Cut New Dash Pad For Speaker Install?

[just_some_guy]

It's me! It's me! It's Ernest T! Comin' back atcha' with more questions on how to fix up this damn K5 money pit I am quickly getting buried in!

I have the standard 35 year old cracking dash pad. Not only is it cracked, it's actually faded from its original 1980's blue color to a dull dark gray. My car had a color change paint job at some point but the interior was not given the same treatment. Depending on how much fading has occurred the interior trim is either bright blue, "Smurf Blue", or dull gray. Most of the blue is in the back since the back windows are tinted so black you could probably safely observe a nuclear test in the Nevada desert through them.

Anyway, I'm thinking about getting one of these super fancy LMC dash pads with the stitching made of fiberglass and "wrapped with a premium padded black vinyl upholstery". These things look pretty nice but they have no speaker holes. can I just cut these things with a hole saw drill attachment and screw on some 3.5" speaker grilles? Or, do I use the pattern from the old dash pad and drill a square-shaped series of holes to release my tunes from beneath the pad?

This is what they look like:

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Here is a link to the product:

https://www.lmctruck.com/1973-91-chevy-gmc/dash-components/csb-1973-78-dash-pads

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[RedBeard_83]

There should be speakers mounted under the dash pad. Do not cut holes in the dash pad lol. Once you remove the old pad you should be able to see the speakers. If no speakers you should be able to see where they were mounted.

 

[just_some_guy]

There should be speakers mounted under the dash pad. Do not cut holes in the dash pad lol. Once you remove the old pad you should be able to see the speakers. If no speakers you should be able to see where they were mounted.

The car has speakers and I know where they are mounted. It's just that this particular dash pad does not have holes for speakers. Are the speakers just supposed to sit up under there getting muffled, or are these dash pads made for people who hate music?

I'm putting in new speakers as well as a new dash pad. I just can't figure out why a fancy dash pad like this wouldn't come equipped with speaker holes pre-cut or drilled.

 

[just_some_guy]

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[RedBeard_83]

Then that I am unsure of. But I think that dash pad is too nice to have holes cut in it . I would maybe contact manufacturer and see what they suggest first. I personally wouldn't cut holes in it if it were me. But its your truck

 

[just_some_guy]

Then that I am unsure of. But I think that dash pad is too nice to have holes cut in it . I would maybe contact manufacturer and see what they suggest first. I personally wouldn't cut holes in it if it were me. But its your truck

I might just try to find another dash pad with the square-shaped series of holes drilled in them to release the tunes if I can't figure out how to make these work. The original one I need at LMC is "Backordered". I have had bad experiences with backordered parts (not car parts but gun parts) and didn't want to order anything under backorder status. I placed an order for a backordered South African FAL muzzle brake once at $30. Then, several years later when these things became super popular and I had forgotten I even ordered one, the place got another shipment of them in and fulfilled my backordered muzzle brake order - at ten times the $30 price I originally ordered it for. They said it was a "computer glitch" and refunded my money (refusing to honor their original backordered price, BTW), but after that I just don't like messing with backordered parts.

 

[RedBeard_83]

Try usa1 industries. I have heard good things about their quality and fitment.

 

[just_some_guy]

Think I should cut holes in the old door panels and install them there, instead? I can put bigger speakers in there like that, anyway. I wouldn't have to mess with those little 3.5" ones in the dash pad at all if I just put them in the doors.

 

[82sbshortbed]

Think I should cut holes in the old door panels and install them there, instead? I can put bigger speakers in there like that, anyway. I wouldn't have to mess with those little 3.5" ones in the dash pad at all if I just put them in the doors.

I would do this

 

[OldFatBald]

You can redo your stock dash to come out looking very nice with a little effort. There is a thread in the interior section on how to do it.

I am getting ready to do my second dash and I will be installing tweeters under the dash with custom speaker grills. Still debating whether or not to add a center channel.

 

[OldFatBald]

This is the thread on redoing your old dash

And a before and after photo of the first one that I did. No speaker holes in this one...

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[Grit dog]

Don’t hack up a new $400 part. You can buy OE looking quality dash pads for the same or less with speaker holes.
Check other suppliers. I just bought one from The Truck Shop.
OE quality and less than $400.

 

[Scott91370]

Or have your original recovered. I had mine done for $350 and it looks like the one the OP shows.

 

[just_some_guy]

Don’t hack up a new $400 part.

I'm gonna forget about the dash speakers and hack up door panels instead. On my way to get some new speakers now, actually.

Thanks for the advice, fellas. I do appreciate it. They'll be plenty more questions in the very near future, believe me.

 

[Rusty Nail]

I need an update here pliz.