VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Speaker for 38 Master

One of the radios listed for the 38 Master in the brochure, described the speaker as "mounted under the cowl". Where exactly would it be mounted?

In an unobstructed, out of foot range spot. I have seen the speaker high and to the right of the driver, but don't know what year I was looking at. I think a lot were dealer installed and Chevrolet most likely supplied a templet or at least easiest placement descriptions. If you take a speaker under your dash, it will most likely come clear where it would or could be placed. If I was going to install an original speaker in my '36 I would look for existing holes open or patched. You might not know the past.

There's a factory hole already in the center of the firewall in the recessed area. There are also two larger holes with break off tabs on them to offer pressure balance to the speaker or some such reasoning that radio engineers were worried about then but aren't anymore. This is on the engine side and was covered by a little louvered cover called a"muffler". It bolted onto the speaker stud coming through the factory hole mentioned above. It had two small screws at the top which helped hold it to the firewall and these holes are factory and in your firewall also.

Thank you for those details. I appreciate it.

I just looked at my firewall from the engine side and I understand your remarks. It is sort of the 1938 version of a vented speaker enclosure! Now, since my Master is stripped down right now, I don't know if the interior firewall cover extends up to that area. I take it that if it did, it would be cut out in the circle?

The firewall cover goes over that entire area. If you put in a speaker, all you need is the 5/16" nor 3/8" hole for the speaker stud. You can place 1" or 11/4" holes if you want the vents. You definitely do not want to cut a circle the size of the speaker out of the firewall cover. The speaker mounts over the cover.

Thanks, that makes sense now.