75 LeSabre ragtop - Mods to factory Delco stereo?

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by Big Twist, Jan 31, 2023.

  1. Big Twist

    Big Twist Well-Known Member

    I would like to upgrade the dash speakers in my car. It's stored for winter. So I can't look at it to see.

    Can I pop off dash speaker grills to change speakers? Or does dash pad need to come off?

    Are Delco speakers 4 0r 8 ohm?

    Any way to add a small amp to the factory radio?

    I have a new in box trunk mount 5 cd changer. It feeds into stock radio thru factory antenna port.
    So I would like a tad more power to the front speakers. I find rear speakers are useless with top down. So no upgrades planned for rear speakers.

    I've found with fader set to full front speakers is what works best with the top down. I'd just like to pump up the front sound a bit.

    I want the whole deal to be total stock appearing. Just sound a tad better.

    What's possible? Pic of the radio in question.

    stereo.jpg
     
  2. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    See my answers in RED above.
     
  3. Luxus

    Luxus Gold Level Contributor

    In 75 they changed the dash so I don't know if the following would still be true. But on my 74, the driver's side front speaker location has very little space. So you will likely find an aftermarket replacement speaker won't fit in that location.

    I personally would change the rear ones also. If they are original they are junk now and even new I'm sure they weren't that great. Modern speakers are way better than the old factory ones.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2023
  4. Big Twist

    Big Twist Well-Known Member

    Thanks guys- I guess I'll get the dash pad off and see what I can fit in the space.

    I checked both factory shop manual and body manual too. There are no exploded views of the internal dash area under dash pad.

    Any chance GM parts catalog might have a view? I don't have a copy of it.
     
  5. Luxus

    Luxus Gold Level Contributor

    Be very careful when you pull that dash pad off. It will be very brittle at this point and if you are too rough with it, it will crack.
     
  6. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    you could add a amp with high level inputs or a line convertor. the oem speakers are 10 ohm so no amp is going to feed them. id replace em with 2 or 4 ohm units.
     
  7. garyd

    garyd Well-Known Member

    There is a stupis bracket that holds speakers up. Problem is is speakes are square on the bottom. Only speakers i found that fit are 95$ a set. I am thinking of cuting bracket and welding a rod on it to make it take round speakers.
     
  8. garyd

    garyd Well-Known Member

    Radio speakers are 8 ohms
     
  9. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    GM factory speakers are 8 ohm, and there are aftermarket outfits who make various types of speakers in the correct style mounts so you don't have to cut up the car. The old factory ones are junk; - anything modern made will sound a lot better, the technology has evolved so much from back then.
    I put a set of aftermarket factory correct mounts with the 8 ohm speakers in my convertible, and they sounded good enough. At any kind of speeds it didn't really matter anyway, it's just that with the top up or top down, you couldn't hear anything with enough fidelity unless you cranked it, and even then, at 60 + the wind noise was louder. So I left it; - put the expensive sound system in the modern driver, and leave the basic noise for city driving in the convertible.
     
  10. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    i could it look stock and hide anything but have a system as good as any modern car. its all in what you want.
     
  11. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    Actually Marc, they are 10 ohm. 8 ohm is probably close enough but the modern speakers @ 4 ohm will fry the finals.
     
  12. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    My mistake, you're right, they are ten ohm.
    The replacements I bought were also 10 ohm. The 8-track I had in my 1967 Wildcat had run for a period with 4 ohm and wasn't all that healthy anymore when I replaced it with another one and put in the proper speakers.
     
    Brad Conley likes this.
  13. mazzy70

    mazzy70 Bill

    I've been down that road too. Be super careful with the dash removal, it will crack. I know, I did it. Cracked right down the center. Luckily I had another dash. The A pillar trim absolutely needs to come off, or you'll have to bend the dash too much to get it around the trim. As far as speakers go I used pioneer 4 inch speakers, removed the brackets completely, and epoxied them in place taking care not to fill the original mounting holes. Did this several years ago. No problems. Go slow, and be very gentle.
     

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