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Cutting hole in door thoughts

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kramttocs

Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

PO had installed some 6.5 speakers in the doors and some surface mount tweeter in the top corner of the door fabric.
Looking to go back with a similar setup but am not a fan of the surface mounts. Would rather go recessed with a slight angle to the rider.

The surface mounts have left impressions in the fabric so not concerned with cutting a hole in them - or the door panel.

My concern lies with the door itself. The door panel isn't thick enough to hold the depth of the speaker so the door would need to have a hole cut in it for the speaker to fit into.

The photo below shows the traced location (the backing ring has those hills and valleys in it). It gets pretty close to the main speaker hole.
I was thinking I could cut the same area out of a jy truck and rivet it in behind to double the thickness and reinforce it some.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

Gary Lewis

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

I doubt just cutting the hole would be a problem. You should see the hole in Big Blue's doors.

But if you cut out a piece from junk yard doors that should ensure there are no problems.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

kramttocs

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

Thanks Gary!
Always hesitant to cut any metal off the truck without bouncing it off someone first

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

Gary Lewis

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

You could bond the backing panel on there with the adhesive used to put fenders et al on with.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Angelo Voltura

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

In reply to this post by kramttocs

Just a thought while you're in there, even though these trucks use the rod style latch, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to install the reinforcement plate for the handle that is available now since these doors are prone to tearing the sheet metal, especially on the later cable latch style that stretch.

1978 F150 351W
1979 F150 "410M"
1979 F100 302
1979 F250 400
1987 F150 300
1990 F150 302
1991 F150 300
1995 F150 (1985 clip swapped) 300
1997 F250 351W

kramttocs

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Good thinking.

Turns out thought it won't be needed after all. While there will still need a hole drilled, it can be much smaller.

The door panel was thicker than I thought so after the tilted bezel is installed there isn't much of the speaker coming out the back.

I will mark the part that sticks out and shave it off. Then place a big washer or flat strap and use the threaded hole in the speaker to suck it down and hold it.

Personally not a fan of visible speakers but since the panel was already permanently set up for it, I am happy with how it looks. Needing to repaint the doors in warmer weather so may paint the speaker the same color as well.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

kramttocs

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

In reply to this post by Angelo Voltura

Thanks. We have a 94 and 95 with that problem and have rigged them both over the years. I've never heard of the 80-86 having that problem but they do?

I've seen the reinforcement plates on ebay and I think JBG.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

salans7

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

I've spent the last ten years in the junkyards and have only seen the aeronose trucks crack. If you keep your latches well lubricated, there should be no cracking issues.

Angelo Voltura

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

In reply to this post by kramttocs

I believe OBS Addicts fabricates them new and sells them on Ebay.

It's not nearly as common with the rod style latch, but I've personally snapped the metal handles off them and sheered the door sheet metal so it is definitely possible. Any reinforcement on these doors is good reinforcement. I agree, you should keep them well lubricated. I have an aeronose truck myself and went back to the older style latch after I ripped a handle right out of the door.

Figured I'd throw that out there since you've got them apart anyways.

1978 F150 351W
1979 F150 "410M"
1979 F100 302
1979 F250 400
1987 F150 300
1990 F150 302
1991 F150 300
1995 F150 (1985 clip swapped) 300
1997 F250 351W

kramttocs

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

Agreed. I am going to be driving the truck for awhile without door panels so will keep an eye out for flexing.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

Gary Lewis

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

I hadn't heard of the doors cracking. I wonder if there's a TSB on that. (Angelo - I have all the TSB's but haven't scanned them in yet.)

These are sold by Complete Performance and are made by Solo Motorsports. At $27 each it isn't bad but, like Shaun, I've not seen Bullnose doors crack.

Anyway, here's what they look like and where they go:

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

grumpin

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

I had and still have an aeronose, but haven’t seen cracking.

Definitely good to know and keep an eye on.

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Danny G

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

are we talking door handle where the arm rest is, interior door release handle or exterior door release handle? I have new doors but wondering if I should do the reinforcement while they are out. Seems cheap enough.

1986 F-150|Standard Cab|4x2|300Six|C6Transmission w/3.08 rear|Name:TBD
2021 Ranger XLT Super Crew

kramttocs

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

Interior release where the remote and chrome handle goes. Door installed or not doesn't really make a difference. Just do it before installing the remote. Doing it is really up to you. Not a major reason to do it on these years but not a downside to it either (besides time/money

)

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

kramttocs

Re: Cutting hole in door thoughts

Administrator

If you do get them I'd be interested to know if they can be installed underneath and still sit flat.

Scott
'Camano' 1986 F250 Supercab XLT Lariat 460/C6
'Chanute' 1980 F350 C&C 400/NP 435 - Gin Pole

But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio