Replacement Dash Speaker ??

Jonnyuma

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I read through the two threads I found regarding replacement speakers... good stuff. I learned about the 4ohm vs 8ohm speakers, something I didn't know before.

I found these guys... Classic Car Speakers
and it seems that they may have what I need. The only problem is... I don't know what I need.

I just want to replace the single dash speaker in my '79 Lebaron... it seems to fall into gray area of a post-classic/pre-modern era. My big question is: what size speaker do I need? I'd like to keep this as much of a simple R&R as possible and keep the butchery to a minimum.

Someday, when I have more time (and money, of course), I'd like to add deck speakers and a new head unit. But for now, I'd be content to just replace the roasted factory single dash unit.

Thanks,
Jonny Y
 

4speedjim

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Its been so long. Is it round or oblong? It may take a 6x9 if oblong. 5 1/4 if round If I Remember Correctly.
 

Jonnyuma

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I'm thinking it may be a 4x10... that seems to be pretty common among the single (mono)-equipped cars. I've seen some NOS units on ebay, but none specify 77-79 M body.

I'll have to take a close look when I get back to the car later today... maybe I can get a better idea without tearing the dash apart.
 

4speedjim

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Ma Mopar used the wildest widest range of odd ball dimensioned speakers you could imagine. One single speaker and stock AM radio, right? Could be about any size but jonnyuma probably can get a lot closer than me.
 

Jonnyuma

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It's a digital am/fm. The lcd display and clock work great so I'd just as soon leave it alone.
Unless there are other speakers (disconnected) in the rear shelf that I don't know about, the single dashtop unit is all there is.
 

4speedjim

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Sorry I meant originally. To maybe help narrow it down is why I was asking. Presumably your pulling te dash right? It may be advantageous to get that pulled first. There should be room for some modern standard sized speaker. 2 or 3 ways etc.
 

Jonnyuma

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Sorry I meant originally.
Yep, it's the original radio. I suppose it's possible a PO upgraded to am/fm... but it's definitely a Mopar radio.

I was hoping to avoid tearing into the dash and making the car unusable while I wait for parts. Since I travel that means a minimum of a week if I can't get it done w/in my two days off.
 

4speedjim

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am/fm monaural? You can see If theres rear speakers by opening the trunk. I believe you can pull the bezels off front of the dash and access the screws to the top dash cover without affecting run/drive. They sell radio plugs for our factory radios. Makes it easy to add speakers if you don't have them harnessed from the factory. My 81 is non-etr, but years ago I swapped factory etr's into non etr cars. Simply plug and play. Are you keeping the factory radio or upgrading out of curiosity?
 

Kermit

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Just pulled the dash apart in the Aspen for 3 days while I ran new wiring and installed new 3.5" speakers,and cleaned 40 years of dust. If your dash is like mine it doesn't affect driveability. I replaced the factory speakers with Kicker DS 3.5" speakers, which are 4 ohm. They sound great. If you have the mono speaker setup, the factory speaker size is 4 by 10. But you can either buy or make a plate to mount 2, 3.5" in that hole.
 

80mirada

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Single speaker is a 4x10 in the middle of the dash. Common to Mopar and GM, there are aftermarket upgrades, and there was a adapter plate that mounts two small round speakers in its place. It is also possible that you could have dual round front speakers.
 

Jonnyuma

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It was a stupid-long day so I just got home...
I didn't measure, but the perforated section of the dash looks to be about 4x10. I also forgot to check under the package tray for speakers or signs of possibly removed speakers. I was hoping to get to the dash speaker through the glove box, but I'm not sure if that's gonna be possible.
Are you keeping the factory radio or upgrading
I'm going to keep the factory head unit for now. I'm only driving it 15-20 min to work and then home the next day and even then I switch-off with my truck. Eventually I'd like to add a bluetooth or at least MP3 compatible head unit. But at this point, with an engine at the machine shop and other stuff tugging at my wallet I'd be happy to just get the snap, crackle, and pop out of my tunes for my commute.
I looked at Crutchfield and a few other retailers and couldn't find anything to match. Most (none) don't even acknowledge that a mono speaker M-body even exists.
I appreciate the info though. I've seen the double 3.5" replacement units mentioned, just not for my car. I was hoping to get off easy but it looks like there's going to be at least a little fab involved. That's fine, I can do it... but there's a backstory that involves a divorce, a devious ex-wife, and the wholesale rape and pillage of a lifetimes worth of hand, power, and air tools, painting equipment, compressor, welders, and an 1100 sq ft garage that makes everything more, uh... challenging than it used to be. Truth is, in the position I'm currently in, I have NO business even messing with old cars at ALL... yet I have two "projects" and a DD.
The Dude abides.
 

Oldiron440

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but there's a backstory that involves a divorce, a devious ex-wife, and the wholesale rape and pillage of a lifetimes worth of hand, power, and air tools, painting equipment, compressor, welders, and an 1100 sq ft garage that makes everything more, uh... challenging than it used to be. Truth is, in the position I'm currently in, I have NO business even messing with old cars at ALL... yet I have two "projects" and a DD.
The Dude abides.

That's life!
 

4speedjim

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Ebay had systems designed for our cars, well J cars anyhow. I haven't looked lately but they offer proper sized speaker packages. As a kid, in the 80s Id strip the junk row K cars of the ETRs and put them in the non ETR FMJs. So if your not looking for a 1000 watt thumper, hit the pick a part and pick up a '80's-90's head for $30-$50. ETR, clock am/fm stereo maybe tape deck or CD that will fit, plug in, work well and look like it was made for the car.
Divorce.... My ex and her lawyers. They didn't want to negotiate. I was genuinely offering more than fair split. They tried to pick me up by my ankles and shake every nickel from my pocket. She wanted everything.
She moved, with the cloths on her back, to an efficiency apartment, not mine. She walks to her part time job at a corner store. I'm More than happy to share the story and details. It will help you, if your interested. I kept everything, even the kids! And is was not expensive at all.
 

Oldiron440

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4 speed, all I can say is I receive alimony from my ex wife.
 

4speedjim

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That's got to be the most enjoyable shopping experiences of your life. Not only buying hotrod parts but having your ex pay for them! That's like 240 Birthdays!
 
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