Questions on door speaker sizing

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Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
Hi Folks,

Now that I have the radio bezel I had been wanting for a year, it's time to start shopping for the rest of the components.

Can anybody tell me what size the factory door speakers are? The document attached below says 5 1/4", but it also says that 6 1/2" will fit (aftermarket). I removed my driver's door card to have a look, and the recess where the speaker would sit is about 6". Just wondering how a 6 1/2" speaker would fit in there? Has anybody installed one? Or should I just order 5 1/4" and forget about it?



Next question...were there ever rear speakers in the regular cab trucks? I was looking through the EVTM, and it showed optional rear speakers...I assume this was for the crew cabs and club cabs?

Just looking for options and opinions I guess. A pair of door speakers would likely be enough for me, but figured I'd ask what the rest of you have installed.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Pebcak
Got replaced mine with 6 1/2 and they sound great. I decided to go with all Kicker from Crutchfield.com and haven't been disappointed.  Below is all that I purchased.

- Kicker 41DSC654 6-1/2" 2-way Speakers

- XTC 6-1/2-inch pair Slim Speaker Baffles

I also got this off of Amazon too complete the sound in the truck.

- New Kicker 43TC104 10" 300W Subwoofer + Sub Box + Boss R1100M 1100W Amp +Amp Kit

Of you look at the picture gallery you can see what I took of the installs when I did the speakers, amp, sub and the Bluetooth Amp in the dash.

My radio broke and I wanted to keep the "stock" look in my truck so I put the Bluetooth amp in below. See below.

- BOSS Audio ASK902B.6 Marine 500 Watt 4 Channel Amplifier / 6.5 Inch Speaker Bluetooth System, Bluetooth Remote, USB Auxiliary Interface Mount

Let me know if you want any other info.
1986 F150 XLT Lariat, 4X2, 351W, 1406 Edelbrock Carb - Currently going through an engine rebuild through a "Father/Son Project"
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
Pebcak wrote
Got replaced mine with 6 1/2 and they sound great. I decided to go with all Kicker from Crutchfield.com and haven't been disappointed.  Below is all that I purchased.

- Kicker 41DSC654 6-1/2" 2-way Speakers

- XTC 6-1/2-inch pair Slim Speaker Baffles

Let me know if you want any other info.
Excellent, thank you for the info. I went and looked at your pics as well. So the speaker fit into the recess in the door OK? I guess in that case I can just go with 6.5" speakers if I know they fit OK.


1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Pebcak
They fit without having to cut anything. I can't remember if it was my truck it another one of our vehicles that I had to drill some new holes for the screws to line up.

That's the most you'll have to do if you've got doors like mine.
1986 F150 XLT Lariat, 4X2, 351W, 1406 Edelbrock Carb - Currently going through an engine rebuild through a "Father/Son Project"
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
What is that sound deadening material you used?
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Pebcak
I used Aluminium Roof Tape as an experiment.  Looking at all the stats and other research, it's almost the same as the expensive Dynomat.  Only thing I did when I installed it was to overlap about an inch so make sure it was all covered and stuck together.

It's worked so far.  No complaints yet.  I did the doors and the floor in the cab.  

Since putting the Sub and everything in, I can hear it great inside and hardly at all outside even when it's up 100% and the windows open.
1986 F150 XLT Lariat, 4X2, 351W, 1406 Edelbrock Carb - Currently going through an engine rebuild through a "Father/Son Project"
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Dyn Blin
This post was updated on .
I went a slightly different route.  I took the opportunity to treat & prime the inside of the door to mitigate any rust before I sealed it back up.  Then I used a Dynomat door kit (no reason why that product over any other choice besides a discount on the kit) to cover the inside of the outer door shell.  Then I cut more to fit over the openings of the inner door shell, then covered with a vapor barrier (some closed cell foam insulation) then finally, used some of the precut door insulation tacked to the inside of the door card.

It may be overkill, but the speaker fidelity is great, road noise was cut by 2-3 decibels, even on the hottest day, the door panel/card stays cool, so I know there is some R factor at work, and best of all, the door closing doesn't sound like a screen door slamming shut.

Before- testing fit of  a 6.5
6.5 inch speaker fit

Interior of door primed with MasterCoat Silver, then tiled with DynoMat (only about 50% coverage needed for acoustic benefits), then inside shell openings sealed.

prime, stick and cover openings

Cover with vapor barrier of closed cell foam

Closed Cell Foam Vapor Barrier

Then precut OEM - style insulation from Bronco Graveyard  fitted to inside of door panel/card

Pre Cut OEM Style Panel Insulation

Final after refinishing door
Final Passenger Door

(Edit for better pic embedding)
Sonoma County,CA
1982 F150 Flareside XLS
NP435 4x4
351W Motorcraft 2150

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
This is great information, thank you gentlemen! If you're both running 6.5" speakers, then I guess I will do the same. I removed my drivers door card yesterday, and all that is in there is the original brown paper covering that goes right over the speaker location.

I hadn't put much thought into insulated the cab, but I am now...lol. I will do the doors, for sure.

Would it make a big difference to also do the floor? To the rear of the rubber mat I mean.



The original insulation was dirty and rotten enough it's already in the garbage...lol. It had white pads over the exhaust side.



My cab is like an empty soup can...it's all steel, everywhere. No headliner, and barely any trim anywhere. I suppose it would make a big difference in engine/road noiseif I put some effort into insulating it.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

85lebaront2
Administrator
When I did Darth's cab, I also had a factory pad over the exhaust area. I retained that as it was (a) glued down and (b) in good condition. A co-worker in the lab was building a retirement home West of Richmond VA and had a bunch of left over thermal barrier that he gave me. I ran a strip of it along the top of the exhaust pad, another across the rear footwell area and then did the front footwells. I did not add any over the transmission cover or under the seats. Even on a long highway run in hot weather the passenger side (where the exhaust pipes run) stayed comfortable.
Old pad visible, wiring is for right rear window and locks

Driver's side insulation

Rear footwell and exhaust insulation

Closer view of rear footwell and exhaust insulation

Passenger side insulation

Between this and the later doors having some sound deadening insulation, newer door weatherstrip and strikers, the cab is comfortable and pretty quiet. I used the 1996 speakers in the doors, but at first used my original 1986 speakers. One thing the newer doors use is a foam "seal" around the outer edge of the speakers that seats against the back of the door cards where the speaker grille is.
Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by Rembrant
Dyn - Good info, and the pics in the post will be even better.

Cory - There are three aspects to sound treatment:

Sound deadening: This is what Dynamat and similar things do, and it is usually done with mass, and most effectively done with a flexible mass.  The mass lowers the resonant frequency of the panel, thereby reducing the sound transmission of frequencies above that point.  And the flexing creates friction, and that turns the vibration into heat and dissipates it.

Sound isolation: This is done by placing a soft, flexible material between two panels.  The firewall insulator is a good example of that as it has a soft material between the firewall and the black, rigid panel.  That lets the firewall vibrate and the sound waves get absorbed in the soft material and the black panel doesn't vibrate, as much, so the waves aren't propagated.

Sound absorption: This is done by the soft material, like the headliner, carpet, and seats.  It works best on high frequencies, but makes the room/cab "dead" such that it doesn't echo/reverberate.

It takes all three aspects to create a complete package.  And to answer your question about the floor, yes you should.  But as Mark said, you only need partial coverage.  The spots that have the least reinforcement need the most, so there's no need to put some right at the edges where the next panel attaches as it can't vibrate there.  But the flat spots are the main targets.  You could also put some on the rear wall of the cab as that vibrates from sound as well.

And if you are going to use a rubber mat, then placing some isolation material between it and the floor turns the mat into the isolation barrier.
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

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Dyn Blin
In reply to this post by 85lebaront2
Bill- a couple questions :

Was your cab floor rust free, or are we seeing primer there?

Did you use adhesive under the thermal barrier, or did it stay in place with the weight of the carpet?

Did you use carpet with a jute or latex backing, and did it fit well with the barrier under?

I guess that's actually 3 questions...
Sonoma County,CA
1982 F150 Flareside XLS
NP435 4x4
351W Motorcraft 2150

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

can0fspam
In reply to this post by Rembrant
Here's my input on your speaker sizing:

I bought 6.5 inch speakers for my 83 f-150 single cab over the summer. The door speaker holes were drilled with holes not in a normal circular pattern, so I had to drill a few of my own that were just small enough for the screws to get a grip in.
With the extra 2 holes per side drilled the speakers fit well -- but watch your clearance between the cone of the speaker and the plastic door panel itself. Mine touch the door panel, but only barely.
- Jake

1983 F-150, 300-6, NP435, NP208
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
Thanks Jake.

You guys have all been a great help. 6.5" will work...that's exactly what I needed to know.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Sully69
In reply to this post by Rembrant
I have 6 1/2" Pioneer 3 way speakers in my doors.
'80 F150 reg cab
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Ferdinand
In reply to this post by Rembrant
Rembrant, you are the man! I am tackling my door skins (along with too many other things) and I was thinking of going ahead and replacing the speaker and insulation at the same time. The panels are in rough shape so I am actually going to recondition them.

Thanks to all that chimed in here! This is exactly the information I was looking for!!
Jamie Helmick
'85 Bronco 351W HO, C6, 4X4, Full rebuild @ 51k original miles (fire), Edelbrock air gap intake & 600 cfm carb. w/elec. choke. 4" RC lift w/35's. Check the Projects Page if you're interested.
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
In reply to this post by Rembrant
What size wiring should I use for the 6.5" Kenwood door speakers?

I have a roll of 18ga speaker wire on the shelf, but it looks awfully small. Should I grab a small roll if 16ga?

Thoughts from the experts?
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

kramttocs
Administrator
What are all of the components of your system?
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
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
kramttocs wrote
What are all of the components of your system?
Just a Kenwood single din media player head unit and a pair of Kenwood 6.5” speakers for the doors.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

delco1946
Hope you were careful, all the white “insulation” over your exhaust was looks like asbestos. Probably highly worn and friable, but it was often in a bag of sorts. A little probably won’t kill you but it’s always good to be safe :)
Christopher in Portland Or. 1981 F250 Ranger XLT 4x4 trailer special 351M, and auto C6
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Re: Questions on door speaker sizing

Rembrant
delco1946 wrote
Hope you were careful, all the white “insulation” over your exhaust was looks like asbestos. Probably highly worn and friable, but it was often in a bag of sorts. A little probably won’t kill you but it’s always good to be safe :)
Yeah, it was in a bag...you can see it in the picture. AS for being careful, I'm not so sure...lol, but it's long gone now.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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