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Door Panel Speaker Installation - Part 2 - Car Audio and Electronics Magazine

Read about how we install MB Quart speakers in the stock door panels of our project Nissan 350Z.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Mounting Ring
It's time to insert a mounting... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Mounting Ring
It's time to insert a mounting ring into the fiberglass for our MB Quart speaker.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Cut Excess Material
With a jigsaw, cut off the... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Cut Excess Material
With a jigsaw, cut off the excess material around the rings, leaving 1/8" of material behind.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Attach The Template
Attach the template using... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Attach The Template
Attach the template using double-sided tape to your second ring.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Remove Material
Using a rabbet bit, remove... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Remove Material
Using a rabbet bit, remove enough material so that the speaker sits flush to the top of the ring.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Duraglas
Apply Duraglas around the... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Duraglas
Apply Duraglas around the speaker ring, bonding it permanently to your fiberglass insert.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Trace Speaker Ring
To hide the mounting screws... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Trace Speaker Ring
To hide the mounting screws of the speaker, I've made a 1/4" aluminum ring that trims around the cone of the speaker.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Clamp The Aluminum
Clamp the aluminum to a tabletop.... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Clamp The Aluminum
Clamp the aluminum to a tabletop. Use a jig saw with a metal carbide blade to cut off the excess material, leaving 1/8" behind.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Trim The Excess
Using a carbide router bit,... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Trim The Excess
Using a carbide router bit, flush trim the excess of the aluminum off.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Use A Chamfer Bit
With the template still attached,... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Use A Chamfer Bit
With the template still attached, use a chamfer bit to give a finished look to the ring.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Use Ca Glue
Surround the aluminum ring... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Use Ca Glue
Surround the aluminum ring with three layers of masking tape, leaving a perfect gap for additional primer and paint.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Duraglas
Apply Duraglas and Rage Gold... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Duraglas
Apply Duraglas and Rage Gold body fillers around the aluminum ring, molding into the insert.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Hand Sand The Surface
Leaving the ring in place,... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Hand Sand The Surface
Leaving the ring in place, hand sand the surface with 40-grit sandpaper until the desired shape is revealed.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Drill And Recess Bolts
Drill and recess bolts into... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Drill And Recess Bolts
Drill and recess bolts into the inserts that will later get filled.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Mold The Inserts
Mold the inserts into the... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Mold The Inserts
Mold the inserts into the factory plastic door panel.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Tape Off The Top Of Inserts
Tape off the tops of the inserts... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Tape Off The Top Of Inserts
Tape off the tops of the inserts and apply Duraglas around them until the desired shape is acquired.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Remove Masking Tape
Now remove the masking tape.... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Remove Masking Tape
Now remove the masking tape. With an angle grinder, shape the Duraglas with inserts in place to blend the new shapes into the door.
Door Panel Speaker Installation
To further blend your new... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation
To further blend your new shapes, apply Rage Gold body filler.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Perfect Blend
With guide coat sanded and... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Perfect Blend
With guide coat sanded and inserts put back in place, it's clear that the shapes blend perfectly to the factory door panel.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Polyester Primer
Polyester primer is applied... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Polyester Primer
Polyester primer is applied over the whole door panel to seal all bodywork along with creating a uniform surface.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Ready For Paint
With upholstery complete,... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Ready For Paint
With upholstery complete, it's time to get the fiberglass inserts ready for paint.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Primer
Apply three medium wet coats... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Apply Primer
Apply three medium wet coats of polyester primer.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Sand The Aluminum Ring
While the primer is drying,... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Sand The Aluminum Ring
While the primer is drying, sand the aluminum ring to prepare for the polishing process.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Aply Blue Compound
Apply blue compound to the... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Aply Blue Compound
Apply blue compound to the buffing wheel and buff the aluminum until you get a chrome-like finish.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Spray Primer
Guide coat the primered inserts... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Spray Primer
Guide coat the primered inserts and block sand with 220-grit sandpaper.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Spray
I've chosen a silver color,... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Spray
I've chosen a silver color, so I'll apply three coats of base and three coats of clear.
Door Panel Speaker Installation Clean Door Panel
These two shots show a simple... 
   
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Door Panel Speaker Installation Clean Door Panel
These two shots show a simple but clean door panel that can be accomplished in about three days of work.
Door Panel Speaker Installation

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