regarding a 1978 trans am stereo system...

Hi guys, I have a question. I have a 1978 trans am, and I would like to change my radio system. The problem is, I have no idea how to get to the front speaker so I can change it. If anyone knows how this can be done, please let me know, and thank you in advance!

is it the center of the dash?

yeah, its in the center.

yeah, its in the center.

Heh.. I got a 79 Firebird, thats where the speaker is.. the only way I know to get to it is to take the whole freakin dashboard out... which took me about 4 hours... Its kindof a stupid place for a speaker anyways so I would just put speakers in the door panels, and throw some tweaters up on the dash... It would save you a lot of work (and wounds.. that dash is a pain to take out) There could be a different way to take that speaker out so if anyone knows otherwise, correct me.. But I dont think there is...

Thanks for the reply's guys. Yeah, I figured that would be the only way to do it =(. Hey pontiacpmpn, could you tell me what size speakers i can fit in the front and the back? They look kind of small, lol. Thanks.

One more question, does installing speakers on my door panels require some sort of custom work? Or can i do it myself? Thanks!

dont take me wrong have done the speaker in door thing before, but only cause the holes were already there, if there are no holes dont do it , just put some cash in good 6 x9s n goood radio like a kenwood 40x 4, then if ya must put a small box or boxes in back, those door panels are probably old, leave em alone n save yourself trouble

oh and for get the front spearker, though there are some aftermarket spkrs that fit in that front hole that have left n right channel capability.
if you hook one up it the dash wrong will ruin ur stereo sound

6 x 9 in back dash

Cool, thanks for the info! As far as changing my stock radio, would I need to remove my whole front dash to do that?

if its the old style, 2- knob, it should have a grounding bracket, lil long n thin, and pull back and down behind the ashtray, ( bracket would have a little bolt on the back of radio then mount to the
dash or int body part)

[QUOTE=the_timid]One more question, does installing speakers on my door panels require some sort of custom work? Or can i do it myself? Thanks![/QUOTE

It shouldnt, but it might depending on how your doors are set up, you can take the door panels off pretty easy and see if there is room to just screw the speakers right into the door panel, as for the speakers in the front and back.. they arent 6x9s they are one size smaller.. cant remember the exact size.. but I would just throw some 6x9 Boxes in the back window like someone else suggested.. they sound better...

well the back speakers are 6x9,like i said, they didnt change even in the 82 to 92 birds tas, and camaros. the speaker holes in the rear dash were factory cut for 6 x9s .
on the door speakers , like I said earlier do it if you want, but if those panels are old, then its can cost ya a little to alot of extra time depending on what breaks when you take out the panels/ handle,you also have to worry about the depth of the speaker related to the window gear/motor etc, and if they arent done right you have to look at it every time
sit in the car etc, I do agree the sound is better with front speakers, but just think of what you do before doing so

by the way the 6 x9 in the back dash sound better than boxes in the back,though I ve had 6x9 in the back dash and 6x9 boxes in the back seat of my 81, it would be in the way with some sitting in the back seat, and unles your just a bass crazy person quality 6x9s and a good strong radio using only two in the back will still do you fine

well the back speakers are 6x9,like i said, they didnt change even in the 82 to 92 birds tas, and camaros. the speaker holes in the rear dash were factory cut for 6 x9s .
on the door speakers , like I said earlier do it if you want, but if those panels are old, then its can cost ya a little to alot of extra time depending on what breaks when you take out the panels/ handle,you also have to worry about the depth of the speaker related to the window gear/motor etc, and if they arent done right you have to look at it every time
sit in the car etc, I do agree the sound is better with front speakers, but just think of what you do before doing so

Well mine must be special or something then.. i have a 1979 Firebird Esprit, and the back dash arent 6x9 cause I bought 6x9s and they didnt fit, so I went out and got boxes for them...

boxes and unboxed speakers in the back window?
sound like a jeff foxworthy joke to me..

go to crutchfeild.com they have a table that tells you what you can put where as far as speakers and stereo, and if you buy your equipment from them they have free tech suport.

http://www.crutchfield.com

my friend and i put a system in a 79 camaro once.
I think the dash speaker was a 3x6.Thumpr is right you can get a dash speaker that is both left and right.I put a radar detector right where the dash speaker is on your car so putting a speaker that close isnt too good of an idea anyways for me.
I would get some mini tweets that are small enough to mount to the plastic trim that goes from the dash to the top of the car.The actual screw that holds the trim on is the same screw that holds the speaker on so you dont have to punch your car full of holes.Then find you some 5 or 6 inch mid range speakers with covers for the doors.The sound is worth the modification but if you arent careful cutting and you screw the hole up,you can ruin the structural integrity of the door.You might have 4x8's in the back in the back dash.Wich suck for sound but make perfect sound holes to hear a twelve or two in a box bolted to the reverse side of the back seat.And you can put some midis in the hole too to bring back the fidelity some.sounds pretty good,and the box in back gives you somthing to hide your amps on or in.You can have a box conservativley made so you dont loose all your room in back.
You could always take the amp you suspect is bad to a pawn shop.have them hook it up and test it,if it works it does if it doesnt then there ya go.I hope your not hooking the amps to each other,or hooking up multiple amp outputs to the same speaker...I have a feeling the stereo output to amplifier input is where your problem is.