Issues Fitting 6.5" speakers into my '96 GS-R

Melow01

New Member
Hey People,

(Premise: I searched the forum)

I purchased some good MB Quart 6.5 Speakers and I'm spending my Sunday trying to get them to fit into the mounts. So far, I have the rear panel removed (because I've also had antenna issues) and when I try to fit my 6.5" speaker into the mount, its a tad too big. Has anyone had issues like this or is it just me?

When I was researching car audio for the Integra, I checked with the Acura dealership (since I was there to pickup my antenna mast) about the speaker sizes. Of course, Japan uses the metric system and they gave me a measurement in centimeters, not inches. That measurement, when converted to inches, was smaller than 6.5" - not by much but by enough to make a difference.

If anyone has some thoughts on this, it'd be great to hear. Here's the MB Quarts I'm trying to fit into the rear:
http://www.amazon.com/MB-Quart-Formula-FKA116-6-5-Inch/dp/B001T9N4TK
And these MB Quart components are going in the front:
http://www.amazon.com/MB-Quart-FSA216-6-5-Inch-Component/dp/B001T9N4T0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1248037584&sr=1-2

I stopped by my local Best Buy install bay (only place open on a Sunday for some reason) and the guy is offering to saw out some room for the new speakers but I'm wondering if there is a better way.
 

dc2darkness

New Member
I had a problem like that I was going to drop in some kicker ds650's into my car but i had to not use the front basket and cut the hole bigger in the front door to fit the speaker and in the rear I had to make a custom mount cause no way was it fitting in the stock position. I didnt want to do all that and he audio shop wanted and arm and a leg so I picked up some alpine type s' 5.25 for the front which dropped in perfect and alpine type s' 6.5 for the rear which all I had to do was make new holes in the basket and presto done. and let me say I'm running just those speakers and a alpine cd-105 deck with no amp or subs and I pulled 114 db's not bad.
 

Melow01

New Member
ok, good to know... does anyone know if someone makes a custom speaker mount for the Integra? Crutchfield maybe? Has anyone used custom mounts?

I just got the driver's door panel removed and its looking like the speaker magnet might cause a problem with the window. Seems like the might interfere with each other.
 


Melow01

New Member
Well, I spent my whole day yesterday removing the door panels and the rear side panels to find that the new 6.5" MB Quarts won't fit in the OEM brackets. I'm gonna have to make some adjustments like a couple of you suggested. I was hoping there is an easier way to just purchase a mounting bracket but I stopped by Al and Ed's this morning on the way to work and the installer told me that I definitely need to saw them out. The installer has a 2nd Generation Integra and he was working on a Lamborghini Murcielago when I pulled up so I have a feeling he knows what he's talking about. Yup, I live that close to Beverly Hills. I saw a Lamobo SuperVeloce (SV) being towed somewhere on the 405 a coupe weeks ago.

I also called the Acura dealership and they confirmed that the stock speakers for the 96 Integra 2-door are 16 cm all around. 16cm = 6.30 in.

If anyone has modified their speaker brakets can you post some ideas? I also have tweeters that are too big that need to be mounted in the door panels. Hmmm...
 

TegSox

Super Duper Moderator
I've never tried to get a set of 6.5 inch speakers into the front of my Integra, because I've always worried about the diameter of the stock hole being too small, but also worried about the basket and/or the magnet being too big and not having the clearance in the back. So I've only had 5.25's in the front, and I just built plates out of MDF for them:



But I got 6.5's in the back without a problem:


My car's a 1995 2 door btw, most likely identical to your 96. I got MB Quart's too :thumbs up
 


Melow01

New Member
Nice install man, thanks for the ideas! I might stop by hardware store and look for some MDF to start shaping. I really want to fit the 6.5"'s into the ride but if they don't fit, I suppose I'll have to move down to 5.25".

Are you using an external amp as well? I have to install a 4 channel in the back, I'm thinking of mounting it on the back of the rear seats. I'm also wondering if people are wiring down through the center console (i.e. parking brake) or around the sides under the doors? How's the Dynamat working out for ya?
 

TegSox

Super Duper Moderator
Melow01 said:
Nice install man, thanks for the ideas! I might stop by hardware store and look for some MDF to start shaping. I really want to fit the 6.5"'s into the ride but if they don't fit, I suppose I'll have to move down to 5.25".

Are you using an external amp as well? I have to install a 4 channel in the back, I'm thinking of mounting it on the back of the rear seats. I'm also wondering if people are wiring down through the center console (i.e. parking brake) or around the sides under the doors? How's the Dynamat working out for ya?
Click to expand...
I installed a 6 channel amp, it runs the fronts, rears and the sub. I built this mounting panel for it out of MDF too.





I always run my wiring up the sides, not under the center console. Power and remote lead up the passenger side, RCA's up the driver side.

You can get a piece of MDF 1/4 inch thick at Home Depot for $4. It's 4 feet long and 3 feet wide, if I remember right.
 

Melow01

New Member
Sweet man, you've passed along some great ideas and I like your style too. Not just the install but the selection of equpment. I'm a guitar player and an audio engineer... Precision Power, JL Audio, and MB Quarts will give you some great sounds. "Quality over Quantity".

I'm doing my system on the cheap but I used to drool over car audio when I was in high school. Now, I just need a system to playback my tunes and I don't have to worry too much if it gets stolen.

Thanks for the advice on the wire routing, that'll come in handy very soon. I'll post pics when I get it finished up to see whatcha think. As for now, there's a surf swell hitting SoCal so I'm hitting the beach every morning this week! :eek:)
 

TegSox

Super Duper Moderator
Quality over quantity, I say that all the time! Why turn it up if it doesn't sound good. All my amps are old school Precision Power, I love them. I use to be all about MB Quart, but I tried out some Diamond Audio's in my other ride recently and I love them. You might enjoy checking that car out HERE.
 
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mirrorimg

Well-Known Member
It may be better to use plywood as opposed to mdf. Over time the mdf will absorb moisture and swell up. I don't know how different DC front doors from DBs, but I had to make spacer to get clearance for my window.
 

TegSox

Super Duper Moderator
True, but MDF is easier to cut/work with, and then you can just seal it up with some Kilz (that's what I use) or whatever other sealant you like. If you were to use plywood, it will rot if it gets wet as MDF will, so it'll need to be coated with something anyway as well.
 

mirrorimg

Well-Known Member
I first tried using some mdf when I was making mine, and spraypainting it to seal it didnt work to well... it seemed to absorb everything. I did paint the plywood to help seal it up like you said.
 
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