69/70 Door Speakers

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Maintenance Restoration and Repair
1

I’m hoping someone has experiences and recommendations on door speakers for a 69.

I have a 72 AM/FM in it and I’m looking for the best sound I can get with the 1 to 2 watts RMS these radios put out.

The originals (long gone, thank you previous owner) seem to be 4 x 8 with a non-standard mounting hole pattern.

I have some of the speakers that are riveted to the plastic adapter to fit the mounting holes. They’re just OK.

I have found some Retrosound 4x8 units and some REI 4x8 units that are marketed to the tractor market. Has anyone found others?

Has anyone found 4x8 cones for rebuilding speakers?

There are a lot of 4x6 choices, but I want to be able to get at least a little bass out of them. Treble is only a fond memory for my 62 year old ears.

2

I used the door speaker covers and the speakers to suit from Wcc, supposedly factory replacements.
A bit hard to fit, but looks factory.
The sounds are what i would describe as average.
Unfortunately theres not a lot availble to fit the factory grills and door space.

3

I wouldn’t shy away from 4x6. JBL has some great sound at decent prices. Having done 3 home theaters and 2 full house sound systems I could have saved a ton of cash had I found them earlier. :open_mouth:

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item-178599-JBL-SPKCB6422FAM.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PLA&utm_campaignid=764476279&utm_keyword=&utm_product=178599&utm_matchtype=&utm_device=c&utm_content=219790563070&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy67pq6vD7AIViuDICh0Kbg_zEAYYCCABEgJwaPD_BwE

4

The Bendix AM/FM output circuit was redesigned in 1971 because the 1968-70 output transistors always failed.
The older 1968-70 speakers were 8 ohms, so be careful to match the speaker impedance to the 1972 AM/FM radio (3.2 ohms).
Using 8 ohm speakers will reduce the power significantly.

Also, the thickness of the speaker is limited to about 1.5" or the window will hit it when rolled down.

The RetroSound R483N 4"x8" thickness looks close at 1.7". It also has an impedance of 4 ohms - also fairly close.
Crutchfield claims it fits the 1967-1971 Mustang, so it should work.
However, I have no experience with this speaker. Let us know what you find!

5

I installed a set of door speakers in my 69 with restored original am/fm radio from turnswitch@turnswitch.com. They sound great!! Give them a call about compatibility to the radio you have.

6

Have you tried a power booster to get more volume out of the speakers?
Not a 1000W unit, but one of the 10-20W RMS boosters that can take the radio speaker level output as the input.
i.e. BOSS Audio Systems CE102

7

Hay Vic, is the 71 Radio also 3.2 ohms for the speakers?
Thanks.