Aftermarket a-pillars for tweeter relocation?

Installed a custom system in my 2010 DC last summer- i'd like to move the tweeters from the door into the a-pillars. Anyone know if there is an option to purchase aftermarket a-pillars that would allow for tweeters? I've seen lots of options on here for gauges but not for tweeters. something like the attached pic...

 

I haven't seen any pre made ones. Most people just mold them themselves. The sail panel in our trucks is easier to mold into a tweeter pod.

I'd like to remake mine but I haven't had the time...

 

My brother made his own


He is redoing it now

 

I searched far and wide and couldn't find any aftermarket solution. Thinking more about it I'm actually glad I didn't find anything, because all tweeters behave differently and there is no universal aiming that will work with all tweeters. You really need to test different locations and aiming. Once you get that down it's not terribly difficult to make your own.

I used CA glue and an old T Shirt to make the form. I haven't finished them because I haven't had the time, but I plan to resin over the outside then use body filler over that. For the inside I'll use a "milkshake" combination of resin and body filler. Those together should give me decent strength. I'm planning to finish them with factory matched vinyl.

I tested various locations and ended with them mounted right above the instrument cluster, firing straight across, and angled slightly toward the driver. I arrived on this final location for the following reasons:

• Mounting above the cluster removed this interference. I tried with them mounted lower, but it didn't sound good. In order to get a good center I had to angle them up, and in that orientation the center was too high.
• Firing straight across and angled toward the driver provides stage half way between rear view mirror and dash. I read a few threads where people had success with them aimed up towards the rear view mirror. I tried this for a while the stage was just too high. Vocals felt like they were singing down on me. Like I was sitting in an orchestra pit at a concert. Call it psychological, but my neck was starting to hurt.
• Angled in to minimize reflections off the windshield. The L1ProR2 tweeters have great off-axis response and having them aimed directly at the other side pillar was causing early reflections off the windshield, which was causing issues with centering the image. The image would bleed to one side. Also, having them toed in really opened up the width.

The tweeter ring is a 1/4" section off the end of a 1-1/2" PVC pipe coupling. I got the idea from another thread on the DIYMA forum. This is one of my preliminary mounts as evident in the tweeter being aimed up towards the mirror. I eventually shortened the wood support to have them aimed straight across. I tested about four different aims and it was starting to be a real PITA taking-off/applying hot glue. Thank god I'm done with that work.


Here's after I applied CA glue and trimmed up the fabric. I scuffed up the pillars with 80 grit first, which provided a good surface for the CA glue to adhere to. My wife helped apply the glue while I held the fabric in place. To anyone attempting this - USE VENTILATION! Open a window, turn on a fan, or do it outside. Even though we did a majority of the work outside, we still both had headaches.


Here's a pic of the driver's side after it was mounted.


I'm still messing with T/A and levels, but it sounds fantastic so far.

 

do the pictures not work for anyone else? i'd really like to see this ^

 

I can't see them either

 

Looking to do this to my 1st gen. Anyone have new pics to post? or a link to some "tweeter relocators"

 

You would probably have to mold one out of fiberglass. It would not be hard to put one on the plastic peace where the mirror is bolted on.

 

Yes. Top Panel Acoustics. They work well.

I have a set for sale here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/bu...-custom-tacoma-pillars-3-mids-1-tweeters.html

Will probably be putting up my kick panels up soon as well.