Rear Deck Speakers

I just replaced my fuel sender unit that required disassembling parts of the trunk. In one of those while I am at it moments, I removed the panel behind the rear seats to expose the A/C unit. I plan to install two 6"x 9" rear speakers to work with the new Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio (bluetooth and USB). Since I will need to make two cutouts in the rear deck would like to know if any issues. It looks like I will need to remove the rear seat backs and the seat belt anchors to get access to remove the rear deck panel. From inside the trunk I see a rubber/plastic panel that is separate from the rear deck. Haven't decided how I will wire the speakers to the radio in the console (interior or under chassis). Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

 

For the wiring, I did follow the antenna wire that comes from the right side of the seats.

There are quite a rew layers to cut out, including metal body panels. It was already "done" on mine: the sort of butcher job that took a while to trim properly.

 

Are you saying your car did not originally have rear deck speakers. I believe my '84 had them.

I removed that top panel to get leather recovered. It should be easy but proved a hassle. Rear seats are easy to remove with one bolt under each seat front and then lift out. Center cushion has two screws on the side. Then there are 3 or 4 bolts to remove for the back panel which will then lift out. Not for the top panel. There are 2 long small diameter bolts that extend into trunk and thru a top frame member. My screws were slightly bent and you have to pull both sides equally from inside of car, slight angle and screws won't budge. I had to do quite a bit of tapping on these small diameter bolts with someone else pulling from inside. If your bolts are straight, just pull equal on both sides and see how if comes. Add some light lube on bolts as they go through about a 25 mm frame piece.
Good luck.
Ken

 

I have a 1978 400GT and unfortunately doesn't appear to have cutouts. Thanks Ken. Very helpful. Just a few clarifications on your comments I have marked in red.

I removed that top panel to get leather recovered. It should be easy but proved a hassle. Rear seats are easy to remove with one bolt under each seat front and then lift out (No problem). Center cushion has two screws on the side (no problem). Then there are 3 or 4 bolts to remove for the back panel which will then lift out. (Where are these 4 bolts bolts located?)Not for the top panel. There are 2 long small diameter bolts that extend into trunk and thru a top frame member. My screws were slightly bent and you have to pull both sides equally from inside of car, slight angle and screws won't budge (Are these the bolts holding the top of the seat belt?). I had to do quite a bit of tapping on these small diameter bolts with someone else pulling from inside. If your bolts are straight, just pull equal on both sides and see how if comes. Add some light lube on bolts as they go through about a 25 mm frame piece. Once you removed the top leather panel, what is underneath?
Good luck.
Ken

 

Routing along the antenna line makes sense as it will route back to the console. I will be removing the whole console anyway as I installing a new Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio that has built in Bluetooth and USB. As well, I found a passenger side (right) electric Vitaloni mirror and a multi (two mirror) joystick from an Alfa Romeo that I will need to wire. And while I am at it I will refinish the wood console in a birdseye maple light finish. So the rear speakers are the first step. So far what was difficult was rebuilding and replacing the motors in the mirrors. Not a robust design.

 

While you are there, 1/ just beef-up all the grounds. From memory there is a ground post on the left side of the steering wheel.

2/Clean the contacts of the big connectors next to the radio on the passenger's side.

3/ replace/remove the foam screen from the AC blower.

4/ check the dashboard fiberglass & leather.

5/ stock some of those odd washers and black screws that are used to secure the leather panels.

 

The seat back probably has only two bolts near the bottom just to hold it flat and so that it does not lift up off the top ledge. They should be visible with seat cushions and center arm rest out.
The long bolts I mention hold the top shelf from being pulled straight out (toward front of car). Nuts are visible when the rear panel in trunk is removed, right at top just below rear window.
I don't remember if I had to remove the seat belts or not; I know they get in your way if they are still in.
Sorry I can't do better, but I sold my car in 2023 but worked on virtually every part of it except the motor internals.
Ken

 

Hey just a thought as I recently went through this with my ‘78 400GT. I too put a new receiver in with USB/BT and like you wanted to run rear speakers. But I did not want to cut out any holes in the rear deck. So…I found some pioneer ‘shelf speakers’ (can send a link if needed) that sit on the back shelf. There are screw holes if you want to ‘lock them down’; I’n not sure what exactly I’m going to do - screw then down vs tape them down vs let them sit there (I’m not high performance driving the 400 so I don’t think they’ll go flying out the window or anything like that).
Anyway just a thought. Good luck!
Let us know what you end up doing

 

If you have the link that would be fine.

 

Amazon: Pioneer TS 44 loud speaker

 

Non secured loudspeaker ? I'd rather drill a few holes in the leather: no car is worth taking the risk of a brain injury.

If you really don't want to butcher the leather, you can make a bracket and bolt it on the fiberglass of the trunk firewall. The bracket would fit between the firewall and the backseat.

As a side note you can hardly afix something on the rear shleve unless you drill down to the body panel: the trim is made out of several soft layers that are not likely to hold any type of screw.

 

haha yes I intend to hold them down somehow! I just did not want to make any dramatic large irreversible holes. the bracket idea is a good one! When I get the car back maybe I will see what I can do with that! ty

 

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thank you that's a helpful pic!

 

I notice in the photo in the right rear corner of the rear deck, a speaker cover. Was this a factory install or an installation you did?

 

It was poorly made by the previous owner: wires routing was non existant, and as said the metal panel of the shelve was butchered. Last but not least the loudspeaker were vibrating and delivered an horrible sound (these were high end JBL!). I had to remove all the upholstery to sort this out.

By the way I took inspiration from @OttoB subwoofer installation. His mechanic made a custom non-obfuscating enclosure that is superb. it's cramed under the shelve next to the AC module.