1959 Speaker Confusion

[Ethan M.]

Hello All,

I have researched older posts on whether or not the 1959 speaker has a bezel or not. Some older posts eluded that later 59's dont have a bezel??

I looked in The Complete Corvette Restoration abd Tech Guide and the image on page 214 there clearly is a bezel (for 1958-1960's)

Can anyone clarify?

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

Ethan,

My understanding is that there was no grill in 58 and some later 59's had the grill and all 60's had it.

After doing the dash pad on my 60 then just last week doing the dash pad on my 58, I can honestly say that I wish the 58 used a grill. It would have been soooo much easier to install the dash pad.

The judging guide suggests approx. serial numbers where the grill may have started being used on the 59's.

If it turns out yours is one without the grill, then keep in mind that the grill mounts from under the dash along with the speaker, not between the dash pad and dash.

Tom

[Edward L.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

No speaker bezel on 59's. I had a last day of production 1959 and there was no bezel.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

No speaker bezel on 59's. I had a last day of production 1959 and there was no bezel.

Ed,

In the judging guide they mention that there is evidence of speaker bezels being "randomly" used sometime from Feb 59 on.

I don't know what "random" means in this case. 1 in 10, 1 in 100 had it? Who knows..............?

Either way, I would expect there were more 59's without a bezel then with one.

Tom

[Rob M.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

My late (09573) '59 has the bezel but I can't be 100% it is original...

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

Ethan, Sometimes Noland's images are confusing. He shows that bezel but IIRC it's actually a picture of a 1960. 1958 and 1959 used no bezel, but as stated some '59's likely have used it as part of tests and trials for the 1960 models that used it exclusively. We'll never know the exact count.

Tom, On your '58 did you put the screen under the fiberglass dash as original? Did it look recessed?

One thing to consider when installing a "no-bezel" '58-'59 screen using today's reproduction dashpads........Original dashpads were thinner with much leass padding than the reproductions. Four T-studs were installed into the 4 holes in the recesses in the dash and held in using resin/bonding adhesive. The studs stuck down under the dash. The speaker screen mounted under the dash through the studs and was held up while the speaker was installed from underneath the screen and attached with nuts. The top of the screen ended up flush with the surface of the original type dashpad.

But reproduction dashpads these days are thicker than originals. If you install the screen from under the dash you may no longer have a flush screen to the dashpad. It will look recessed with a "pond" effect. I went through much testing and trials on a '59 a few years ago and decided for the best fit and proper appearance the speaker screen MUST be installed between the TOP of the dash and BELOW the dashpad. The pad will be held down by the mirror support and the glued edge of the dashpad under the windshield.

IMO the end result is a properly appearing flush speaker screen to the dashpad.

Reference thread with photos here...... https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...647#post608647


This was the result in progress and after everything was buttoned up...

I recall I added some filler material between the dash top and dashpad to get the pad and screen more flush.

P5090001.jpgDSCN0191.jpg

Rich

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

Tom, On your '58 did you put the screen under the fiberglass dash as original?
Rich

Rich,

I experimented both ways. With it on top of the dash it stuck up too much. I then mounted it under the dash and it sat too low. So I then had the brilliant idea to trim some of the foam around the grill opening to find a happy medium. Let's just say this was probably not one of my "best" ideas as trying to trim the foam evenly so there would be no visible ripples from the top proved to be very time consuming and somewhat frustrating. I think I have it now so that the grill will be just a smidge below the top of the dash pad.

I have not done the final install with the speaker yet to know for sure. Once it gets a bit warmer here I may be inclined to head back out into the garage. My garage heater struggles to heat the garage once the temps go below 25 or so and the past few days it has been real cold here. Supposed to be in the single digits all day Tuesday. Kissimmee can't come soon enough............

Tom

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

Tom, yes I was thinking of cutting foam too but I bagged that idea. I mounted the screen above the dash and I built up underneath the pad with some soft thin foam so it would keep everything level.

I recall Chuck and his staff at CK Auto Restoration did a '58 a few years ago and they had similar issues. I used their advice about mounting the screen above the dash and below the pad. The pics of theirs is here.....

http://albums.phanfare.com/4788455/2120984_2277417#imageID=29739627
http://albums.phanfare.com/4788455/2...ageID=57881407

http://albums.phanfare.com/4788455/2120984_2277419#imageID=38594576

http://albums.phanfare.com/4788455/2120984_2277419#imageID=41798440

Rich

[Thomas H.]

Re: 1959 Speaker Confusion

I spent a bit out in the garage today and put the speaker / grill in. This is with the grill mounted between the speaker and the dash and some "creative" removal of the dash pad foam around the speaker opening. (Yes, I know I still have to black out the foam in the defroster openings..............)