When I bought my MGB roadster a few months ago the radio didn't work and it had a single aftermarket under dash speaker. I solved the radio problem and looking at speakers I didn't like the idea mounting the speakers in the doors or footwells. I tried under the dash, but good speakers just didn't fit well there. So I bought two square wooden craft boxes, stained them, then lined them with foam and mounted the speakers in the front of the boxes. Then made mounting plates for the area behind the seat that wouldn't get in the way when I put the top down and are removable when I open the battery cover. Also I plan to leave enough wire so I can pull the speakers up on the deck if I ever need to. I just have to run the wires to the radio and I'm done. the mounts are screwed to the backwall with very strong velcro holding the boxes to the mounts. I don't want a lot of booming sound, just old, let's call that classic rock, and talk radio.
Anybody see a flaw in this approach; Chuck

if it works for you.............. people been doing it that way for years.

Sounds great. Well, the idea sounds great, hahahaha, the rest is up to you. Mine are in the same area in a plastic box. The movability is key as you'll occasionally want to get under them and behind them. Good job!

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David J. Kinsey
Virginia Beach
Tidewater MG Classics
1980 MGB "Runaway"

Chuck, I used a system from Walmart - Scosche Full Range Speaker System with 2 6.5 woofers and two tweeters mounted in a molded plastic box that is vinyl lined and carpeted. Heavy enough that it wasn't needed to be mounted, sits in place and is removable with spring loaded speaker wire terminals. The size also allows to be in place with the top down and you can hear them at 60 MPH with the top down. Best part - $29.98! I am totally satisfied with the sound (also tuned to oldies station) and if I want to change speakers, I have an all ready constructed inexpensive box.

You have a fine Idea Chuck! I have the original dealer installed AM/FM Motarola in our B with a newer speaker under the dash, it sounds like crap.Until I give up the old Motarola I don't think it will matter much what I put in for speakers it will still be a Mono output radio that... sounds like crap.Which in fact is just me keeping the original stuff.

THis is what I fitted against the trunk firewall, allows for the soft top folding and the lights are to see where the music is coming from turned on by map light. This also in a 69B

Roger, I think you can go in to business with that set up. ;-)

I had two terrible speakers with brackets screwed to the shelf, -- and then I bought two much better ones in like 6x9 enclosures, but I did not want to screw them down, so am thinking of just running a strip of wood or steel between them so they don't slide around when I turn a corner, and leave them sitting on the back shelf?

Right now, Heisenberg would not know where they are, I just take whatever they are giving at any given moment ;-)

The ones screwed down seemed to get in my way if I needed to do anything back there.

Though, I can't hear much at highway speeds with the top down.

Chuck, does the Velcro seem up to holding them securely in place?

Regards, John

Hmmm. My experience with boxed speakers wasn't very good with my '72 Midget. PO installed them (unsecured, so they tended to shift) along with a space-age remote control stereo system. In order to fit the radio in the console, the PO used one-inch plywood spacers. You couldn't put a CD in the radio because it wouldn't clear the shifter. I'm sure it sounded great when it wasn't blowing fuses. The speaker boxes were huge homemade particle board things and didn't allow the top to stow completely down and get secured. A few days after I bought it, I took it up to about 60 mph with the top down. A draft caught the top and it billowed out. No damage, but not a pleasant feeling. The speakers and radio are now sitting on a shelf in the garage. The B has more room, so this may not apply, but I think it's something to watch out for.

Glen

I had made up the wooden boxes and had attached them. But the pre-made set up for ~30.00 from WallMart sounded like an even better idea. So I have a WallMart close to work so I went out during lunch and bought that set. I'm going to give both approaches a shot. If I don't use the set from Wally World,; well I need a set of good speakers in the garage.
Chuck

Reply to:
THis is what I fitted against the trunk firewall, allows for the soft top folding and the lights are to see where the music is coming from turned on by map light. This also in a 69B

Looks goods and with the map lights and MG insignia looks like it could be a factory option.
Chuck

I, too, was using truck boxes that rolled around and generally got in the way. Since I had installed Miata seats a couple years ago, headrest speakers were an option -- and they are just fine. the truck boxes are gone at last!

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1973 Roadster. A nice 50-footer!
SUs, Datsun 5-speed
MGB Tips and Tricks: www.mgrescue.com

Reply to Rogers question: "Chuck, does the Velcro seem up to holding them securely in place?:
answer yes. First you need to make sure the velcro stays in place So its glued to a piece of rigid tin that's screwed to the trunk firewall. There were some holes there already so I just reused them. Then don't use the normal black or white velcro. Get the heavy duty stuff from a hardware store, like Ace or Home Depot. Doing that it works fine (so far). But again the boxes are in the car and have been driven around. buy I haven't hooked the radio up yet.
Chuck

In some states tie downs of some sort are required by law on speaker boxes. People have been killed by them flying around in an accident. I would not trust velcro to hold them if something happens.

Does not surprise me, though I thought the seat belts were mainly for matching the body with the VIN-- I do feel safer in a Deville.

That said, my college friend put a Pontiac out of commission -- he drove away, I put a fender and door on his, and we never found a front bumper in 1970 to fit our budget. I had to drive to Pennsylvania to find the door and fender.

Driving very defensively is a way of life for small cars, and I now use the low beams as running lights.

Regards, John

Response to Kellys statement that:
"In some states tie downs of some sort are required by law on speaker boxes. People have been killed by them flying around in an accident. I would not trust velcro to hold them if something happens"

Agree safety first. I'll make up some type of back up clamp. I live in Annapolis MD and unfortunately I have driven the "B" around the D.C. beltway during rush hour. Nothing like having a Semi on each side and two big SUV's front and back doing 80 mph. That's a thrill ride I wouldn't wish on anyone. Especially when the traffic goes from 80 mph to 10 mph every few minutes.

So I try to avoid that. I try to drive the "B' as much as possible on back roads where people are a little more hospitable and save the beltway for my sacrificial cars. Hopefully that accident will happen in one of those cars. I'd like my "B" to outlive me. I already have a nephew who's asked me to leave it to him in my will.

I have the original radio in my car. It works fine, but never turn it on. (I enjoy listening to the exhaust notes instead)

There is a perpetual discussion, and a good one, about where to put speakers in an MGB. A point I've made a number of times is that auto manufacturers themselves put the main speakers in nearly every car in the door panels. For a reason. It provides the best sound of all the choices. And there's no concern about a speaker box getting covered up with the folded top, or by a zip out rear window, or flying around in an accident.

As for speakers in boxes, remember that puts them behind your head -- not exactly the ideal location for stereo speakers any more than you'd turn on your home stereo and face away from the speakers while listening. It would work, but not exactly the way you'd like it to. Depends on whether you care about sound quality, and I know a lot of people just want loud musical noise so aren't concerned about that.

I'd also be worried about a stereo box flying around in an accident. It's always good to remind yourself that everything in a car is moving at the same speed as everything else. At 70 mph, the box with the speakers is going 70 mph. If you slam on the brakes, and it's not bolted down, it's going to shoot forward at 70 mph and do some damage. Worth considering. This is the purpose of seat belts.

It's hard to choose a best location for speakers in a small car like an MGB, but in all other modern small cars the makers put them in the door panels which I think is the best choice for our cars. If you do put them on the rear shelf in a box, why not use two smaller boxes attached to the wheel arches so they're a little bit out of the way? In fact, why not dispense with the boxes altogether, give up the door panel speakers entirely, and mount a pair of speakers that's already in a box?

Some of the smaller boxed speakers sold today produce enormous sound, they don't need an additional box to put them in (they're already in a box), and could easily be side-bracketed to the wheel arches. Every stereo store sells them and used ones can easily be found online. I had a pair of Radio Shake Minimus speakers (about 6x3 inches) mounted on the back shelf of my old MGB-GT and firing forward (still behind my head, though). Great sound out of them. No additional boxes needed. And they were bolted to the floor using the bolt hole mountings built into the speakers themselves. Plus my door speakers.

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Drew Maddock
Pasadena, California



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2012 01:14AM by DrewM.

i recently bought the walmart speaker box. i must say that i'm pretty darn happy with it. hard to believe it, but the sound is actually pretty decent - especially for $30. i also have front footwell 3-way speakers that i thought were just fine. but adding this box makes it sound like a modern stereo system. you are truly engulfed in sound. and no problem at all hearing on the highway either. would it be fine on it's own? i don't know, but it sure sounds damn good with both front and rear speakers going. once i install my miata seats with speakers, i'll be in REALLY good shape. may be dangerous listening to it loudly though...

with basically any accessory for our cars, it's all about personal preference. i like the box speaker idea and see no problem with it. i also think the sound is better in the footwells.

attached are pics of the walmart box

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who provided advice. I'm going to try the boxes I made up first and if they arn't quite right I have the $30.00 wallmart box speaker. Plus the use of a tie down system makes a lot of sense and I've made some brackets to use in addition to the Velcro on the boxes.
Thanks again.
Chuck

I'd like to hear and maybe see a picture showing how these are done. I have the Walmart box but I'm a long way from listening to my radio.

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Never forgot my first vehicle at 17, a 77 B.
30 years later graduated to a 74 chrome bumpered B.

High-torque starter, sports coil, pertronix elect. ignition, SU solid state fuel pump, HIF-4 carbs (rebuilt May 2011).