I was lucky enough to end up with this over-the-top amp and speaker system that originally I thought I'd try and sell, but now decided well, why not just use it. No, the two 12" subwoofers and the gazillion-watt amp for them WON'T be getting used, but the (slightly) more modest two pairs of speakers and main amp will. The rear deck speakers were easy- the PO had already cut the metal into the trunk to fit speakers. I cut a piece of 1/2 ply using the shelf liner as a template, cut speaker holes, poly'd the underside and glued some rubber-backed dark-grey industrial runner carpet from Ace to the top- actually came out very nice!

(At Ace this carpet only comes about 2' wide, and has a pattern down the edges- anyone have a good source for a rubber backed carpet in larger sizes? I think it would be good stuff to make my own new carpet kit for the car.)

The front speakers are far trickier....! I don't really want to cut up the doors, and from what I can tell from the various car-audio fanatic sites I've visited, the kick-panels are the 'preferred' location now. Anyone here mounted speakers there? Or have any other ideas, tips, tricks, solutions, etc. to share? Mounting to the kick-panels doesn't seem like it would be *too* difficult to do, though the one problem I see is the hood release on the driver's side being in the way a bit. The 'lot of work' option looks to be to fabricate a new kick-panel with some fiberglass work to make 'pods' for the speakers... Better if I can find some already made, universal 'pods' that would fit in the space.

Then there is the stereo it's self.... I've got nothing in the car now (I just enjoy the whistling of the wind, the sucking roar of the carbs), and personally I HATE the way car 'head units' look now (it's a radio, it's a video game, it's a DVD player, it blinks, it flashes, it spins around!). There's this 'secret audio' radio thing out there that you hide under the seat or in the trunk and use a little remote for- anyone seen one of those in person? And anyone have a set-up that allows them to listen to an iPod easily (and in a way that sounds good)?

Yeah, I ought to go over the car with sound deadening material too- and that is in the near future. In the time being I'll just overcome the interior noise with wattage! Blasting Miles Davis or Whiskeytown.... my Amazon will fit right in with the hip-hop, slammed and pumping low riders and SUVs from the boroughs!
Thanks
Tom
NYC