73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: 81-n-done on December 24, 2010, 04:38:51 am
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Okay, so I recently purchased a little project 1981 GMC C1500.
Please let me preface all of this by saying that I am not a gearhead, nor am I an audiophile, but I do consider myself to have decent taste, know when its running right, and when it sounds good.
Can anyone tell me why I cannot seem to find any pre-fabricated sub enclosures or console enclosures for a 1981? Seems like 50's through 70's have options, and 90's to present have tons of options, but us poor saps driving 80's shortwides are in the stone age still. What gives?
Same goes for gauges. I either have to spend 40 hours makeshift installing aftermarket gauges or spend 600 bucks on the dakota digital display, there just doesnt seem to be much middle ground with these rigs.
I consider myself a decently mechanically inclined person although admittedly without much vehicle experience (lived in San Francisco too long, first time I am in a truck since I was 24 or so). I have read quite a bit now on fabricating fiberglass enclosures to perfectly fit trucks, and I think I may go that way.
Has anyone on here forgone door and kickpanel installation in favor of a floor mounted console type component setup? Just looking for ideas I suppose.
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Story of my life. If I can't find it a make it. Man do I have to make a lot of stuff for this truck LOL.
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I've built a couple of simple sub boxes for my truck and am working on a much more elaborate console setup that uses a highly modified console from a mid-80's Z28. The current one I'm using is just a down-firing 10" sub in a 1.1 cubic foot ported box that sits between the buckets. I made it one afternoon. It butts up against the amp rack behind the seat. I now have a 1/8" piece of black ABS textured plastic that covers the top and sloped front for a bit of carpet protectant.
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We all have to wait about 20 years when our body design is as popular as the 67-72 following or the 60-66..., not that I don't think ours is but Chris, the site owner has some unique things in the works for pillar mounted gauges and will continue to add items. But for now read some of the very cool threads on some of what brilliant and talented individuals have come up with for their trucks...
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SUX2BU99 - I am loving that downfiring console enclosure. I love the bench seat in my truck, must be some childhood thing I remember riding in a truck with a bench seat, lol, but having buckets would make sound system design much easier.
Ever seen anything built for a bench seat with a console type enclosure on the hump between the dash and seat for components/5.25"s/etc.?
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Look outside the box and many more possibilities open up. Not everything comes in a kit.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=jeep+center+speakers&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=17043389810079564111&ei=5_QUTcWjHMGqlAeYhKzVDA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CC4Q8wIwAw#
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I have a 6.5'' bazooka subwoofer tube that fits perfectly behind the bench seat in my '87, even with the seat all the way back.
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n187/w00ty_01/Sub002.jpg)
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A Bazooka tube isn't a bad idea at all. Could even go with two 6.5" tubes.
Here is a box I did for an 8" sub on my tranny hump to accommodate my bench seat. It was rather big and clunky though.
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1232/2641/3078820208_medium.jpg)
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1232/2641/3078820210_medium.jpg)
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1232/2641/3078820212_medium.jpg)
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1232/2641/3078820213_medium.jpg)
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Is it in the way of the ash tray?
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I have a 6.5'' bazooka subwoofer tube that fits perfectly behind the bench seat in my '87, even with the seat all the way back.
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n187/w00ty_01/Sub002.jpg)
How do you like that bazooka?
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Pioneer makes a shallow mounted 10" that fits behind the seat of our trucks. I had two of them in my 79 and they sounded great.
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kicker makes a slot port box that fits behind the seat for a 10. i have two of them with comp cvr in them and they sound great.
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Few things are "bolt on" on a 73-87! I myself like the bench seat and reccomend the shallow mount subs. I've even ran self amplified woofers behind the seats. You can even put those under the bench (if you remove it) and add something else behind the seat! I moved the speakers that the previous owner installed in the door vents to the kick panel. In a tight cab it all sounds good to you unless something is blown.
I'm not sure what you plan or taste and style is but I went outside of the box. Literally! I've run subs in the bed of my trucks for a good
while. All you need is a good bed topper and you can chose your encloser to fit. Still functional as a "REAL MANS" truck!
My truck is my toy though! Not a worktruck by far! Like acefoxx said "make it". I'm making a custom enclosure for the bed of my truck as well a running mids and highs. 3 subs 4 mids 6 highs. I like it loud! Only thing inside are the kick panels and two 6x9's.
As far as gauges or anything else, do a search. Look for custom dash, custom gauges, or something along those lines. Don't underestimate the search! You will find some great ideas and sweet mods for our trucks! If it hasn't been done already ask how to do it! I sure as heck know my truck wouldn't be running or even coming into its own project if it wasn't for the members of this forum!
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I have a probox with two Polk audio twelves behind the seat of my 86 silverado! Granted I am only 5'7" and don't need alot of legroom! But the probox line has a few choices for this body style truck if you are looking for a prefab box! My amp is mounted under the seat with plenty of room!
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Im 6' 3" and i have two 12" sub boxes behind the seat and two shallow alpines. I love it. They fit good.