Center Speaker in Dashboard - How Do I Install It?

[4402tuff4u]

I have my dashboard in my living room being assembled when I have a time a night. Got my gauges back from Auto Instruments, they came out awesome including the polishing of the plastic shield.

I found the old speaker and a grille in the boxes I got with the Charger. The speaker was damaged - all the paper like parts are all gone, so I purchased two Boston 3.5" dia. speakers that will replace the single original speaker. I just have no clue how it gets installed in the center of the steel dashboard. I dont see any holes, clips or anything! I installed the two little speakers to the loose grill that the old speaker was attached to. But where and how do I attached this to the dash board?? Any help feed back would be appreciated. Thanks.

Oh, it's a 68 Charger if that makes a difference. Thanks.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Mike , if memory serves, there are 2 studs attached to the dash frame & the speaker is held in by 2 speed nuts..

Maybe this pic can help?

Looking in the pic its the same type of stud set up as the def vents....

[4402tuff4u]

Thanks Chris! I don't have any studs on the dashboard frame! That's what has me puzzled. I looked in the shop manual and they don't even mention the speaker. I will look very closely tonight. I remember giving the whole dashboard to the painter and not seen any remnants of studs or anything. It was clean with no rust! Yes, the vents have very small studs with a flat ends, but I don't see anything in the speaker area. Will have to research a bit more. Thanks again.

[tan top]

Mike , if memory serves, there are 2 studs attached to the dash frame & the speaker is held in by 2 speed nuts..

Maybe this pic can help?

   
                      the studs  are mounted  between the defrost vent  mounting holes one on each side. you can see the head of the studs or a hole  where they were looking from the top with the vent removed , the middle hole, hope this makes sence

[4402tuff4u]

Mike , if memory serves, there are 2 studs attached to the dash frame & the speaker is held in by 2 speed nuts..

Maybe this pic can help?

   
                      the studs  are mounted  between the defrost vent  mounting holes one on each side. you can see the head of the studs or a hole  where they were looking from the top with the vent removed , the middle hole, hope this makes sence

So they are not welded or part of the dashboard? In other words, the heads of the studs are flat and are hidden by the plastic flange on the vents? If you look at the dashboard from the topside with the vents in you will not see the head of the studs. If you remove the plastic vents, you will see the flat ends of the studs. Do I have it right or wrong? Thanks

[tan top]

Mike , if memory serves, there are 2 studs attached to the dash frame & the speaker is held in by 2 speed nuts..

Maybe this pic can help?

   
                      the studs  are mounted  between the defrost vent  mounting holes one on each side. you can see the head of the studs or a hole  where they were looking from the top with the vent removed , the middle hole, hope this makes sence

So they are not welded or part of the dashboard? In other words, the heads of the studs are flat and are hidden by the plastic flange on the vents? If you look at the dashboard from the topside with the vents in you will not see the head of the studs. If you remove the plastic vents, you will see the flat ends of the studs. Do I have it right or wrong? Thanks

   
              yes you cannot see them  from the top with the vents in place ,    no they are not part of the dash , but  are pressed in real good  or spot welded the same  you would use a pin puller on panel repair. if your dash is in already i don't think you can remove the vents if the windshield is in ,

[4402tuff4u]

Mike , if memory serves, there are 2 studs attached to the dash frame & the speaker is held in by 2 speed nuts..

Maybe this pic can help?

   
                      the studs  are mounted  between the defrost vent  mounting holes one on each side. you can see the head of the studs or a hole  where they were looking from the top with the vent removed , the middle hole, hope this makes sence

So they are not welded or part of the dashboard? In other words, the heads of the studs are flat and are hidden by the plastic flange on the vents? If you look at the dashboard from the topside with the vents in you will not see the head of the studs. If you remove the plastic vents, you will see the flat ends of the studs. Do I have it right or wrong? Thanks

   
              yes you cannot see them  from the top with the vents in place ,    no they are not part of the dash , but  are pressed in real good  or spot welded the same  you would use a pin puller on panel repair. if your dash is in already i don't think you can remove the vents if the windshield is in ,

Excellent! I think I know where those studs are! No, my dashboard is in my living room so I can work on it at night. I have everything just about done and my wife is kinda hinting that I'm out of time and to get this dashboard out of the living room - it's been there 3 weeks! . Can't blame her, I'm kind of tired of looking at it too. I want to see it in the Charger! I found two little studs in a unmarked bag with flat heads that I think belong there. Thanks a bunch for your feedback. Tonight I'll see if I can "ge'r done".  Thanks again.

[PocketThunder]

Do these help?  if not i can pull out one of the vents so that you can see it from the top.

Paul
in St. Paul

[4402tuff4u]

Good photo's Paul!! That really makes it clear where exactly they go. I found the studs that belong there, they have a clip with them too. I will be putting my speakers and vent hoses in tonight for possible dashboard installation this weekend. I'm going to need my wife to help carry the dashboard to the garage and to maneuver it inside the Charger, it's getting heavy with all the goodies inside. Thanks again!

[PocketThunder]

Ya a second set of hands is necessary.  i had a friend over to help man handle that thing and it sure was a lot easier.

[4402tuff4u]

Thanks for the help guys. Was able to properly secure the two new little speakers to the dashboard.

boy it's getting very congested and tight to to anything else on the dashboard. i still have to get the vent hoses and a/c ducts in there! 

[tan top]

looking good , yeah its  heavy and aquard fitting in the car  you Will at at least need one helper . most of the weight is the radio. i fitted my radio last, just in case any thing went wrong  back there  i could see what was happening , more access with a fire extinguisher should the unthinkable happen ,when the battery is first connected properly  & the engine is cranked an run for a short time after the resto, better to be safe.

[4402tuff4u]

looking good , yeah its  heavy and aquard fitting in the car  you Will at at least need one helper . most of the weight is the radio. i fitted my radio last, just in case any thing went wrong  back there  i could see what was happening , more access with a fire extinguisher should the unthinkable happen ,when the battery is first connected properly  & the engine is cranked an run for a short time after the resto, better to be safe.

Good point! I might take the radio out. It's worth the effort for the security.

[roger01]

does anybody have the measurement centre to centre of the speaker studs....handy ....thanks

[Finn]

Just checked mine and I'm getting 11 3/8" center to center of the studs

[roger01]

thanks for the measurements ....i see a metal speaker frame prefab in my future

[Finn]

n/p man. Post up on it when its done, I plan on doing the same eventually.