im looking to put a system into my 84. ive got a small amp and 10in sub inside a vertical speaker box. also i was thinking of hooking up 6x9's in boxes somewhere in there rear.

if you have some pictures of how you set up your speakers and amp, please post them. id like to get some ideas on the best place to mount this stuff and still retain storage space. thanks guys!

Hey Tony,

What's up. Check out my Elco on page 25 in the Fifth Gen category. I installed 4 10" speakers in the smugglers compartment and two 6X9s on a board directly behind the seats below the rear window. Three Rockford Fosgate amplifiers were installed behind the seats on the floorboards and are underneath two clear plexiglass windows.

I have a pair of midranges, mid bass, and 4 additional tweeters throughout. The system in the elco sounds great!

For starters, you might want to wire the 6X9s to the small amp until you get a second amp to power your lows. Good luck.

Depending on your head unit you may want at least 600 W to run that 10 and 2 6x9 and in mine the very high volume ranges the saftey kicks on. I bought the boxes at walmart and screwed the 10 box into the bed wall under the glass and the 6x9 boxes fit in the smugglers box w/ the amp. May be I can get picks for you soon if you want.

Hi 82elco,
I hope you can share your secrets!
Can you post closeups of your doors so we can have a better look of the work you made.
Also, your 4 10" in the box how'd you do it exactly (pic didn't quite show it) ... I'm still pondering on how I'm going to do mine. 2X 10", 2X 6.5 or (6X9); 2Xtweeters.
Thinkin of doing it like BAM.
You can see my current set up
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Interior&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Has anyone ever bought and used those kick panels where you install your own speakers? I'm about to install the radio I bought (Nakamichi CD400) and I don't want to loose use of the smugglers box.

Hey Lucky 13,

What's up? I will do what I can to share the trade secrets and post additional pics as time permits.

As much as I would like to take credit for the system I can and will not. The system was installed at my buddy's shop in La Puente California. Those guys can get down with the systems.

They knew what I wanted, I just simply dropped it off and asked them to let me know when it was ready. The system was installed by the same shop and installer that has installed systems in 3 of my 4 vehicles in addition to two vehicles that I have since retired or sold off.

I have a total of 4 10" woofers installed 2 each in two seperate boxes on either side of the driveshaft hump. The whole set up is behind a tan shroud that was fabricated to give the Elco a clean look.

This week promises to be quite busy but I will do what I can to get some additional pics uploaded as soon as possible. I will let you know when they are up. Thanks will stay in touch.

82 Elco that is a really nice installation and really clean. I think that is classy. I'm not in love with the front stuff as much as I am the back. I plan on doing something very close to what they did with yours in the back of my 80 SS.

I like the way they mounted those tweeters in the back. I would never had thought of that but it does give a new dimension to it all. My stereo is probably not as expensive is yours, head unit / player. I'm just looking for good sound not necessarily lots of volume. I'm not going to have troubles hearing it when my interior is completed. I had been thinking about mounting those tweeters in the console at the back on either side. I'm making my own console and if I can work it some of the amps will be hidden in there.

I've got some drawings of what I want the Smuggler's box set up to look like. I can't say I'd mount amps in the floor boards behind the seats I generally put to much behind the seats and would be freaked something would catch fire or get hurt.

Your truck is really nice also, good combination. 8)

Thanks for stopping by to look at my audio set up and comments Mr. Elky Pete.

I checked out your 73, the 80, and your website. Lot's to read. I like that quite a bit. As I indicated previously, I will take some additional pics of the audio set up and post them so that you guys can take a closer look.

Besides, the woofers and 6X9s above the smugglers compartment the installers installed a capacitor behind a small plexiglass window. More detailed pics will follow.

I realize that the front is far from stock but what can I say? I am an audio enthusiast. I mounted some tweeters in the same location in another Elco. The result was excellent highs. The 6X9s installed under the rear window provide a real good rear fill.

Good luck with your console. I have given some limited thought to changing out my console one more time. I probably will but I have been keeping busy working on my Suburban and Truck lately.

Again, thanks for stopping by and the comments. Good luck with your set up. Post some pics when you get it completed. Thanks.

82Elco,
Thanx for your help. Can't wait to see your pix.
I think I have a system all lined up... at least in my head.
It's gonna take a lot of time, preparation and $$$ ... lots of it.

Since summer's almost here and I CAN'T let my elky rest for a few days (or weeks) to have audio system installed, I'll have to wait for fall and winter to come to put it in.

My roomate just completed a course in wood furniture finishing and plans to help out. He says he can finish a wood panel like a guitar... 2 tones... black for the the wood grain and blue for the rest... looks promissing.

I'll post pics of the results as they come in... it'll take a damn while tough!

Have a great summer of driving!

I mounted 6x9's in the corners of the cargo area using mounting brakets and baffling from a 3rd gen Camaro. The baffles go all the way up the corners to just below the small corner window. The mounting plates fit right in the corner and angle in just enough that they tuck away allowing the curtain to slide behind.
http://elcaminocentral.com/albums/albun47/DSCN3383.jpg

i have one question i want to put 2 12"s and would like to put 2 6x9s behind the seat the only thing is im 6'3" tall so i cant move the seat foward is this possible i will remove the spare tire and all

I've recently measured the space. I'm working the interor of my 80 presently. Anyhow, it is 11 1/4" tall area and 48" long. No way, unless they are slanted, will 12" subs fit inside the box. Best you could do is 10" Subs and frankly, for an El Camino, that is plenty actually one would possibly be sufficient. In mine I'll install two 10" Subs and 2 2" Tweets and two 6" Mid. in a custom box I am making for the storage area. THe box is recessed in the box not dead on the front of it. I want the area clean so The surface I mount the speakers on will be about 11" from the very back of that box.