Replacing the Front Speakers - 1985 Chevrolet Caprice Classic

In this video, I'm replacing the front speakers on my 1985 Caprice Classic. The challenge here is finding speakers that are thin enough to fit into the shallow openings in the dashboard, and to fabricate a mount to secure them in place.
I purchased Hertz DCX 87.3 (Dieci Series 3-1/2" 2-way car speakers) from Crutchfield: www.crutchfield.com/p_301DCX8...
I also purchased the Metra 72-4500 Speaker Harness from Crutchfield to make the connections from the speakers to the existing wiring: www.crutchfield.com/p_1207245...
This video is not sponsored in any way by Crutchfield.
Specs on the speakers:
- 2-way car speakers (pair)
- 3-1/2" treated paper woofer with cloth surround
- 5/8" PEI dome tweeter
- handles up to 30 watts RMS (60 watts peak power)
- frequency range: 130-21,000 Hz
- sensitivity: 92 dB
- top-mount depth: 1-3/8"

[@markschommer7407]

The people who did my install in my 1985 used Rockford Fosgates if I'm not mistaken. If anyone has to touch the dashtop on either the 1985 Caprice or 1981 Bonneville I remind them to be extremely careful. Neither one are cracked and i want them to stay that way. LOL. I'm fussy about that. Yours looks good too from what I can see.

[@thegoodlifemia]

great video. thank you for this.

[@LongologoProductions]

@YAWO: Thanks!

[@Mr_TimeMachine_Too]

This is awesome! Thank you!

[@LongologoProductions]

@hemi57400: Thanks for the kind words! Happy to help!

[@jackwadeiv956]

Blaupunkt used to make shallow mount speakers. I may look into that if I can still get them. I think shallow mount 4x6 would fit perfect. Again if I can obtain them. Those Hertz look very nice.

[@regrich8795]

yes 4x6 speakers would work

[@ras_jokah420]

I have a 88 Chevy caprice classic and only my driver side speaker harness match. I'm stuck with a bunch of front left dash harnesses. Any ideas on what's going on

[@LongologoProductions]

The harnesses themselves should be the same (no right vs. left) in those speaker cavities, although the wire colors may differ. If you have the original Chevy wire harnesses in there, you can get some adapters from Crutchfield (see around 7:30 in the video). Plug those adapters into your original harnesses, and then, if necessary, you can connect the other ends with crimp connectors to your actual speakers. As you can see in the video, the Crutchfield adapters did not exactly fit onto my new speakers (also from Crutchfield). So I had to replace the connector at one end with a different crimp connector. But if you have two different size harnesses on your right and left front speakers, perhaps someone previously messed around in there. If so, you can avoid the whole problem by not bothering to try to match the original harnesses. Get a bag of crimp connectors (male and female), clip off the existing connectors very close to the connector (to avoid losing precious length of wire), strip a little insulation from the ends, and add the crimp connectors directly to those wires in the speaker cavities. Then you can connect that directly to your new speakers, or you can get some additional wire if you need more length and daisy chain it to the existing wire with more crimp connectors. Good luck!

[@jackwadeiv956]

What was the magnet diameter? Im gearing up to do the front dash speakers on my 83 Caprice Estate Wagon.

[@LongologoProductions]

I honestly don’t remember but you should be able to look it up based on the speaker model #.

[@regrich8795]

Hi i found some 4x6 Crunch speakers 1 3/4" depth could they fit the Caprice looks like the tweeter is flush?

[@LongologoProductions]

@Reg Rich: no idea

[@regrich8795]

@@LongologoProductions Didn't u say the depth was about 2"?

[@LongologoProductions]

@@regrich8795 : I forget and would have to rewatch the video myself! 🤣

[@bigboyjay0928]

Where did you order speakers and what size are they ?

[@LongologoProductions]

@BigBoyJay: I ordered the speakers from Crutchfield. I just updated the video description to include the specific details for the speakers (Hertz DCX 87.3) and the wiring adapter (Metra 72-4500 Speaker Harness). Hope that helps.

[@thegoodlifemia]

the original speakers are 4x6 correct?

[@LongologoProductions]

@YAWO: Yes - the rounded rectangular metal frame around the original front speakers is about 4” x 6”. As you can see, the main constraint is shallow depth in that cavity. Good luck.

[@jackwadeiv956]

On the 83, cant speak for other model years which I assume to be similar, the magnet diameter is a big problem. Trying to narrow down the proper largest magnet diameter I can get away with.

[@LongologoProductions]

Crutchfield should be able to give you a range of speaker options that should fit within the opening dimensions and then it’s just a matter of fabricating adapter plates to mount them.

[@boxchevydame]

How did you unsrew the bolts

[@LongologoProductions]

@Box Chevy Dame: small socket wrench or screwdriver to avoid hitting the windshield. Thought that was in the video unless I’m misunderstanding your question.

[@boxchevydame]

@@LongologoProductions thanks naw you Skip passed the part thas wy i asked im trying to get mines out without cracking my windshield

[@LongologoProductions]

@Box Chevy Dame: Found it! At 9:33 in the video you’ll see my 7 mm socket when I was putting it back in. To make it fit for the two screws closest to the windshield, I hand-tightened (or loosened as the case may be) those with just the socket head not connected to the wrench. Once it was screwed in a bit, I put the socket head on the socket wrench and then that fit in the space between the windshield and the plate. Hope that helps.

[@boxchevydame]

@@LongologoProductions thanks again about to check it out

[@LongologoProductions]

@Box Chevy Dame: good luck there’s not much wiggle room up in there.

[@josevega7291]

What are the adverse number

[@LongologoProductions]

@Jose Vega: ?

[@achievebig5315]

The driver side has that stupid metal plate for the speedometer…trying to fit a set of infinity kappas 4x6…the passenger side fits perfectly.

[@LongologoProductions]

@Achieve BIG: I know, right?!? Almost looks like you could make it work if the tiny tweeter is closer to the center of the car than the outside of the car on the driver side. Are you going with the 463XF? If so, the measurements on Crutchfield say that it won’t fit even though it looks like it would. Ugh. Good luck.

[@achievebig5315]

I currently have the 463FX the driver side does not fit with that small metal piece that’s inside the dash for the speedometer…passenger side fits perfectly….I may have to go with the infinity reference 6432cfx and see if they fit….I wish the kappas would fit 😭

[@LongologoProductions]

@Achieve BIG: Frustrating! I’m curious whether it’s the diameter of the larger speaker on the 463XF that causes it to not fit or whether it is the depth, or both? Because otherwise they look like great speakers and wouldn’t require fabricating mounting plates like I had to do…. So close yet so far….

[@achievebig5315]

@@LongologoProductions I think the small tweeter and the metal part from the gauges cause it not to fit…also the magnet isn’t centered like most 4x6….that metal piece looks like it from the dash gauges, it’s not present on the other side otherwise it would be a perfect fit

[@AKB47ANCE]

My 86 caprice doesn’t have a harness clip 😢

[@AKB47ANCE]

Just two wires that attach to the speaker

[@LongologoProductions]

How do they attach to the speaker? Soldered? Screw-clamp type connection?

[@AKB47ANCE]

@@LongologoProductions crimp , it was my first time doing a swap so I didn’t have any prior knowledge how to remove them . My father always told me not to force things or I’ll break them so I was just being gentle etc with them