after an impulse buy of two boston acoustics speakers on ebay, and a christmas gift stereo head unit (it's one of those ones that automatically hides the face. i spent at least ten minutes just turning the car on and off just to see it work. i'm easily amused.), i finally realize how HORRIBLE the existing volvo and radio shack-rigged sound system was. SO now I'm thinking about doing some sound proofing and adding some rear speakers. I just wanted to know if there's a pre-cut hole or something where I can mount speakers in the back, and if not, where have any of you put them? (i drive a wagon, just to clarify)

Thanks

I built a 3 chambered box that runs the width of the back seat between the wheelwell humps. The middle chamber houses a 10 inch subwoofer that aims at the rear glass and the outside chambers house 6x9 that fire up. If I were to do it over I would use a smaller speaker back there to make it easier to build a correct soundstage (music comes from in front of you at a concert, right?). Anyway, after cutting holes for 61/2 inch speakers in the front doors, the soundstage works great.
--
Portland, OR 1987 240 dl wagon 'rustbucket'

my wiper had died already anyways, so i pulled the motor & rear electric out .. then made a 1/2" plywood replacement for that little cardboard piece on the rear door & mounted a pair of cheap 6x9" pioneer speakers -> had to trim a bit of the sheet metal lips around each big opening in the hatch w/ the angle grinder, but this would vary depending on the metal shell of your speakers, not remotely visible once the plywood was attached anyways.
i used the old cardboard as a template for drilling mounting holes to match up w/ where the clips went & used drywall anchors in the clip holes & 1.25" screws to hold it in place .. even transferred the carpeting across to make it look stock.
sounds awesome now =)
email me if you want to see some pics.
--
-- '82 245GL, B23E, K-cam, under restoration, 350k km --

I think this is the way to go. I didn't want to lose the rear wiper just yet so I put one 6x9 on the driver's side of the tailgate panel and another 6x9, turned at an angle, in the hinged section of the side panel on the pass. side just inside the tailgate. Both are mounted in easily replaceable parts if I should decide it was a mistake.
Needless to say, with one facing forward, and one to the side, the stereo imaging isn't going to win any awards, but to me it was a great big improvement over the 4" in the doors and at the rear seatback.
Joe

"...wanted to know if there's a pre-cut hole or something where I can mount speakers in the back..."

Yes, here:

How about in the rear door lower panels, where the factory rear speakers go?

Doug Harvey

The problem with the lower panels of the rear door is that when you drive with the rear seat folded down (as I usually do) then the speakers are muffled.

When the seat's up and you carry passengers they usually block the speakers -- but, then, you're often engaged in conversatiuon and have the stereo turned down.

Six of one, half dozen of the other. This arrangement works fine for me. I have it in two of my 245s.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Well I did not mount mine in the sides as I did not fell like chopping and cutting.
I put mine in some nice 6x9 boxes and pulled up the rear side storage covers and ran a screw right up and into the 6x9 box. looks nice and I did not ruin anything. I suppose its not professional but its functional and did not ruin anything.
And If I am somewhere that I dont want to leave them......just take them with me.
~Rich