Making your own package tray (rear speaker deck)

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moparmat2000

moparmat2000

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Ok, so i am needing a rear package tray, or rear speaker deck as you younguns call it for my 67 notchback cuda. Mine was missing when i got the car, so I was going to just buy one until i found out these are $40 for no speaker slots, or $60 with speaker slots, and about $40 to ship it. Wow $100 for that. Really now its just a piece of cut out and painted masonite board.

So for those of you who are bucks down or just want to make your own, heres a how to. But first off i want to extend a special thanks to DesertRat. I put a thread out asking for a tracing of one of these. However, If it wasnt for him making me a tracing of his on some masking paper, this project would not have been possible.

For starters, you need either an old package tray or a tracing. I used the tracing. I unfolded it, and cut it out, then ironed it flat, and taped it to a sheet of masonite board i got for free. Then i traced it with a sharpie, cut it out, and sanded the edges smooth, and test fit in the car.
 
I did something similar last year, tracing my old one and making my own speaker cutouts. I made a How-To about it and traced my old one on paper for someone else here and mailed it out to him. Don't know if he ever got around to making it yet or not. I didn't paint mine, just covered it with a vinyl.

This is probably one of the easiest interior pieces you can do yourself, there's really no point it paying almost $100 to get one.
 
Very true. I may spray glue naugahide on it, or paint it. I just checked out your thread. It looks great

Heres first set of pix

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You got 4 speakers you're putting back that?
 
The template sent had the speaker holes and rear defogger holes drawn out. The barracuda coupes had round defogger vents if that option was selected.

I decided to trace the speaker cutouts that are in my car, and the push pin holes that hold the package tray in place. This way i was sure they are in the correct location.

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My car came as a radio delete car, and i am installing a hidden audio setup in it, that will run pandora and stored music files off my phone.

I purchased vintage chromed metal 6x9 speaker grilles off evilbay, and sandblasted and primered them with an epoxy etch primer a couple years ago. I fit these against the speaker cutout tracings on my new package tray, and made the speaker cutouts slightly smaller so the grilles will cover the holes.

I think the speaker grilles i bought and will be installing look period correct for 1967.

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The speaker grilles will be painted a semigloss black. I will decide on either painting or covering the package tray with black vinyl. When painted or vinyled, i will then bolt on the grilles.

I am cutting out a second one of these for the 69 notchback i'm saving for my son. I will be marking the speaker and hole cutouts, but dont plan on cutting any of that out or finishing it as it will be his choice how it gets done.
 
I put out a thread on FABO looking for one. Mr. DesertRat right here on fabo responded to my thread, and sent a nice tracing of his old one on a sheet of autobody masking paper to me. I just unfolded it a few years later, ironed it flat, and the rest is history.
 
In case you're curious how it'd look with vinyl (purchased from joann fabrics) Replacing Package Tray

I lucked out and found a vinyl with a texture very close to that of my seats. I opted for the more modern speaker grills though. The flat square ones make me think of heater vents in my house.
 
I actually found some more modern mesh rectangular grilles that were repops for GM cars and just couldent do it too modern looking. I wanted period correct. I get the whole heater vent vibe though lol. We got a joann fabrics here too. I seriously thought about the vinyl too. Btw i searched and found your thread. Nice job looks great.
 
I did the masonite thing too but installed textured side up, sealed and painted interior body color.
 
Logan said:
I did the masonite thing too but installed textured side up, sealed and painted interior body color.
Click to expand...
I thought about the textured side up then i noticed that side of my free masonite was a bit beat up, and i figured it would probably hold dust, so i decided on smooth side up.
 
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Typically home depot or lowes. 1/8" works. My employer gets 4x12 pallets of aircraft sheetmetal and the pallets are lined on the bottom and top with this stuff. When the pallets are broken down its first come, first served otherwise to them its trash. I grabbed two 4x6 sheets of it this go around. My buddy got the other 2 sheets. I made 3 package tray panels, since i have 2 of these cars, one will be a spare. And off the other sheet i had, i was able to make 2 trunk divider panels. The original material was thick black cardboard, and was falling apart.

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i did the same thing basically, "vinyl" interior paint helps really get the look and feel of the original panel
 
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