The owner of this immaculate 1958 Chevy Impala recently contacted the team at Certified Autosound and Security in Chilliwack to discuss upgrading the stereo system in the vehicle. After a thorough inspection of the vehicle, and a meeting with one of our head installation technicians, we put together a proposal that would provide the client with amazing sound in his classic cruiser while maintaining the cosmetics of the interior.
Classic Car Speaker Upgrades
The project started with the creation of a mounting panel and custom kick panels for a set of BLAM Live 165.300 three-way component speakers. Our fabrication team drew up a mounting plate for the midrange and tweeter from the set so it could be cut on our CNC router. The plate bolts into the factory speaker location in the center of the dash.
The woofer from the BLAM speaker set was mounted in the kick-panel area on a set of custom trim panels. Our fabrication team crafted the new panels out of acrylic plastic and wrapped them in black vinyl. A mirrored acrylic insert was cut to serve as a trim ring and provide a similar look to the chrome on the dash. Our team finished the panel with a mesh grille that was pressed with a custom insert that mimics the shape of the acrylic ring.
Classic Car Subwoofer System

Next, our team set to work on the creation of a custom subwoofer enclosure for this classic Impala. They built a cabinet that fits behind the rear seats to house a single JL Audio 12TW3-D4 12-inch shallow-mount subwoofer. We added an SGR-12TW3 mesh grille to the front of the sub to protect it from damage when the convertible roof is lowered. We added some SQL Soundmat damping material to the trunk panels to prevent buzzes and rattles from the powerful subwoofer.
Chevy Impala Stereo System Amplifier
The new stereo system in this Chevy Impala is powered by a five-channel JL Audio RD900/5 amplifier. The front channels of the amp are bridged to drive the three-way component set with up to 200 watts of power, and the subwoofer channel delivers up to 500 watts to the 12TW3 subwoofer. The amp is wired with Stinger power cable, speaker wire and X-Series interconnects.
Vancouver’s Classic Car Audio Expert
Once the new stereo system in the Chevy Impala was dialed in, the client returned to Certified Autosound and Security in Chilliwack to pick up the vehicle. He was thrilled with the way the installation looks and loves the sound. If your classic car needs an upgrade, drop by one of our three stores or send us an e-mail.
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