Speaker Location And Recommendations!

[thousender]

Hi all, I've got an 87 Comanche that (for whatever reason) was ordered with the speaker delete. Now the times come to install a sound system. I've already got a kenwood head unit and pyramid 150w amp that I was given, now I just have to figure out speakers and where to put them. Ideally I wouldn't have to cut into my door cards, but if it must happen, it will happen. I've heard about tucking them under the dash and securing with zip ties, and about installing them in the kick panel. Any thoughts? And is there still wiring for the radio and speakers in a truck with the radio delete?

 

Also, I would love to hear your opinions on which speakers to get, I don't want to spend much more than a hundred bucks.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Minuit]

Regardless of whether your truck came as a radio-delete or not, the wiring exists at the dashboard for the radio to plug into and out to the kick panels for the door speakers, and to the speaker locations for the rear speakers. You'll need to run the wiring from the kick-panel area out to the doors, or just get that section of the harness from the junkyard.

 

Here's an aftermarket radio harness adapter for an 87:

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120701000/Metra-70-1000-Receiver-Wiring-Harness.html?tp=2977

 

The factory speaker locations consist of:

 

Two tweeters behind the "vents" in the lower dash installed with special brackets. This location was only used with the XJ-only "Accusound" package, but some aftermarket tweeters will fit in the brackets. You might be able to get up to 3.5" speakers in here, but I don't recommend it.

 

 

Two 5.25" speakers in the doors; nylon nuts should be present in the doors to install the speakers with sheet metal screws. If not, they can be gotten from the hardware store.

Someone on here might be able to help you with getting the appropriate door cards so you won't have to cut into your originals, or you could get lucky at the junkyard - not likely since an 87 can't have a grey interior, which is the most common color BY FAR.

 

Two 4x6 speakers in special Comanche-specific brackets in the lower B-pillar. If your truck was a radio delete, or came with a base model radio, don't expect to find the brackets there. Due to the small size of the Comanche cab, rear speakers won't be a strict necessity (and depending on your setup, you may find your system sounds better without them), so don't feel too bad if you don't have or can't find these brackets.

 

[Smokeyyank]

I just put in an entire system in mine. I went with a kicker speakers and a sub all around. I got them from Crutchfeild all of them were the scratch and dent ones so I saved a good chunk of cash. Wiring I went with knuconcepts for the amp and speaker wire. Great quality for the price. I did a 5ch amp so ran all new wire for the speakers. Front I went with 6.5" they fit without needing to modify the door cards a lot but I probably should have went with 5.25. Rears 4x6 and a 8" sub. Overall, very happy with it. 

[89Gremlin]

I got some 5.25 speakers for the doors, I had gotten them in a sale for around $100. I had some 6x9s in standalone boxes that I put in the back behind the bench, all I had to do was extend the wires for the rear speakers to the standalone box. I also added a "bazooka tube" subwoofer behind the bench, I believe its a 6" or 8" and sounds great. For the deck I used a wiring harness as well as a bracket kit to install. All in all it was a fairly straight forward install!

[Pete M]

my first truck went through a few different setups and what I settled on is 5.25s in the doors and a small woofer behind the seats.  it's a tiny cab.  you don't need to spend much to get decent sound.    If you're not going with an external amp, make sure that whatever radio you buy comes with an internal amp.  I found out the hard way that not all of the cheap ones do.  it played music, but couldn't get loud enough to be heard on the freeway.