Rear Speaker Installation

Q: Rear Speaker Installation

I have a 1968 Firebird and according to PHS my car was equipped with an AM radio. But my car actually has an AM/FM radio which appears to be correct for the year. My guess is that the first owner of the car had the AM/FM installed by the dealer after the car had been built and delivered to the dealer.

Anyway, the radio has a “fader bezel” on the right hand side so I decided I would install a rear speaker to make use of the radio’s full (?) potential. I purchased an accurate cardboard speaker housing, speaker and grille as well as supporting hardware to attach the speaker behind the rear seat. I’m just not sure whether I should attach the speaker on the right or left side.

The diagrams in the 1968 Pontiac Shop manual seem to imply that if you had just one speaker in the car it was placed in the right rear. I have not seen a 1968 convertible with one rear speaker at any shows so I’m asking you all. Does anyone know for sure which side of the car a single rear speaker goes? Or does it go in the center.

Another question. I am assuming that the well cover goes over the speaker and that I have to cut a hole at least as large as the speaker opening in the speaker housing in the well cover and then attach the grille over that area of the well cover. Is that correct? Again, the shop manual’s diagram leaves a lot to be desired and to the imagination.

A: You are correct in the installation or the rear speaker, and it goes on the RIGHT SIDE. The assembly goes under the top well, and the speaker grille goes on top, so you can see it when you look in the rear window.

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