87 240 DL Rear Speaker wiring

Hey all!

I have an 87 volvo 240 wagon, and I'm looking to install some good rear
speakers, but I don't know exactly what I need to do for the wiring.

To start off, the stereo, which is the dealer upgrade digital display
cassette deck, has an integrated fader, which seems to work. (It fades
off the front speakers when you push it so it could fade to back, if
they were there.) From what I could find this means that it already
has the 4 speaker amp installed instead of the 2 speaker amp. Am I
right in assuming this?

Also, is the rear speaker wiring run by default, or is there a way I
can find if it's been installed by the dealer? (This car had only been
dealer serviced when I bought it.)

If the wiring isn't installed, what would be the best (read: fastest
and least destructive) way to install it?

(The speakers are a pair of custom built boxes that should fit into the
back against the wheel wells.)

Thanks in advance,
Nick

 

The wiring is dealer installed when the optional rear speakers are
ordered. It runs from the center console over to the side, behind the
footwell carpet, tucked under the carpet after removing the plastic
strip along the base of the door between the carpet and metal, and then
behind the upholstery into the body shell to the rear speaker locations.

 

[thread hijack]
Where do the 'factory' rear speakers hide? Are they built into the side
panels in the cargo area?
I've been wanting some in my '83 245 but can't see anywhere to put them
(short of building boxes to slide around in the back)
[/thread hijack]

 

Depends on the year. In the earlier cars they mount in the small
triangular upholstery pieces just behind the rear doors. In the later
cars that have plastic panels covering the pillars the speakers mount in
the bottom of the door panels up near the front of the back doors. In
both cases they're the same crummy little 4" speakers used in the front
and few aftermarket speakers will fit.

 

I got some 4" Polks in the front doors. Had to use the bezel as a
spacer... speaker on top of the bezel instead of behind it. Did some
grinding on the bezels to match the contours of the door panel. Snipped
off the four plastic chi chi's that located the old speaker. Hammered
out the grills to clear the tweeter cone. Grills snap into the bezel and
hide the mounting screws.
They sound great. I'll bet I can do the same in the rear.

 

You probably can, keep in mind though that if you use the stock location
in the pillars the speakers can't stick out very far since you need
clearance to fold the rear seat down. This is less of a problem in the
door panels but do test fit everything before you start cutting.