Audio/Visual & Electronics - Speakers wont fit in 99 Civic LX

Hey there. After spending all weekend running wires and dynamatting and all sorts of fun ****, I'm discovering that my speakers won't fit. My car (99 Civic LX) supposedly supports 6.5" fronts, which is what I bought (Focal 165A1). I realize that they are a little deep, so I cut the back off, but the speaker literally won't fit the opening... It's as if my car had 6.26", not 6.5"... Can anyone offer advice?

the only thing i could tell you is just to make sure that you have as much of the door panel cut out as possible. If it is as small of an amount as you are saying, then just get a rounded file and file the door panel down until the speaker fits.

Cool, guess I'll modify the **** outa the door to get it to fit. I just thought it was odd. The stock speakers were secured with three screws, but when I line up the speaker with the holes, the are way off. I'll have to do my own screws and whatnot. I guess that's normal?

Yep that's normal. Haha compare the stock speaker cones and magnets to the Focals lol!

Hey tell me how those sound!! I looking to get a pair of comps and those are on my list to look at :)

You can get a spacer that screws into the original holes and sets the speaker out about a 1/4 inch.

or you could make one out of MDF. or any wood....or I see people use some type of clay,

Cool, guess I'll modify the **** outa the door to get it to fit. I just thought it was odd. The stock speakers were secured with three screws, but when I line up the speaker with the holes, the are way off. I'll have to do my own screws and whatnot. I guess that's normal?

yes that is normal. you will definitely have to make your own screw holes. especially with focals, thay have a bigger magnet and basket than most speakers so it will take a little more cutting to get them to fit.

In regards to the spacer, I would need more than a 1/4" to get this thing in there. I cut away the plastic in the back, but realized that the hole is too small to even place the speaker in to mount. You guys recommend a dremel tool or what? I wish I hadn't cut big holes and put the tweeters in first.. this is definitely bogus as hell. Well, maybe it'll pay off. The depth is like 2.85"... you think that'll impede on any of the window mechanism?

I'm debating whether or not I should be cutting my speaker, or the plastic on my door. They both have pros and cons and while I'm slightly handy, I'm not very experienced with cutting plastic or metal. If I dremel the plastic opening on the door, while I only need an extra hair of clearance, it looks like I might damage the structure of the plastic housing. I only need an extra millimeter or two, but that's about all it'll take to make the speaker housing sorta wobbly. On the flipside, I wouldn't have the slightest clue on filing down the ring of the speaker... not very experienced with shaving metal, especially on something fragile like a speaker. Anyone have any advice on which avenue I should proceed, and which tools I'd want to use?

Thanks

How about some pics? Of what you've cut and maybe some of the speaker in the door to see what isn't lining up

Ok, so I'm feeling particularly stupid right now. I borrowed a dremel from my work and started sawing and shaving the driver side door panel and still couldn't get this thing in. I had a feeling I was going to break something and weighed out the cost of having to buy new door panels vs. just getting them installed. I called the local chain car stereo store and they told me it'd be $60 over the phone. I just wanted my damn door panels back on... between rattling and non-functionality, I was prepared to just pay to have it put in. They said they have spacers and all kinds of tricks so I said what the hell. I drove in with my door panels and my speakers. They told me instead it'd be $135 and that normally component installs are $180 but since I already installed the tweeters, they'd cut me a break. My break turned out to be more than they said over the phone, but whatever. I paid it. They said it'd be quick. I waltzed around the store for a little over 3 hours. I couldn't leave because it began dumping rain. Anyways, so I'm sitting here at lunch and I notice that the factory grill wasn't completely pushed in. I got a little curious and decided to take apart one door just to see how much rain has entered, and if the crossover and woofer were at risk. Besides, I figured the dremeling is all done, I could easily put it back together.

Here's a pic or two:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/seanhymens/IMAGE_001.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/seanhymens/IMAGE_002.jpg

As you can see, they left the cover off the crossover, I believe to make this thing fit. I'm not sure if this is a stupid idea, as the cover may help keep water out? I'm unsure. As for the speaker woofer itself, definitely exposed to rain. I pulled the cone out and it was a little damp. That said, the woofer is marine rated aparently, though I have no clue if that means I should still do my best to protect it from the elements.

At this point I'm feeling like a major jackass, having spent a good chunk of change for something that I originally thought I could do on my own, instead to get it installed by someone else in a way that just doesn't seem very... long-term.

Can anyone give some advice? Should I worry about the woofer if it's marine-rated? The speakers are Focal 165A1 if that helps. Should I try to get that crossover cover on and protect it with duct tape or something? Sorry the pics are so crappy, cell phone pics.. Keep in mind, when the woofer is installed, it either directly contacts the metal rail for the window, or comes a molecule away...

I had the same bloody issue with my 6.5" Rockford Fosgate P162's. They were waaaaaay too deep. I ended up sticking some 5.25" Fosgate T152's in there instead. They're quite a bit better, so no harm done. :P