Custom Speaker Baffle Necessary/Recommended?

[40oz 1]

Whats up SSA. Im currently in the middle of my full system install and just took out the stock speakers today. My car has stock 6.5 Infinity components in the doors (woofer and tweeter mounted seperately) and it looks like it has a decent speaker mount/baffle whatever it is called. On the inside of the mount it specifies that it is composed of Polycarbonate with 10% Glass Fiber. I will be replacing them with a JBL P660C component system and was wondering if I would have good results using the stock speaker mount to install them. The new speakers are considerably more powerful and I will be sending ~120watts to them, I imagine the stock ones were seeing less than 45. The new speakers do fit into the stock mount without modification, though I might not be using the top cover with the oval opening.

Here are some pics with the stock speakers

Full speaker mount with the top cover

Without the top cover

Side view

Next to where the oval opening matches up to the door

Rear with speaker

Front with no speaker

Rear with no speaker

Front up close

[40oz 1]

Forgot to mention that I will be deadening doors with CLD, especially behind and around the speaker.

[ShagggDiesel 25]

They look pretty solid... I'd probably add at least a 1/4" MDF ring to them though. Just for a little extra support on the plastic.

EDIT: If there is a such thing as 1/4" MDF.. haha. Could go ahead and use 3/4 if you have the space for it.

Edited March 2, 2012 by Shag

[altoncustomtech 773]

It's just my opinion, but I would highly recommend ditching the plastic. It's not that hard to make a few rings and glue them together to make a good solid baffle and it's well worth the small effort and cost. I've never seen any plastic mounting ring that was nearly as strong as a well built wood/ply/MDF one.

Part of the big picture when considering it a "proper" installation in my opinion.

[SPL_Man 20]

im not really a fan of reusing those plastic mounts

if the surface is flat where its going then by using the mounts as a template it shud be easy to make some new wood rings

[40oz 1]

Thanks for the input guys! The problem is that the surface is not flat, each of the 3 mounting screws is at a different angle/distance. I'm not sure if I have the tools or skills to make a custom mount from scratch that would sit flush against the door. The option that I would be able to achieve much easier is as Shag mentioned, I could cut off that lip in the front and add an MDF ring to make it a little more rigid.

Edited March 2, 2012 by 40oz

[altoncustomtech 773]

The problem with that is that it won't really make it any more rigid. The MDF ring would still be mounted to a flimsy piece of plastic. Better than nothing I suppose.

[40oz 1]

The problem with that is that it won't really make it any more rigid. The MDF ring would still be mounted to a flimsy piece of plastic. Better than nothing I suppose.

Thanks for the input.

[hondakilla98 29]

If you want to make it stronger, why not give it a coat of fiberglass? Even just a coat of resin would strengthen it up somewhat.

[pogothemonk3y 1]

I have my adapters made out of HDP (high density polypropylene) that can be found here: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23869&clickid=redirect

So far they have been holding up just fine.