[nightrain_rod]

Well,it looks like my life is over lol.I haven't been able to find a hot rod that will suit what little pocket book that I have.I've found some decent deals,but I can't settle on anything because of the amount of work that it will take to get the rods going.So,I've made my decision..

My dad owns a 1994 Ford Escort LX 2 Door Hatchback and I've decided to drive that to High School.Seeing that it's little 1.9L I-4 gets 38-40 miles per gallon,it's going to be my best friend as far as that goes.The little car is like a dark red or maroun..However you spell it lol.Anyway,it's cool.It's got a 5-Speed Manual Transmission and some nice looking factory Chrome 14" Wheels with those Low Profile BFG's.Even though the little car does have around 176,000-177,000 miles,it doesn't use any oil and it accelerates perfectly.Of course,it's nothing like the pep of that 5.0 Mustang that I had lol.I don't expect that from the little engine.I just want to drive it back and forth to school and be happy.I know that it's kinda odd that the gas mileage and distance that I will driving everyday works out to be the same,but the drive to school and back everyday is exactly 40.2 miles.Then,something like 50 over the weekend,driving to my dad's and back.We're looking at around 250-300 miles per week.My dad drives it roughly 20 miles everyday and he can drive for exactly 2 weeks on 1 tank of gas.Also,he drives 100 miles and back every weekend to see his woman.But anyway...

I graduated from the 8th Grade May 20th,so I've been finished with school for almost a month now.Since the little car doesn't have a CD Player and a decent set of speakers,for my Graduation,my mom bought me a Sony Xplod CDX-M630 CD Player.I think that it's pretty cool.The control face flips down and out from the inside and then it flips back in for a cool look and those LCD displays.I've heard alot of good things about them,so I figured,"What the hell..."

I would like to ask a favor of someone if I could..This little Escort has some cheap factory speakers and I want some good ones to handle the 52 watts that this CD Player will be transmitting to each of them.So,I think that I've decided to go with a set of Polk's.The factory rear's are 5X7's,I believe,but I'm going to replace them with a set of 6X9's for a little better tone and punch.The 6X9's won't fit in the factory-designated speaker holes in the back,so what I'm going to do is this..Since this car is a Hatchback,(I have noticed it on some Notchbacks),there's this little "platform" of a thing that comes up with the trunk door when you open and raise it.It's made out of cardboard or something..Anyway,I think you guys know what I'm talking about.So,I'm going to go to the local pick n' pull and get me another one of those with the same interior color and use it for my 6X9's.I'm going to cutout 2 holes in that "platform" and place my 6X9's in those holes.Then,with 2 male-and-female clips,I can easily unhook them so I can raise the panel with the trunk door.Sound like a good idea?Anyway,I think that it will work.

For the front speakers,I don't know the dimensions.This is where I need that help.For you guys that don't mind looking it up if you know where,here's the info on the car because they'll probably ask.If they don't,it's here anyway:

1994 Ford Escort LX
2-Door Hatchback
Factory AM/FM Cassette Radio
No Factory Amp

That should be enough to look it up.If you guys need anymore info,just let me know.The little car's not that bad looking..It just won't get up and go.Know what I mean?But,I guess that's the best thing for a high schooler lol.Anyway..The little car is going to get a little customization.That CD Player and Speakers for one..And another is that I bought a set of those Racing-White Face Gauges to put in and a Chrome Bezel.I think that will look pretty cool.But anyway,enough about the little car.Sorry for betraying you guys .I'll find SOMETHING to work on ..Ya'll know me .Anyway,let me know on those speakers and anything else that anyone wants to know .

Thanks!
Jacob Middleton

[4 Jaw Chuck]

I would make your "platform" out of something more substantial than the factory plastic/cardboard cover. If you don't the resonance will be terrible.

Why not build/buy a box?

[nightrain_rod]

A box is a great idea..Problem is..The only place that it could "legally" be placed would be in the trunk.By the time that the sound waves traveled through the seat,you would more than likely not be able to hear it the best in the world.There's these little sheets that you can get from Crutchfield.com that are guaranteed to not make the mounting area of the speakers "rattle" or have resonance.Since they're guaranteed,I'm going to give them a try.Nevermind on the front speaker deminsions.They're 6.5 inches.Gonna get me a complete set this weekend .

Thanks!
Jacob Middleton

[4 Jaw Chuck]

OK.

Why not get rid of the cover all together? Then you will have room for the box? This is a hatch back right?

I can just about guarantee mounting speakers in that package shelf will sound like poo...even with a sound absorbing mat.

[nightrain_rod]

Alrighty.Thanks for the tip.I'll check it out and see what I can do.I'm going to dad's tomorrow,so that will be the best time to check that out.Believe it or not,I ordered a set of 6X9 Speaker Boxes off eBay the other day.That's what I was going to do at first,but then I can up with the idea for the package shelf.But I'll check it out.

Thanks!
Jacob Middleton

[Stinky]

Yeah my brothers first car was a escort. He took that paper shelf out and put in a box. Sounded fine. I think he also got some speakers for the front. It was LOUD!! And clear. If your getting the escort keep an eye on the timing. The belts are cheaply made.
BECAUSE ITS A FORD!!!!

[nightrain_rod]

Update:

Well,I went to Circuit City Saturday and bought my Polk's.I got a set of GXR6's and a set of GXR69's.I think that they're going to be a nice set of speakers,especially for the money.They came out to be about $150.I also bought a wiring harness for the Escort to ease the installation of the CD Player.When I got home,I took the harness that came with the CD Player and matched the color-coded wires on the car's harness to each other with what I call "blade clips"..(Little clips that you insert 2 seperate wires into and close the top flap,which forces a blade to slice through each wire and connect them)..Anyway,the CD Player is now installed and it's a PERFECT fit.I don't think that I could've found a better fit.

One of my buddies is coming over tomorrow to help me install the speakers.I was in good spirits of us installing the front and rear speakers,but due to problems that I had with the Driver's Side Door,that's not going to happen.I have a Haynes Manual for the car,and the door panel removal is covered in it.I went exactly by the instructions,and still something broke.There's this little plastic clip that is connected to the door handle.The clip is connected to the jamb rod,so when you pull the door handle,it pulls the rod and the door jamb opens.Anyway,that little mother broke,of all things.Oh well..The local junk yard,I'm sure,has a few of these Escorts sitting around.I'm going to go and check them out to get one out of.

It's 2:10 AM and my speaker boxes for my 6X9's are coming in today.I'm going to try sticking them in the trunk,on their backside,with the speakers pointing straight up,without removing anything from the trunk of the car.If I have problems hearing them,I'm just going to sit them on top of that shelf that we talked about earlier.That'll be the best that I can do.But anyway..I think that everything will work good.I can't wait to hear the new speakers because this CD Player sounds amazing with the factory paper ones!

Rock On Guys!
Jacob Middleton

[78novaman]

A freind of mine has the same car, its all mazda under that ford badge.

[akm]

i would take back the 6x9s and get some 5x7s. if you get some good ones you won't hear the difference and it will look alot cleaner and probably sound alot better. also up at circit city they have a user friendly computer that will tell you what size front speakers you need.

[nightrain_rod]

Another Update :

Well,the job's all done.Stupid me,I thought that I broke the door handle the other day,and it's just made that way.It was a ***** getting them to working again though.Something about the pull rod was out of line or something.Anyway,they're all in.It took me about 2 1/2 hours on the fronts..But it was worth it.There's a really nice,bassy tone and everything's as clear as a bell.It's amazing!Anyway..Enough about that.

Jacob Middleton