64 Impala Kick panels

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Fiberglass, Fabrication, and Interiors
Forum Discription: Fiberglass Kick Panels, Subwoofer Enclosures, Plexiglas, Fabrics, Materials, Finishes, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=58720
Printed Date: May 03, 2024 at 10:19 AM

Topic: 64 Impala Kick panels

Posted By: Sessland
Subject: 64 Impala Kick panels
Date Posted: July 02, 2005 at 11:42 AM

I got started yesterday with my kick panel project for the 64 Impala and quickly realized all the work I did yesterday will not work and will also end up looking very poor.

I am in desperate need for some ideas how to get a 6.5" and 1" tweeter in there.

Biggest problem that I am running across on the driver's side is the floor mounted high beam switch and foot operated emergency brake pedal.

If anyone has any ideas, specially any pictures I would really appreciate it.

Help me get my creativity wheels rolling.

Replies:

Posted By: j68rh
Date Posted: July 02, 2005 at 2:58 PM

take some pictures of your situation so people can get an idea of what is going on to help our creative wheels going.

Posted By: Sessland
Date Posted: July 02, 2005 at 4:07 PM

I lent a buddy my camera, when he gives it back I will.

Posted By: maglin
Date Posted: July 03, 2005 at 2:48 AM

i've had the same problem in my 69. too much crap operated by the feet. i've considered for some time, putting a sound box low profile in front of the seats... the sound would come up through your legs. i laid a speaker in a makshift holder there, and i'm not sure i liked it, but i may have no other choice in bringing the speakers forward. you can't move the seats around much, but its a true honest to god 2 seater, and the seat mechs are so old they barely work anyways. just push them all the way back and away you go. lol.

Posted By: Lincolnman
Date Posted: July 03, 2005 at 6:27 PM

Sessland,

I don't know if your up for it but you could build a center console and mount your components in the sides of the console. the sound would still be coming about the same location but in the middle of the car instead of in the kick panels. I also ran into the same problem with my '62 Lincoln Continental, and I'm planning on using this idea. Thought it might be helpful.

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Nothing is impossible!

Posted By: Sessland
Date Posted: July 03, 2005 at 8:23 PM

Thanks for the idea, but not really what I'm looking for. So far it looks like moving the high beam switch over a few inches would make things much more flexible.

Still looking for some ideas though, and will post the pictures on monday when I get my cam back.

thanks for the ideas so far.

Posted By: prodjectx64
Date Posted: August 21, 2005 at 2:25 AM

i am building kick panels for my 64 right now and if you mve your highbeam switch over and make the kick panel close to the front of the car then you shouldnt have a problem with the brake i just took my brake out and i am planing on relocating it at an angle to keep it from hitting the panel i wil post pics sunday

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if it cant be done do it anyway

Posted By: blufab
Date Posted: August 21, 2005 at 12:49 PM

Why dont you mount the hardware in the door?

Posted By: Sessland
Date Posted: September 06, 2005 at 4:29 PM

Sorry for the long delay between following up on this. Took me a while to get my camera back and then a hurricane knocked my internet out for a month.

Ok, here are some pictures of what I have to work with and I have roughly positioned a speaker mount so you get an idea of the sizes I'm working with.

I have decided to sacrifice the stock plastic covers and incorporate them into the kickpanel design. I figured I could mount my speaker ring with some dowels to the plastic and go from there.

Here is what is hiding behind the plastic. When the covers are on, there isn't all that much room behind there.

posted_image

Here is the cover on. You can see the emergency brake pedal and the floor mounted high beam switch.

posted_image

The rest of the pics are of possible configurations. Let me know what position you think would sound best and we'll see what obstacles that might come with.

posted_image

Posted By: Sessland
Date Posted: September 06, 2005 at 4:32 PM

Here is the cover on. You can see the emergency brake pedal and the floor mounted high beam switch.

posted_image

The rest of the pics are of possible configurations. Let me know what position you think would sound best and we'll see what obstacles that might come with.

posted_image

Posted By: realitycheck
Date Posted: September 07, 2005 at 7:33 AM

I think if you do either one of those sessland your not going to be able to reach your high beam switch.

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Learning the trade one fiberglass creation at a time!

Posted By: Sessland
Date Posted: September 07, 2005 at 7:15 PM

I am planning on relocating it. Obviously it won't work the way it is.

Posted By: dashrat77
Date Posted: September 08, 2005 at 7:09 PM

I did pods in a 64 a while back, I just moved the HL switch out of the way, but did nothing to the park brake. Heres pics of the car. Sorry, seems I didnt do pics of the dvr side kick.

https://www.dashratkustoms.com/DBimpala.htm

Posted By: Sessland
Date Posted: September 08, 2005 at 7:51 PM

This is EXACTLY what I was hoping to find.

Awesome. It's even the same color scheme that I'm using.

Thank a mil, this gives me a great idea.

BTW, How did it sound with the speakers in that location?

Posted By: AZ-ss
Date Posted: September 19, 2005 at 5:37 PM

Dashrat- NICE!

Sessland- You could always do the same design that Dashrat executed. But if you aren't going to use the vents that are located in the kicks, why dont you recess a portion of the kickpanel in that area so your kickpanels dont eat up too much of your floorspace.

I had done a set of panels for an early 60's chevrolet truck that had to accomodate some 6x9's. I first made a fiberglass mounting box molded to the "pocket" where the vents are located, part of the outside mounting lip also served as the base where the speaker mounting baffle was going to be aimed and anchored. I then made stretched material from the aimed mounting baffle to the mounting box to give the exterior a smooth fluid appearance.

Or another option is to replace the high beam floor switch with a relay and a small switch located elsewhere to control the highbeams. ( had to do this for a 84 Bronco that I did kicks for)

Good Luck!

Posted By: Sessland
Date Posted: September 20, 2005 at 7:52 PM

just curious...

where did you aim the speakers and how did it sound?