Spridget Tech Talk (MG Midget & Austin-Healey Sprite)
Hi everyone, a quick question if I could. When people mount speakers through that rear panel to the trunk on Midgets, are they cutting through metal (like on an MGB) or is that area just a replaceable interior panel?
Thanks,
Scott
Just the rear interior panel...I can't imagine what metal there is to even put a speaker in.
Jason
Is there a Midget in existence that does not have the speaker holes already cut through?? I am sorry I had the speakers installed in my Midget that way and wish it was the like it came originally. My car is all about originality but as a 19 year old it was all about image and playing cool loud music so everyone else could enjoy it in the surrounding cars, too!!
Does anyone out there have a Midget without the speaker holes cut through the back panel??
Mine was the last one to have never gotten butchered
I managed to hold back the tears as i cut away
I find that those little wooden gray carpet covered spaeker boxes are great for the back side of the carboard they add strength back into the card board panal and make a great place to screw a wooden shelf toto mount a big power amp to, keep the speakers safe from trunk tools, and really add to the sound quality
Dont bother wasting uour time to make them...you cant even buy the materials at hoods discount for what those 2 boxes cost..i have no idea how the store makes any money selling them. But it cant be much
Prop
Mine is speaker-free. I resisted and made boxes to fit behind each seat. That way you can hear the speakers when the top is down.
Wow jere
Im sure that added $20 to the value for orginality....hhaha
Im just teasing you...i have to admit i like the look of a speaker free deck and now that i got rid of my CD radio head unit infavor of my smartphone with 32,000 Mp4 song capacity, and 15,000 radio stations around the planet
Im thinking of loosing the speakers and remaking the shelf back to orginal and converting my seats to MX 5 miata seats with the built in speakers...heck i could sew in a special pocket just for the smartphone to stay hidden and safe
Not to mention a vibrating lumbar support to add in
Prop
With the room available, there just are not that many options. Miata sears w/speakers in headrests, custom made headrests w/speakers, cut into back panel, custom box made to fit n replace of the rear panel, or simply add more speakers up front like in the doors, footwell panels, and the radio console. Or just hire a DJ to b-box in the passenger seat for you=). Although I have seen custom boxes made where the speakers face the rear of the car are they are entirely contained in the trunk...I'd guess you'd have to really up the power to hear them but there were in convertibles as well.
speaker free!
Have 2 small speakers installed in the radio console with my JVC that can run Pandora.
My iphone hooks up to it, cable is in the glovebox out of sight.
The radio will play the ipod music, pandora with full control from the radio, play pretty much any app that is music as it has an app mode.
No radio ... no speakers ... easy. I just listen to the sound of the engine.
Cheers
Geoff
Mine has two speakers (non-functional at the moment) on both kick plates; PO thought that was a good idea, and probably would be had they taken the time to run wires where they wouldn't rub on bare metal. No speakers in the rear deck, but I do have two speaker boxes with 6x9s that I had in my old truck in high school...about 14 years ago...hope they still work! My problem is trying to find a stereo that doesn't look cool enough for someone to steal! If I mount one in the glove box I'll have to reinforce the box floor. Keeping that original AM radio, that still works through the one middle speaker, simply for that vintage look.
The 72 has holes, the 74 doesn't. I was thinking about the kick panels myself. Prop, the Android powered stereo is possible. Buy a 7 inch android tablet, and a little fiberglass work, run the wires to an external amp, and voila. I'm at least gonna try anyway :)
No rear speaker cut outs on my '72. I did replace the single speaker behind the grille with two 3 inch. Radio connection for MP3 and iphone. I did this mainly for my wife. I rarely have the radio when driving.
My '79 Midget came with a radio. Don't know it if works or not as I've never tried to turn it on. Better things to listen to while in a sports car. :) I listen to my iPod when I get to where I'm going.
Rick
To upgrade to better speakers in the rear with the least damage to the car, I used marine grade weatherproof speakers from the boat store.(Ya never know when mother nature might want to pull a fast one on you...)
-Wayne
No holes, no speakers and NO RADIO :). I'm also planning to do away with the center console, to free-up some room for my poor, old right knee. It (removal of center console) will also allow my sons (both long-legged and 6'2" and with feet large enough to ensure they never get blown over in a wind storm) to drive the car with less discomfort.
That A series just sounds way too sweet for me to think of trying to drown it out with a stupid radio. ;)
No radio, no speakers, and no console here. However, I have considered putting some speakers and an amp in, to use with a phone, mostly as my wife likes music when in the car. I prefer the music of the engine!
Yuh, i love engine sounds too, but man, i have to have my tunes! I have a cd head unit that fits without protrusion, 4 speakers in rear panel consisting of 2 6x9 Alpines & 2 two inch tweeters. 2 midranges behind the jack-insert bulkhead on floor in interior-matched vinyl boxes that does not impede seat movement. Looks really tidy imo. Wish I had a pix to post. 400w amp tucked out of sight against passenger's side firewall. When i get bored listening to my engine, flip it on & have a THUMPING good time!
GASP, is that considered sacrilege? Ok guys, put down the torches & 2x4s with nails...I was only kidding :devil:
My 1977 is uncut with the original dial radio/cassette with single mono speaker (at least I think the radio is original, it is certainly period). To me, having a crummy sounding original radio adds to the charm, just like having to open the hood to turn the heat on. My kids never even saw a "dial" style radio. When alone, I just listen to the engine anyway.
Can any console-less drivers post a picture of what it looks like without the console in? The only thing that actually works on my in the hazard switch and I'm not planning on fixing up the radio. What did you do with the hazard switch when you removed the console?
Hi Jason ,
Just on ebay , it comes as a roll..just peel off...i got my brother to fit it and cut round all the studs, he made a great job, fairly lifts that part of car
That screen is bad ass! very nice install, and as far as teh listen to the radio thig?
"When i get bored listening to my engine, flip it on & have a THUMPING good time!" Ditto on this.
I wish i could find a hidden stereo for my bugeye when i get to that point that was worth anything. Ive seen a few hidden auto radios, im not impresed with either...mediocre amps, ugly face plates, and questionable reliability. I was thinkin bout just using am AMP with a small pre/eq that has an aux input, and an MP3 player....but call me crazy having a radio I do like, and AM radio...yeah i said it. Living in LA there will be time spent in traffic, AM tells me how long im gonna be stuck there, then there are the good talk shows cause well, i get tired of the top 20 on FM. I was thinkin of makin a custom console with a flip din slot...no idea how id do it, but thats the plan. And probably a mechless deck too, no CD player, just radio and MP3/ipod input....hidden speakers, but again, dont know where, not till i get there. I want everything to be hidden somehow, but hide speakers, and you dont hear em. Maybe pointing down under/behind the dash somehow
