A client from Tamaqua recently contacted the team at Mobile Edge to inquire about a door panel speaker solution for his 1969 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck. After inspecting the vehicle and talking to the client about options for speakers and how we could install them, we came up with a plan to create a custom installation that would not only sound great but also look really cool. The client loved the plan and was thoroughly impressed by our creativity. He gave us the go-ahead to schedule the installation.
Chevrolet Truck Custom Door Panels
The project started by creating a set of templates that would serve as the foundation for the new door panels for this Chevrolet C10. After transferring the location of the window crank and door release handles, the armrest and all the mounting holes, our fabrication team set to work laying out a location for the speakers and the accent pieces that we planned on adding.
We cut a set of mounting rings for a pair of Audison APX6.5 coaxial speakers and glued them in place using stand-offs that would angle the speakers upward. While most of the energy from a speaker radiates in a spherical pattern, high-frequency energy from the tweeter and upper midrange energy from the woofer can be somewhat directional. As such, the angled mounts help improve the sound of the speakers, making sure they deliver great sound for the driver and passenger.
Door Speaker Pods
With the angles of each speaker matched perfectly, our team cut mounting plates for accent panels that would be added to the rear portion of the door speaker pod. We located the panels behind the speaker pod then wrapped each assembly with pieces of thick fleece. With the fleece pulled tight and wrapped around the back of the main template, our team started applying the first of several layers of fiberglass resin to transform the soft fleece into a strong speaker enclosure.
After the resin had cured, we started the process of sanding the panel and adding body filler to smooth the transition into the main mounting panels. We cut extra trim rings to fit around the speakers and attached them to the mounting baffle. The guys also added horizontal foam accents to the upper portion of the custom door panels to add some depth and break up the large, flat area.
Once wrapped, we created accent rings that fit around the speakers and the aforementioned accent piece of the rear of the panel. The stretched bullet-like shape of the accent piece works well with the long lines of the truck. These pieces were wrapped in red vinyl so they’d really pop against the black background.
The new panels are secured to the door with eight screws. Each screw has a black cap that conceals the hardware for a cleaner, tidier look.
Factory Radio Dash Insert
The client asked us to create an insert that would cover the original twin-shaft radio location in the dash. Using some of our custom templates and an insert for the dash, our guys created a vinyl-wrapped panel with a black Lexan insert at the top. When turned on, a red Chevrolet logo shines through the plastic. This accent panel mounts from the rear so that there are no visible fasteners.
Classic Chevy Truck Interior Accents
With the door panels installed and the speakers wired up, the client returned to Mobile Edge to pick up his Chevrolet C10. He loved the way everything looked and was excited to hear the system. If you are in the Lehighton area and would like to upgrade your audio system or add some styling accents to your classic car or truck, we invite you to drop by our store and speak with a member of our sales team. The door design we created for this client can be easily replicated for similar model year Blazers, Suburbans and the GMC Jimmy and K-Series pickups. We would be happy to work with you to design something that looks cool and sounds amazing. For more information, click the red button below to contact us by e-mail.
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