Speaker upgrade with OEM harness bar / speaker pod - LotusTalk

Lotusmotion · 12-10-2006, 11:58 AM

My Exige has the factory harness bar and speaker pods that relocate the speakers downward to allow for harness bar clearance.

I plan to upgrade the rear speakers to higher quality 5 & 1/4 inch replacements and have chosen speakers that should be a drop-in installation (Alpine SPS-13C2 units). Thankfully, there are many helpful ET postings addressing speaker upgrade choices, problems, and solutions.

My question is about the rear speaker pods...does anyone have experience with 5 & 1/4 replacements in the rear pods, and did you encounter any problems (and fixes?).

I did a search on this subject and did not find anything specifically addressing the rear speaker pods. Thanks.

wildwhl · 12-10-2006, 12:16 PM

I'm working on a better pod...or at least an improvement to the factory pod. It leaves a lot to be desired. The edges of the pod have 1/8" to 1/4" gap to the original factory back panel. Try stuffing some weatherstrip foam in there - it is an improvement believe it or not.

I've yanked the pods and am going to pull a new mold for 6.5" drivers in a slightly different location...but as projects go this is a winter one and will take a while (early spring?).

Good luck - and keep us posted.

WW

xtn · 12-10-2006, 12:40 PM

I replaced my rear speakers behind the factory harness bar. The grills are literally up against the bar, but were easily removed with a small pick and a bit of strategic wiggling. The replacement speaker grills were about 1/8 inch taller. I had to modify the new grills in order to wiggle them up into place behind the bar, and also found the factory surround pods had enough flex in them to push against them for another 1/4 inch working clearance. Just the grills presented the difficulty. The speakers themselves were easy.

xtn

Lotusmotion · 12-10-2006, 01:13 PM

wildwhl, for possible ideas check out Q-forms at ---> http://www.qlogic.ws/home/home.jsp. The Q-forms are car model specific, but there is a universal one. I considered the universal Q-form for rear speakers in my Morgan +8....but did not think about Lotus applications...I'll research.

xtn, thanks for the information. Did you have any surprises fitting the replacement speakers into the pods (aside from grill clearance issues)?

Lotusmotion · 12-10-2006, 01:15 PM

Link to universal Q-form --->

http://www.qlogic.ws/products/q_form...5&groupID=5837

wildwhl · 12-10-2006, 01:42 PM

Thanks, Lotusmotion. I'm not new to molding/bagging/forming of plastics and composites. Carbon weave will be the material because it is light, strong, functional and looks cool. Ideally, the entire back panel cold be created - but to remove it is a hassle. Harness bar and roof have to come off

If I fail - then off to Q-forms

WW

xtn · 12-12-2006, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lotusmotion

wildwhl, for possible ideas check out Q-forms at ---> http://www.qlogic.ws/home/home.jsp. The Q-forms are car model specific, but there is a universal one. I considered the universal Q-form for rear speakers in my Morgan +8....but did not think about Lotus applications...I'll research.

xtn, thanks for the information. Did you have any surprises fitting the replacement speakers into the pods (aside from grill clearance issues)?

#1. One of the speaker mount screws stripped.
#2. The new speakers I chose are a inty bit deeper, and so I had push them in, compressing the foam insulation behind them a bit.

Easy-cheesy except for the grills.

xtn

LaserBlueExige · 03-28-2007, 02:18 AM

Lotusmotion

Did you get to put those Alpine SPS-13C2 units in your Exige with factory fitted harness bar? Was the install okay or problematic?

mr t · 03-28-2007, 10:17 AM

Would anyone like to upgrade and get in on the group buy JL stealthbox?

It is awesome!

mr t

12-10-2006, 11:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lotusmotion Keep it simple and real Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 947	Speaker upgrade with OEM harness bar / speaker pod My Exige has the factory harness bar and speaker pods that relocate the speakers downward to allow for harness bar clearance. I plan to upgrade the rear speakers to higher quality 5 & 1/4 inch replacements and have chosen speakers that should be a drop-in installation (Alpine SPS-13C2 units). Thankfully, there are many helpful ET postings addressing speaker upgrade choices, problems, and solutions. My question is about the rear speaker pods...does anyone have experience with 5 & 1/4 replacements in the rear pods, and did you encounter any problems (and fixes?). I did a search on this subject and did not find anything specifically addressing the rear speaker pods. Thanks. __________________ '06 Exige - Ph. Black/Touring/Track/LSD/TC/SS. Mods: corner balanced - RTD brace - Manly's inserts - decambered - Pagid Blacks - Motul fluid - tow hooks - Schroth belts - extinguisher - AIM timer - Green Filter - Larini - oil temp & pressure gauges - AO48s & Rotas on track - T1Rs & OEM wheels on street - rear camera & monitor - Stebel horn - speakers upgraded, sub & iPod controller - DRL disable switch - aux. fuse panel - sill pockets - leather console - Bootie - roof scoop functional.

12-10-2006, 12:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
wildwhl You bought a Locust? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 782	I'm working on a better pod...or at least an improvement to the factory pod. It leaves a lot to be desired. The edges of the pod have 1/8" to 1/4" gap to the original factory back panel. Try stuffing some weatherstrip foam in there - it is an improvement believe it or not. I've yanked the pods and am going to pull a new mold for 6.5" drivers in a slightly different location...but as projects go this is a winter one and will take a while (early spring?). Good luck - and keep us posted. WW __________________ ...................... She's gone.

12-10-2006, 12:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,860	I replaced my rear speakers behind the factory harness bar. The grills are literally up against the bar, but were easily removed with a small pick and a bit of strategic wiggling. The replacement speaker grills were about 1/8 inch taller. I had to modify the new grills in order to wiggle them up into place behind the bar, and also found the factory surround pods had enough flex in them to push against them for another 1/4 inch working clearance. Just the grills presented the difficulty. The speakers themselves were easy. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

12-10-2006, 01:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lotusmotion Keep it simple and real Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 947	wildwhl, for possible ideas check out Q-forms at ---> http://www.qlogic.ws/home/home.jsp. The Q-forms are car model specific, but there is a universal one. I considered the universal Q-form for rear speakers in my Morgan +8....but did not think about Lotus applications...I'll research. xtn, thanks for the information. Did you have any surprises fitting the replacement speakers into the pods (aside from grill clearance issues)? __________________ '06 Exige - Ph. Black/Touring/Track/LSD/TC/SS. Mods: corner balanced - RTD brace - Manly's inserts - decambered - Pagid Blacks - Motul fluid - tow hooks - Schroth belts - extinguisher - AIM timer - Green Filter - Larini - oil temp & pressure gauges - AO48s & Rotas on track - T1Rs & OEM wheels on street - rear camera & monitor - Stebel horn - speakers upgraded, sub & iPod controller - DRL disable switch - aux. fuse panel - sill pockets - leather console - Bootie - roof scoop functional.

12-10-2006, 01:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lotusmotion Keep it simple and real Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 947	Link to universal Q-form ---> http://www.qlogic.ws/products/q_form...5&groupID=5837 __________________ '06 Exige - Ph. Black/Touring/Track/LSD/TC/SS. Mods: corner balanced - RTD brace - Manly's inserts - decambered - Pagid Blacks - Motul fluid - tow hooks - Schroth belts - extinguisher - AIM timer - Green Filter - Larini - oil temp & pressure gauges - AO48s & Rotas on track - T1Rs & OEM wheels on street - rear camera & monitor - Stebel horn - speakers upgraded, sub & iPod controller - DRL disable switch - aux. fuse panel - sill pockets - leather console - Bootie - roof scoop functional.

12-10-2006, 01:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
wildwhl You bought a Locust? Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 782	Thanks, Lotusmotion. I'm not new to molding/bagging/forming of plastics and composites. Carbon weave will be the material because it is light, strong, functional and looks cool. Ideally, the entire back panel cold be created - but to remove it is a hassle. Harness bar and roof have to come off If I fail - then off to Q-forms WW __________________ ...................... She's gone.

03-28-2007, 02:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
LaserBlueExige Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Farnham, GB Posts: 10	Lotusmotion Did you get to put those Alpine SPS-13C2 units in your Exige with factory fitted harness bar? Was the install okay or problematic?

03-28-2007, 10:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
mr t Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 204	JL Stealthbox Would anyone like to upgrade and get in on the group buy JL stealthbox? It is awesome! mr t

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