Rear speaker install, 93 GMC Ext Cab

[RTCamaroSS]

I tried doing a search but couldnt really come up with much. I recently installed new 4x6's in the dash of my 93 Sierra Ext Cab pickup, and would like to also install a new set of 4x6's in the rear panels (stockers suck!). My local circuit city wouldnt even touch the install... im told its really difficult and the panels often break. Does anyone have a step by step install guide? with pictures? :) I dont mind doing it myself, seeing as how i need to run new speaker wire up to those speakers anyway for my 4 channel amp. While im asking about those speakers... how hard is it to run new wire to the front speakers as well?

[Exalted512]

if you order from crutchfield, they send you a guide specific to your vehicle that will tell you everything you need to know
-Cody

[RTCamaroSS]

i got my speakers for about half the price of crutchfield.. overpriced.. dont suppose anyone has those instructions eh?

[95stroked1500]

take the back seat out, take the seat belts out, take the panels off. the rear center panel needs to be lifted out at the bottom and then up to release the top. if it has what i'm thinking of. you'll just have to make you own instructions as you go along. my 2 cents, if you're doing all that work to get in there, you might as well do a little :hack: and put 6 1/2's. some like 6x9. go buy a cheap air hack saw from harbor freight, about $35. take you about 5 min to do both sides.

p.s.- i hate harbor freight, but for a non professional, that would do the trick just fine. personally, i'm :owned: by snap on.

[RTCamaroSS]

personally, i'm :owned: by snap on.

sadly, so am i... :( you should see my bill with my dealer right now :clap:

ill look into cutting and hacking up the rear... although i didnt really want to, im going to have 2 12's to make up the bass... and a 4 channel 4x50watt amp to support the 4 4x6's...

[95stroked1500]

the diff in sound from 80 hz - 150 hz between a 4x6 and a 6 1/2 is worth the hack. which you really don't want to play your 12's up that high.

my snap on bill........could just about be making vehicle payments. but you know how it is, once you start using a good professional tool, even craftsman seem to suck. i need to just start mailing my payments in. i'll get my bill knocked down and then the next couple times, i'll walk off the truck with more in tools than i just paid on my bill. that's ok, my dealer has been talking to me about doing a system in his boat. then it will be my turn to do the :hump: !

[RTCamaroSS]

the diff in sound from 80 hz - 150 hz between a 4x6 and a 6 1/2 is worth the hack. which you really don't want to play your 12's up that high.

my snap on bill........could just about be making vehicle payments. but you know how it is, once you start using a good professional tool, even craftsman seem to suck. i need to just start mailing my payments in. i'll get my bill knocked down and then the next couple times, i'll walk off the truck with more in tools than i just paid on my bill. that's ok, my dealer has been talking to me about doing a system in his boat. then it will be my turn to do the :hump: !

hmm.. i happen to have a pair of polk 4x6's and a pair of polk 6 1/2's... they match. i was just going to put the 4x6's in the rear... now you got me thinkin. maybe i should put the polk 4x6's in the dash (replacing the existing kenwood 4x6's), and cut to fit the polk 6 1/2's in the rear.... that should sound decent being pushed by a sony 4x50watt amp (i know, not the best quality). i have a jvc kd-ar5000 deck powering it all. think that'll work out good?

[95stroked1500]

i have to agree on your comment about the amp, but yes i think that will work great.

[RTCamaroSS]

i have to agree on your comment about the amp, but yes i think that will work great.

yea, the amp was cheap, so i picked it up. i figured i was better off with 50x4 rms than what the deck puts out, 18x4 rms....

how much work is it (time wise) to rip out the rear seat, belts, panels and such?

[95stroked1500]

depending on how fast you are and if you have help, 1/2 to a whole day from start to finish. if you haven't ever done it before, i would plan on the whole day. because you are going to be a little careful not to break the panels and give for error in case "if it can go wrong" happens to you. 4-8 hours. but then again, my time frame can be off because i always get side tracked doing 10 other things in the process of any project. so most likely you can have it done in 4 hours or so, wiring in your amp will be extra.

[Exalted512]

in all honesty...you should EXPECT to break 1 or 2 clips. ive broken about 7 total ripping my truck apart about 5 or 6 different times
-Cody

[Beaver Customs]

I'm going through the same thing with my '92. I would rather install 2 6x9's or 2 61/2's to balance out the mids in the cab anyways. The 6x9 mounting area will open up enough space to remove the old 4x6 without removing the seat, the interior panels top and bottom, etc.

[95stroked1500]

are talking about cutting your panels instead of mounting the speakers underneath them?

[Beaver Customs]

I mean to cut out an oval in front of the 6x9's, install the 6x9 and then cover it with the supplied grille.

[RTCamaroSS]

Soooooo glad i took your advice and put in 6 1/2's in the rear. I finished the install last night... took about 5 hours to put new speakers, deck, 2 amps, and 2 subs in... running all new wire to all 4 speakers. Man, this truck rocks now... ive never been so happy with a stereo system, using sub-par equipment... lol. Thanks again guys!!!

[95stroked1500]

congrats, being happy with what you've done/got is the main basis of it all.

[Exalted512]

:word:
glad you liked everything!!!
-Cody

[RTCamaroSS]

Ya know.. i hear a lot of bad things about Sony amps... but this setup sounds awesome... its a 4x50watt rms amp, pushing polk 4x6's in frony and polk 6 1/2's in the rear. And it sounds fantastic. I think the 5 volt pre-outs on the deck help that... i have a high pass filter on the 4 speakers. The mono-channel sony amp for the 2 sony 12's doesnt do too bad either. I decided to use a capacitor just so i didnt dim my headlights... i wasnt looking for massive base, i dont listen to rap. It sounds awesome accompanying country or rock though.... again, im super happy with it all. Any anyone replacing rear speakers in one of these trucks sound seriously consider 6 1/2's... it only took 5 minutes to make them fit. Thanks again guys.

[RatAttack]

lol damnit....I had all my panels out and a set of Alpine 6 1/2's held up to the hole an thought nahhhh it probably won't fit under the panel afterward so I went and bought a set of 4x6's and put it back together........this makes me unhappy lol

[Ross]

How much rear panel cutting was required to fit the 6.5" speakers? I guess there's enough metal left to secure the speakers well? I am thinking of replacing all 4 of my speakers with some 6.5" Polk db's.

[95Silverado]

How much rear panel cutting was required to fit the 6.5" speakers? I guess there's enough metal left to secure the speakers well? I am thinking of replacing all 4 of my speakers with some 6.5" Polk db's.

I know that there is enough room to do that on an extended cab, but I am not sure about a single cab. But with the 95-98 trucks 6.5's are not needed as much since we already have 6.5's in the doors.

[Ross]

I know that there is enough room to do that on an extended cab, but I am not sure about a single cab. But with the 95-98 trucks 6.5's are not needed as much since we already have 6.5's in the doors.
The 6.5" speakers in the doors are good, but I really don't want to replace a crappy size speaker with the same size. People have spoken highly of the component style 4x6" speakers with the separate woofer and tweeter, but I just want a bigger, more powerful sounding speaker. Since the speakers are close to the floor in the 95-96 Trucks, I think there will be enough room to fit the ~2" larger speakers. I am planning on getting some Polk db 6.5" btw.

[Raider1911]

I tore apart my door panels on my 97 k1500, to find out their 6 3/4's and with a funky mounting system..=P What happened to the good ol days and screws. On the hunt to find some quality 6 3/4's that will mount easily. I know i'll have to drill the holes, no big deal. What have most of you guys used speaker wise? I'm not looking for competition sound, so far looking at some Pioneer's.

l8r all,
Dan

[95stroked1500]

raider1011-
i can't think of a 6 1/2 that won't fit in that location. a lot of speakers also come with multiple screw locations to deal with funky hole patterns. really, you can put a small amp on factory speaker wire and get away with it just fine.
me, i run 12 ga to my highs.

ross-
if you really want to put speaks in the 4x6 and are thinking a seperate 4 and tweet, look into a crystal 4x6 instead. if you want to go 6 1/2 or 5 1/4, the new crystal ssx coax has a very friendly small neo motor assembly and sound good. but really, go to the kicks. you won't be missing sound behind you. if people can hear a front stage a block away, you won't miss a rear speaker blasting you in the side of the head.

[shakey]

i'm currently running a tantrum x component set in the front doors of my truck, i don't have the rear speakers hooked up, but so far i'm not missing them, i may hook them up just to see how it sounds though