I just finished the stereo install in the Canuck - and am pretty happy with the results. It came to me with some crappy JBL (the Loud and Clear model ':roll:') speakers tacked to the deck lid (completely hacked) attached with drywall screws (not that I have anything against drywall screws - love the little buggers)...but you get the idea.
My Alpine head unit has also been causing trouble, but the speakers needed gone - pronto (along with the wiring etc). So here's how I spent last weekend. First I rebuilt the rear parcel shelf using 3/8 MDF and then built speaker pods that would house the new 6X9's (Infinity Reference Series - e-Bay score). The pods are built with 3 layers of 3/4" MDF - very solid - no sound from the box.
I found some lovely black vinyl that looks and feels like leather to cover everything with.
On the parcel shelf I decided to copy the tuck and roll of the 240 leather interior that I'm going to install. I cut out 1/2" foam into strips and glued them down to the lid (3M High Strength 90), then carefully rolled and pressed the rolls into the shelf with the vinyl. Saw the techniqe on a car show some time ago and it didn't look that hard. It, of course, was a pain. Starting at one side each roll had to be individually glued as I went along and carefully placed in the groove between the foam slabs. If' you've ever done a laminate counter top...you'll feel my pain. Results exceeded my expectation.
Next came the front speakers, mounted on the kick panels (that's where the previous speakers were). There is no room behind the kick panels, so I build another set of pods (MDF again) and attached them to newly upholstered panels. The kicks tend to get a little beat up and are only pressboard - they are just painted originally. I fiberglassed the bottoms to add strength and waterproof the panel (should have done the entire panel).
I then added automotive carpet to the bottom and used the vinyl again to cover the top.
In the end, it looks much better than before and sounds great.
Cheers,
Craig