How to Install 6.5" Speakers in the FRONT Door Panels

 

The parts necessary for this install can be purchased at any hardware store.

Faced with the possibility of having to stare at those ugly Honda del Sol speaker covers for the rest of our lives - we decided to find a way to replace them. The answer was simple and the result was even better than we have hoped for. All Honda del Sols have 5.25" speakers in the front panels. These speakers are suspended in small plastic "buckets" that can also make it hard just to install an upgraded 5.25" speaker. This installation takes care of that as well.

The problem with the factory Honda del Sol speaker covers is that they're actually a part of the door panel - not the speakers them selves. So no matter what speakers you put INSIDE the doors - they'll still be covered the the factory covers. Using 6.5" Speakers in the front allows for a different speaker cover - so you get better sound - and better looks!

 

What you need for this installation.

8 Straight metal brackets.

8 1.5" Bolts small enough to fit into the speaker mounting holes.

8 - Nuts and 8 lock washers for the 8 bolts.

 
Step 1: Remove the Door Panel
 There are only 3 actual screws in the entire door panel. They are located:

 1- Just behind the main inner door handle (what you grab to close the door from the inside)

2 - In the inner door handle (opening latch)

3 - At the front top of the door (small black plastic screw)

Remove all of these and set them aside for later use.

At this point you can also remove the OEM speaker covers. In case you're not familiar with them you simply pry lightly behind the outer edge and they pop right out.

Now you're ready to pull out the door panel - but note that you MUST help negotiate the door handle out of the door panel before the panel can be removed. Remember to be nice to the door handle - they're notorious for breaking easily.

Grap the door panel through the opening where the speaker cover was removed. Give it a firm yank and the door panel will pop off. Dont worry as the panel just pops back on when you're done.

Help the door handle through and then the rest of the door panel just pulls UP and off. You must pull it up first as the panel hangs from the top of the door.

BEFORE YOUR LET THE DOOR PANEL DOWN - be sure to unhook the connectors for the electric windows from the inside of the door panel.

 
 
Step 2: Removing the factory speakers and factory speaker "Buckets"

This is pretty self explanatory. remove all the screws in the currently installed speakers - then remove the factory speaker buckets (large piece of BLACK plastic in the door). The buckets from our del Sol had been cut out by the previous owner - so yours will likely look a little different.

When you're done you should have just the empty opening.

 
Step 3: Mounting the New Speakers

 This can be tricky by yourself - so get an extra set of hands to help you out if possible. The speakers will actually be suspended from the door panel to allow for deleting the stock speaker covers.

Fasten the metal brackets one at a time as you poke the screw up through the mounting hole in your speakers. This can be tricky to hold together as you get all 4 of them through the moutning holes of the speakers - so again - try to have some help.

Once you have all 4 brackets on be sure to tighten down each of the bolts so that the speaker wont slide around. Once the bolts are tight enough - flip the panel over and center the speaker in the opening - then finish tightening up the hardware.

Some speakers will appear to fit better than others depending on the size of the surrounding edge of the cover. Regardless - as long as you tightened down the hardware - these aren't going to fall out. Also assuming you used the lock washers you shouldn't have to worry about the bolts loosening up as you drive.

 
Step 4: Remounting the door panel

Once the speakers are mounted on the door panel you just have to re install the door panel. Just follow the steps from step #1 in reverse order. Remember that you'll need to hookup the speakers to the speaker wire! The stock speaker wire may not be long enough to do this - so you may need to crimp some extra length on there to make this easier.

REMEMEBER - re-install all 3 of the screws and lightly hit the door panel around the outside edge to pop them back on the door.

 


Final thoughts and notes.

Because you remove the factory buckets from the door panel you can do this install with pretty much any size 6.5" speakers. You dont really have to worry about the size of the magnet assembly or any other typical fitment issues.

This install might actually work just a little better with 6.75" speakers - but since those aren't a very popular size among manufacturers you'll likely end up using 6.5" anyway.