe. what ever I get I will be doing kicks. TimR, I totally agree with keeping the car stock appearing, I fully intend on hiding all( I do mean all) my aftermarket stereo equipment, With the kicks I plan on eather using differant kicks or completly rebuilding them. the deck will be eather factory style( AKA custom auto sound) or the factory one moddified or just adding on. Tim
Hey Tim (lostGS), I'm not "debating" where the "best" sound comes from, as I only know how I've installed my own systems, and how they sound. I've never actually had "kick panel" speakers, but from talking to other "pro" installers, from reading "Car Audio and Electronics", and related articles, that's what I've "learned": to keep speakers as close to "ear level" as possible. If you could "aim" the kick panel speakers up towards the "passengers", I'd think that might make a difference, but I'm not sure about just facing them "straight" towards the trans. hump in the floor, like the "aftermarket" kick panels are.o No: I'm ALL for locating as many speakers as possible in the car, anyway!:TU: The more NOISE I can make, the BETTER! Of course, I need LOUD music to drown out the LOUD 455 Headers!:laugh: :bglasses:
Hey Jason,:TU: No offense taken here!:bglasses: The main reason that "I" post ALL of my (past and present) Buicks is just to show others that all of my "experience" is with '70-'72 Skylarks and GS's, through my ownership, and to remind me of why it's all worth owning a BUICK (because of all the GOOD TIMES I've had with my Past ones, too). Besides, it's easier to LIST my cars than to POST pics, anyway.:laugh: Actually, It should only take a weekend to "customize" the dash, for what I want to do with it (with help from a buddy). Simple, I'm going to completely remove all the gauges from the instrument bezel, and just cover it with Black tinted plastic. The end result will be a COMPLETELY SMOOTH BLACKED OUT GAUGE area behind the Steering Wheel. All the gauges will be mounted in a custom gauge pod in/on the rear package tray, facing upwards to reflect off of a Black tinted Rear window for visibility in the Rear view Mirror. Digital gauges would be the most visible. Heck, with all the Gauges removed, you could put a LOT of stuff there, TV monitor, "Hidden" Stereo system (would be better RIGHT BEHIND the Steering Wheel, anyway, for controls and visibility). I have to install my Tilt Column, anyway, so while I have it out, I can remove the gauges and bezel, and do the work pretty easily. I'm not into "Factory Stock", for MY own cars, but I like to see others'. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing WRONG with "Stock", if that's what you like. "I" just want MORE out of it than the Factory could put into it!!! I'd rather have the interior of my car look like a Military Fighter Plane cockpit, or a James Bond car, with all the "hidden" gadgets. I have pictures of the GTO interior from the movie "XXX". THAT'S what I'M talking about!:bglasses: I'm into "Unique", One of a Kind cars. For Example: The GSX PROTOTYPE is the ONLY car to have the Hood and Rear Spoiler that it does (among other things). How many "other" GSX EL CAMINOS have you "EVER" seen?:Brow: I'VE only seen ONE! Well, as soon as I'm finished, I hope to have built the FIRST and ONLY '70 4 Door GSX!:bglasses: Even if it's NOT the FIRST or the ONLY, at least I can say it's MINE!:bglasses: I have a lot more "ideas" but not enough "garage space" to build ALL of them, so I'll work with the 3 that I have, for now.:bglasses: :TU:
Hey Scott thanks for the reply. Is the only way to see the gauges through the rear view mirror? That sounds a little inconvienent if your racing. Of course you may never be racing. Any ways I would love to see pics. of what you come up with as soon as you have done the work.
Tim, I thought you had a 73 up, damn. That would have worked out, cause I don't want to tackle doing the fabrication myself, I would have bought a pair off of you! Oh well. Scanlon
Hey Jason,:TU: That's what I'm planning. The only way to see the gauges is to look in the rear view mirror.:bglasses: I only drive on the STREET (where the car is MEANT to be, NOT on a "track"). I just like the idea of the "disappearing dash", because it's different. :bglasses: I'm drawing up some ideas of how it will actually look when it's done. Should be cool!:TU:
Hey, Don't rule it out yet. I haven't gotten my refund yet. Check the post on the bench about the suncoupe. I haven't seen the 72 soI don't know if the 73 is in better shape. I will keep you informed. Tim
audio installation ideas Hey all, It sounds like all of you have great ideas. I would simply like to add maybe a few more ideas. If someone were looking to add some component type speakers, without modifying a kickpanel, they could, during restoration weld up some small "boxes" for the mids in the floorboard part of the firewall. I have seen this done and looks and sounds great. You could install the small "box" type enclosure in the firewall/floarboard, weld up a mounting bracket recessed very little into the floor, and then place a metal grille over the speaker for protection, and then add a very thin fine fabric grille over that matching the color of the carpet. This way the speaker would not be seen, totally stock and stealth appearing. Another idea, would be to modify the kick panels, add to them slightly, so that the mid's on the pass. side to be "aimed" at the driver, and opposite on the drivers side for optimum imaging. Plus, when you get the speaker a little further away than ear-level, you wouldn't hear nearly as much distortion. Because after all, distortion occurs at any level of volume or quality of components. This is simply just another way around it. And for the back, I removed the cardboard from behind the rear seat of my Riv, and in the trunk behind the seat is a "shelf", I could mount some speakers in a respectful enclosure, not big bass, but good sound, and then modestly mount that to the "shelf" part of my trunk blending it in with the lines, making it unnoticeable. Everything looks stock, and sound awesome. I give props to everyone on this site who has posted suggestions, they are all great. Aaron
Visited the local Menards this weekend to get the stuff to start on custom kicks for the Regal. Will take lots of pics when I get started. Scanlon
Hey '77 Regal! Nice ride! Wow! Nice car bro! I used to have one, it was a 1976 Regal S/R with the Hurst package in it (t-tops, slap shifter, etc.) Never did see many of the "S/R" Regals around though, I wondered if they were kinda rare. Regards, Robin
I would have to say that the S/R model would have to be pretty rare. You definately do not see them that much. Although out of 466,240 cars built in '76 and '77 (Century, Century Custom and Regal 2drs only) you don't see many of them period as far as I am concerned. It's ashame to, it's a great car with lots of potential. Thanks for the compliment. Scanlon
'77 Regal (Quote) "Although out of 466,240 cars built in '76 and '77 (Century, Century Custom and Regal 2drs only) you don't see many of them period as far as I am concerned" Are those the true production figures??? I'm not sure if I follow you correctly, please explain a little further. Do you or anyone else have any way of checking the production figures for the 1976 Regal S/R in particular, I have only seen one besides the one I owned. I wish that I still had it. Thanks!! Robin
buicks.net has production figures for most years. Should be accurate for the most part. Here's an example... http://www.buicks.net/years/77.shtml Scanlon
