Modern Audio Upgrade in a Classic Mitsubishi L300

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The original audio system in the L300 is exactly what you would expect from a vehicle of its age. It worked fine back then, but today it simply doesn’t meet modern expectations. The small speakers placed low in the dashboard play straight into your knees, which makes the sound unclear and flat.

Some versions also had rear speakers, but even those are far from what we consider good sound quality today.

So during the rebuild of the car, I decided to completely upgrade the audio system from scratch.

If you want to copy this setup, the full parts list is included near the end of the article.

New idea – speakers in the doors

The first step was to move the main speakers into the doors. This improves sound quality and creates a much better listening experience.

I chose 165 mm speakers from Morel — specifically the Morel Ultra Tempo 602 set for the front.

This setup includes:

  • woofers mounted in the doors
  • separate tweeters mounted on the A-pillars
  • crossovers installed under the dashboard

This configuration allows much better sound staging and clarity compared to the original layout.

However, installing them was not simple. The door shape in the L300 is very irregular, so standard mounting adapters do not fit.

3D scan and custom design

Instead of making compromises, I decided to do it properly. I made a 3D scan of the door and used it to design custom speaker adapters.

The adapters were:

  • designed from scratch
  • 3D printed in ABS
  • matched in grey color to the interior
  • smoothed with acetone vapor

The result looks like a factory part. And what’s most important – it fits perfectly. It’s always impressive how accurate 3D scan and printing can be.

Amplifier – hidden but important

Since the dashboard was not installed yet after the rebuild, I had a perfect chance to hide the amplifier.

The Audison SR 4.300 amplifier was mounted under the dashboard:

  • completely invisible
  • no impact on interior look
  • still accessible if needed

This keeps the classic look of the interior while giving modern sound quality.

Rear speakers

For the rear, I used Morel Tempo Ultra Integra 692 two-way speakers.

They were installed in the original rear locations, but there is one issue — due to their depth, they do not fit under the factory trim.

This is not a problem in this build, because the rear of the van will be completely redesigned anyway as part of a camper conversion. So the final finish will be adjusted to fit the new setup.

Parts used

Summary

This upgrade is more than just changing speakers. It includes:

  • better speaker placement
  • custom-made mounting parts
  • use of modern technology like 3D scanning and printing
  • clean and hidden installation

The final result is a system that sounds modern but still looks original.

If you are planning a similar upgrade in your L300, it’s worth doing it properly – not just replacing parts, but redesigning the whole setup.