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'73 Stereo Speaker Layout

vegiguy

vegiguy

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So stereo on 1973 b-bodies was apparently one front dash speaker and one speaker on the rear package shelf. There are two factory oval cut outs on my car's package shelf, but the right one is the only one that is recessed and has holes punched for a 6X9 speaker, so would that have been the location for the second speaker then? If so, would the speaker wires have been run down the right side - instead of the left side like the tail light wiring harness - since that would be the shortest route to go with them?
 
With electricity traveling at the speed of light, running speaker wires down one side or the other will not matter.
 
Restoration? From the factory in ’73, no option routed both left and right speaker channel wiring to the package shelf on a 2-door B-body. The right-side opening would have been for an optional rear window defrost blower. C-bodies from around that time that had true stereo rear speakers had the wiring for both channels loomed together from the factory.
 
Last edited:
72RoadrunnerGTX said:
Restoration? From the factory in ’73, no option routed both left and right speaker channel wiring to the package shelf on a 2-door B-body. The right-side opening would have been for an optional rear window defrost blower. C-bodies from round that time that had true stereo rear speakers had the wiring for both channels loomed together from the factory.
Click to expand...
My original post said that one speaker was in front and one in the back on a b-body stereo system. I never stated both speakers were in back. I just wanted confirmation that the right oval cutout in the package shelf was the one they used since it looks like it was made for that purpose. If it was it seems the wiring for it might have been routed on that side too.
 
From the factory, the single rear speaker would have been a 5x7” and mounted on the left side. The right side 6x9” opening present on these B-bodies of this time would have been to accommodate the defrost blower factory option or an aftermarket speaker. Many Chrysler models from this period had 6x9” openings stamped into the package shelfs with no 6x9” factory speaker options available.
 
72RoadrunnerGTX said:
From the factory, the single rear speaker would have been a 5x7” and mounted on the left side. The right side 6x9” opening present on these B-bodies of this time would have been to accommodate the defrost blower factory option or an aftermarket speaker. Many Chrysler models from this period had 6x9” openings stamped into the package shelfs with no 6x9” factory speaker options available.
Click to expand...
Thanks. That's very helpful!
 
I have the factory setup being discussed. My car is a 71. It came with two speakers. One in the middle of the dash, and the second in the package tray on the driver side. The package tray on the passenger side has the rear defogger blower intake and motor mounted in it. My car has the multiplex AM/FM Stereo, floor mounted Stereo Cassette player/recorder and rear defogger from factory.
 
I put a dual speaker setup in my 71 SB front and a 5x7 and 6x9 in back for my RetroSound radio. Works for me.

Dual speaker 3.jpg
 
Lol, you didn’t put that custom made dual speaker mounting in your car. That picture is of a modified OE 4x10 speaker frame in my RR/GTX. The build thread linked has some other shots of how I did my rear speakers, notably grafting in another 6x9 opening on the left side.
 
Well, most 73s came with a rear defrosted that frankly didn't work well. The idea was to suck
speaker-blower05.jpg
WP_20140706_001.jpg
warmed air from the cabin and blow it on the window to defrost. Which clearly doesn't work if the car is still cold inside.
To accommodate this problem for a 2 speaker system Chrysler cam up with a more ridiculous idea of a bracket as pictured.
The last picture is my solution since this bracket is rare and if you CAN find one you'll need to refinance your home.
Since my car is not driven in cold weather it doesn't matter anyway.
 
I did an identical blower modification on my ’70 Road Runner back in the seventies when all of those optional parts were readily available at the local wrecking yards dirt cheap. I recall even cutting a hole in the seat partition to draw air in from in and around the seat. As mentioned, not very effective system overall when it was really needed.

Some other reference shots,


1971SUPERBEE440SIXPACKDIC-1.jpg
DSC00318r2.jpg
 
My 72 Charger has a defogger that works fairly well, definitely is not a defroster and I believe my speaker wires ran down the drivers side of the car.
 
72RoadrunnerGTX said:
Lol, you didn’t put that custom made dual speaker mounting in your car. That picture is of a modified OE 4x10 speaker frame in my RR/GTX. The build thread linked has some other shots of how I did my rear speakers, notably grafting in another 6x9 opening on the left side.
Click to expand...
I saw your image and copied it as my grill is covering mine up. I bought mine from Classic.
1971 Dodge Charger Parts | MD7223 | 1971-74 Mopar B-Body; 70-74 E-Body (classicindustries.com)
 
the blower adaptor for the speaker doesn't fit down the 71/74 B body package tray ( don't ask me how I know it )
 
72RoadrunnerGTX said:
I did an identical blower modification on my ’70 Road Runner back in the seventies when all of those optional parts were readily available at the local wrecking yards dirt cheap. I recall even cutting a hole in the seat partition to draw air in from in and around the seat. As mentioned, not very effective system overall when it was really needed.

Some other reference shots,


View attachment 1070576 View attachment 1070585
Click to expand...

ONE WIRE to the blower ? it should get two... one black and one white every one for each speed, to a resistor mounted on blower case.
 
Nacho-RT74 said:
ONE WIRE to the blower ? it should get two... one black and one white every one for each speed, to a resistor mounted on blower case.
Click to expand...
Yea, the blue car shot is reference only, don't know what model car, may not be a '71-74. Earlier versions were single speed IIRC.
 
bee71 said:
I saw your image and copied it as my grill is covering mine up. I bought mine from Classic.
Click to expand...
When I made mine, around ’07 or so, wasn’t aware of any commercially available mountings then. Just reworked an old speaker frame, angled slightly outward hoping to get some separation in the reflections off the glass.
 
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