OK, Newb here who hasn't much expereince in interior dis-/re-assembly. I did do a search using several text combos and didn't find any threads on this, so either I'm REALLY dumb or it's so incredibly easy, that it PROVES I'm incredibly dumb....

I've got an '89 RS vert that has bad rear speakers. They're presumably stock, since everythiong else on the car is original. I kind'a gently pried around on the grills and couldn't find a way to make 'em budge, and I don't want to break any of the old plastic tabs on the grills if I can help it. There's no visible attachment hardwware, so how the heck do they come off?

Also, this car isn't ever gonna be a rolling concert hall, so any recos about a reasonably decent speaker that will fit the stock opening/grill will be appreciated.

Thx--Bubba

 

I know on my car (which might not be the same as the vert) there is a clothes hanger with a screw in it, and then two buttons that cover two more screws.

 

Are you talking about the cloth covers above the rear armrests ?

As Fatboy said, you have to remove the coat hanger. Then you just have to slide it up and gently pull.

 

The verts don't have the coat hangers - there's nothing there since it's a vert - repost this in the vert section for better answers.

 

The entire panel has to be removed. The grill is held on by 4 nuts on the other side of the panel. There are (I think) 4 or 5 screws that hold the panel on (The panel with the armrest, and the hole for the seatbelt to go through) and behind that you will see the speaker, the 4 studs of the grill and the nuts that hold them to the panel.

These are the panels that need to come out:

 

Oh haha i feel like an idiot. There are no sail panels in a convertible... Thanks bradley for helping us fools out :P

 

Thanks for the help! Pics are great for us 'all thumbs' guys. Here I was gonna just start prying on the grills until something popped! Still, I can't believe that the General made replacing the speakers such a hassle.

Still looking for recos on a decent speaker that will fit the stock panel/grill placement. Maybe I should move this to the Audio forum?

 

Not a problem guys.

Actually, I am not sure that GM had anything to do with the design of the speaker panels, ASC probably made them like that. Just a heads up, you will most likely have to remove the black armrest piece to remove the speakers as well. The bolts that hold on the armrest will most likely start to just turn, leaving you no option but to rip the armrest off (ask me how I know) which is a pain. I am still not 100% on what size speaker fits in there, but I put 4" rounds there, and the panel needs a bit of trimming for them to fit flush.

And, don't pry the grills off, they're real hard to find!

Good luck!

 

b23150: Just out'a curiousity, what does ASC have to do with the panel design? I thought verts were all factory built starting in '88. I've looked at the data on this forum and it states that GM started building 'em again, as opposed to them being custom fabbed. Not correct?

 

Bradley, another vert owner here. I've got to get into mine but I have a 91 with the factory fiberglass cover that pops up and out of the way. It looks like I could get down into it without the interior panel removal.

Do I have to remove the speaker cover to get to speaker mounting bolts?

 

Incorrect.

GM never made a third gen convertible. The convertibles from 87-92 were all "Factory Approved" convertible conversions. The conversions were still made at ASC's factory, not at a GM factory, it was just they started "offering" convertibles for sale, and sending them to ASC to be done. Thats why 87-92 verts had that option in the VIN, as opposed to 82-86, wouldn't.

 

I have an 88, I would assume that the way the panels, and speakers are mounted are very similar in design. Maybe if you could post a picture of what yours looks like opposed to the pic I posted, and maybe I can help you.

 

From my understanding ASC did conversions and then GM let them do the factory conversions. I don't know if the factory conversions all had the fiberglass cover but from what I've seen it was in 91-92 for Firebirds. The earlier ones had a tonneau cover hiding the top when it was down. Maybe I'm wrong but I haven't seen alot of them on here like mine.

I'll attach a pic of what I have and get better ones later.

 

Sorry I forgot how to attach the pic. I've got to go. I get one later.

 

Glad I found this post, and warning about grill being hard to find. With the beechwood/tan interior my grill covers were looking a little dirty and on had small nick in cloth cover. I will clean it in place and do a glue stop fabric deterioration and paint touch up for now. And yes I belive your right that the rear panels as well as the lid and trunk was an ASC design to blend every thing in together. ASC did earlier Cameros and a few Firebirds prior to 91 and 92. The Camero's had some beautiful color combos in the vert but I'm glad I came across this 91 -poor man vette-nosed-bird.