Rear Speakers

This album covers installing Jensen XS1683 6x8 speakers into the rear of my truck. These speakers were suggested by my friend John Griggs as a low-cost replacement to the factory units. While they are the correct size, the install requires some modifications due to the way Ford designed the rear speakers.

The whole project took a little longer than I expected, but was well worth the effort. The Jensen has a swiveling tweeter assembly which I angled upward when I installed it. Overall, the new front and rear speakers have made the stock CD player sound much better. The speakers are more efficient than the stock units, so you get better sound at less volume. For $40 at Wal-Mart, you can't find a better way to clear up the sound quality of your stereo.

Click to zoom (The passanger side speaker is removed with the 4 screws seen here. The whole assembly hangs from the top plastic panel. This means the speak hangs free and has no rigid mounting platform to fire from. No wonder the speakers sound muddy.)

The passenger side speaker is removed with the 4 screws seen here. The whole assembly hangs from the top plastic panel. This means the speak hangs free and has no rigid mounting platform to fire from. No wonder the speakers sound muddy.

Click to zoom (The driver's side speaker also has 4 screws, and hangs from the plastic panel. You will see how loose the whole assembly is when you remove it. I was going to use some backing material to stiffen the speaker cavity, but that it turned out unnecessary.)

The driver's side speaker also has 4 screws, and hangs from the plastic panel. You will see how loose the whole assembly is when you remove it. I was going to use some backing material to stiffen the speaker cavity, but that it turned out unnecessary.

Click to zoom (Once removed, you see that the speaker is mounted to it's grill with 4 screws. The factory speaker has no cushion along the front, so it sits inside the grill. The new Jensens have the cushion, so the factory screws will be too short.)

Once removed, you see that the speaker is mounted to it's grill with 4 screws. The factory speaker has no cushion along the front, so it sits inside the grill. The new Jensens have the cushion, so the factory screws will be too short.

Click to zoom (Notice the lack of front cushion on the factory speaker. I used Jensen's mounting screws and dremeled off 1/4 inch for correct length. The Jensen speaker is also much taller, but this will actually help to secure it.)

Notice the lack of front cushion on the factory speaker. I used Jensen's mounting screws and dremeled off 1/4 inch for correct length. The Jensen speaker is also much taller, but this will actually help to secure it.

Click to zoom (Here's the finished assembly using the Jensen speaker and cut-off mounting screws. I cut out the Ford connector so I could solder in better wire and added some flex tube. Next just reinstall the speaker assembly.)

Here's the finished assembly using the Jensen speaker and cut-off mounting screws. I cut out the Ford connector so I could solder in better wire and added some flex tube. Next just reinstall the speaker assembly.

Click to zoom (The longer magnet of the Jensen will touch the metal panel of the truck, so I used electrical tape to cushion it. When installed, the longer speaker will pull the whole plastic panel forward and make it much more secure.)

The longer magnet of the Jensen will touch the metal panel of the truck, so I used electrical tape to cushion it. When installed, the longer speaker will pull the whole plastic panel forward and make it much more secure.

Click to zoom (Same story on the driver's side. Later I will add some sound-deadening since this is a big echo chamber. I'm surprised at how little sound insulation is on the rear of the cab. This project took around 2 hours.)

Same story on the driver's side. Later I will add some sound-deadening since this is a big echo chamber. I'm surprised at how little sound insulation is on the rear of the cab. This project took around 2 hours.

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