DIY Tweeter Sail Panels

I recently decided I wanted to upgrade to 3 way components and was faced with a dilemma of where to mount my tweeters so I decided to build some sail panels. Just thought I'd share.

I started out running them this way, just hot glued on the back side. It looked okay but the imaging was off so I looked and saw that replacements were pretty cheap if I screwed up and I decided try my hand at sail panels.



Morel includes some very nice pods, so I was able to use those instead of building the actual tweeter mounts.





I made this little tool for aiming the tweeters and made a ton of marks, then hot glued and went back and retested. This was a major PITA for the driver's side because the laser dot hits the steering wheel at pretty much any angle that isn't perfect. I aimed them for the opposite listener's ear area which I deemed to be approximately where the seatbelt adjust sits.



Then I started adding Bondo until I was able to form mostly uniform humps in the panels.



Not very even in this photo, but it's hard for me to see until after filler primer and everything is a uniform color



This was the final shape before top coating


I then coated these with SEM Texture Coating followed by VHT Satin Black Vinyl Dye. I couldn't get the texture or color perfect. I may spend some time playing with the texture spray in the future but I couldn't find a better match for the interior plastic color.



The dye actually changes color a bit over the following days, this is the final color.

 

Very nice, final product looks clean! I did this not too long ago as well, how are you liking them compared to the old angle? The color and gloss match way better on yours than mine do, might have to give that VHT a try.

 

Looks good

 

I think it sounds clearer, like the voices are actually aimed at me. It’s hard to describe though. Not a huge improvement but definitely an improvement.

The VHT wasn’t a perfect match but I doubt anyone besides me will notice the slight difference. I checked several brands and I don’t think any others will be closer

 

Looking good, but geez! I did this to mine about a year ago, but didn't do 10% the work you had to.
My speakers sat in a directional coupler, that allowed me to position them in any direction I wanted +/- 30 degrees just like the A/C vents overhead in an aircraft above our seats.
Only had to cut the holes in the sail panels and then install them and wire them to the door speakers.
Here's my mod thread
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/small-speaker-mod-added.579488/

 

Does anyone know if there is a variant or the 3rd gen that Toyota actually made a sail rail with the friggin speaker mounts in them? Man, now that would be easy pest to do without all this friggin mutilating panels and hoping you don’t F’up!!! Anyone got ANYTHING??

 

I actually searched recently and couldn't find anything except others who, like me, have built them. Some tweeters will flush mount with included hardware, but could be difficult to aim properly.

 

I'm content I did the Tweeter upgrade swap. 10 minute job!