I decided to take a stab at the fiberglass kick panel deal. I like these because they provide a nice enclosure volume for any set of decent mids. I’m running Infinity Kappa components with the tweets in the dash where the AC balls would go if equipped. That was not my first choice for location but the PO had installed some garbage 70’s map lights there so the tweets made a nice replacement for now.

I bought everything I needed to do this at Home Depot and Joann Fabrics.

I have to give credit to greasmonkey’s FAQ (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=141614) for the idea (at least that’s where I first saw it). I followed his basic idea, but made a few changes.

First, I used a dense ¼” fiberboard for the backing instead of fiberglass. Because of this there was no need for the ½ round edging. I just sand rounded the edges of the fiberboard. It also allowed me to cut a groove in the back of the panel at the depth of the speaker wire to run it from the hole to the top of the panel and still allow the panel to sit flush against the sheet metal (see pics).

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0876Medium.jpg?t=1173296218
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0886Medium.jpg?t=1173296272
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1013Medium.jpg?t=1173296318

I placed the driver’s side speaker lower than the passenger side to clear the e-brake pedal. I decided to move the pedal itself over on the lever (drill welds, move right, re-weld) as can be seen in one of the pics. That’s not necessary, but I didn’t want to be kicking the kick panel all the time, or even close to it. I also removed the Highbeam/Lowbeam switch. I run brights all the time (because they’re not very bright) so I just tie-wrapped the harness up under the dash and made a nice jumper for the plug so I have full time brights. After I do the headlight relay mod I’ll come up with a better alternative for the switch.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0878Medium.jpg?t=1173296427
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0880Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0883Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0884Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0885Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0908Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0902Medium.jpg

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0903Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0904Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0910Medium.jpg

I used a hot glue gun for all the fastening of the materials. I also used spray adhesive as well as hot glue for the vinyl. I wasn’t able to get the vinyl to stretch completely over the entire structure, so I had to cut out some extra material (same with the t-shirt and the fiber cloth). The place I made those cuts is out of sight when they are installed.

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0914Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0915Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0913Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0916Medium.jpg

I did apply the resin to the t-shirt material (not shown) before adding a single layer of fiber cloth. Trust me with these two layers they are very rigid.

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0986Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0987Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0996Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG0995Medium.jpg

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1024Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1025Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1026Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1027Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1029Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1030Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1031Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1032Medium-1.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1022Medium.jpg

Here you can see the purpose of the groove:
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1021Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1020Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1019Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1036Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1037Medium.jpg

Another thing I did was figure out how to locate the factory air-vent puller bracket holes in the kick panel. I taped a piece of card-stock over the holes and tried to make the holes visible by rubbing over them with the side of a crayon (a relief). In my case they didn’t show up very well (at all) so I just eyeballed them and started poking around with a jeweler’s screwdriver until I found the two holes. With the card stock taped only on one edge I was able to flip it out of the way to put the kick panel in place under it. Mark the panel and viola. They are close enough if you oversize the holes in the panels (I used a ¼” bit).

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1166Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1167Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1169Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1205Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1204Medium.jpg

The panels are held in place by the air-vent puller brackets, a tight fit around the floor and dash edges, and one sheet metal screw on each side. Those screws are located right behind the speakers as far down and back (toward the door) as I could reach. I considered using a hot glue gun to mount them, but decided one extra screw hole on each side was acceptable (the PO already put several on each side anyway…).

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1199Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1210Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1224Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/CIMG1211Medium.jpg
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/69%20Suburban/Kick%20Panels/E-BrakeMedium.jpg

Now I just need some carpet...

Nice work Mike, and thanks for sharing. This should go in the FAQ also. You make it look so easy :D What was the total prep and build time?

Nice work Mike, and thanks for sharing. This should go in the FAQ also. You make it look so easy :D What was the total prep and build time?

Well, I have to admit that I was multitasking (or distracted if that's what you want to call it ;) ), so I spent an hour or two here and there over about ten days or so. I'd say it could be done in 3-4 days allowing for overnight curing.

Mike, great job! Your attention to detail is outstanding, perfect fit and finish. I've had speaker kicks on the 'to do' list for years, but now I'm thinking more like bribing you to build me a set...no, really! My '69 C-20 is the same color inside, same steering wheel...I better go check and make sure my trucks still here!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I also removed the Highbeam/Lowbeam switch. I run brights all the time (because they’re not very bright) so I just tie-wrapped the harness up under the dash and made a nice jumper for the plug so I have full time brights. After I do the headlight relay mod I’ll come up with a better alternative for the switch.

Crap! I was hoping you figured out what to do with it :lol:

What sucks is that it sits in a depression in the floor and moving it will put a lump in the carpet.... Where am I going to put the stupid thing on mine??? :lol:

Those look great! Great job :metal:


And Jason's right, this is DEFINATELY a new FAQ!

Those are nice...would love to have some.

Nice work for sure! I keep putting mine off because of a million other things I have going on leading into the mountain bike season.

Thanks guys! They sound better than they look :metal:

Crap! I was hoping you figured out what to do with it :lol:

What sucks is that it sits in a depression in the floor and moving it will put a lump in the carpet.... Where am I going to put the stupid thing on mine??? :lol:


I was thinking about mod'ing the turn signal lever for the brights-switch like newer vehicles have.

Thanks guys! They sound better than they look :metal:



I was thinking about mod'ing the turn signal lever for the brights-switch like newer vehicles have.


Great idea! By using a newer column or actually modding just the lever?

I got the cheapo plastic kick panels and my switch is useless behind it. :drama:

Breat idea and nice work

Allways feels better when ya make something better than you can buy!! GR8 work!

Those look great!!!!! This is one that belongs in the FAQ for sure. Good pics and description a quality tech article. Thanks Mike!

I love you man! this thread is so being bookmarked for later reference :D

thats great man, awesome job

turned out nice..

There already is a FAQ in there about the kick panels. Although Frizzle Fry has picture of some of the steps that aren't shown it the other FAQ. It should be add to the other one though.

Also when I made mine I put the truck clearance lights in them. On the wires for the lights and the speakers I used the bullet style connector to make the easily removable. I guess it could comprimse sound quality but it sure beats the AM radio.

ya know i ended up making me some as well and the bad part i forgot is after i made them and set them in there to mount i realized at that time i couldnt use my hi-beams anymore without relocating the switch (which i didnt want to do and did not do) haha

I've thought about doing this, but one question: How well do the floor vents work now with the handles spaced out from the original location on the tin kick? Are they just out 3/8" or so (wood+fibreglass+vinyl), or are they more than that? If I could make that work, that would be killer!

Very nice work. I've been thinking about doing this myself....SOLD me on doing it.

It should be really easy to change the high beam switch over from the floor mount switch to a toggle/momentary push button & relay. You could put the switch basically anywhere handy....

Again - very nice work.

Now that you've done these, what would you do differently next time?

I would love to hear your thoughts...so I can learn from you. :)

Awesome - I need a set :D

what a nice detail to go the extra mile and re-mount the fresh air controls! that is the pro way to do it.

hey frizzle, are you a primus fan?

I would be willing to purchase a set of those from you!