View Full Version : gauge pod choices
Gambino
03-20-2006, 12:17 PM
Hey guys, I just thought it might be a good idea to get one thread together of all guage pods for the mazda3, whether it be custom or available for purchase.
please post pictures as well as where you got it and how much!
Hey guys, I just thought it might be a good idea to get one thread together of all guage pods for the mazda3, whether it be custom or available for purchase.
please post pictures as well as where you got it and how much!
I like this one on the dash, not a big fan of pillar ones
mazda3zoom
03-20-2006, 02:01 PM
heres a shot of my car with the a-pillar guages. Their tinted so you cant see what they are till they light up. As of right now thats all they do is light up because i dont know how to wire them up. I gotta get the wiring diagram and then do it.
PS dont mind my busted windshield, It happened on the way back from Cali and i havnt gotten it fixed yet. I think im gonna get it taken care of this week. (eekfu)
Gambino
03-20-2006, 02:07 PM
nice, I really like the pillar. where did you get it and how much?
also, a little threadjack here, but is that blue piece I see part of what you have been working on? I havent seen an update on that
/threadjack
Gambino
03-20-2006, 05:18 PM
I like this one if it looked cleaner
http://www.msprotege.com/members/bbrich57/Phils%20Pod%20Thread/Gauge%20Pod.jpg
Yeah, I like that one. I don't care for A pillar gauges much just because they're really noticable. Those are a bit more sleeperish
Gambino
03-20-2006, 05:25 PM
I still like A pillar pods, I dont care to go for a sleeper look so I am fine with them. I just want to find a cheap one that fits well
mazda3zoom
03-20-2006, 10:27 PM
I still like A pillar pods, I dont care to go for a sleeper look so I am fine with them. I just want to find a cheap one that fits well
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-06-MAZDA-3-TRIPLE-PILLAR-POD-3-TINTED-GAUGE-05_W0QQitemZ4623185305QQcategoryZ46100QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem
There you go, thats where i got mine from. That also lets you guys see what the guages look like. The fitment is pretty good too. They tell you to screw it over the OEM A pillar but i used one screw (cant see it) and then some 2 sided tape.
mazda3zoom
03-20-2006, 10:27 PM
they also sell just the pod.
mazda3zoom
03-20-2006, 10:28 PM
Yeah, I like that one. I don't care for A pillar gauges much just because they're really noticable. Those are a bit more sleeperish
And they get in the way when your making a left turn. Ive almost hit the curb a few times since i got these in. Ill have to get used to looking around them.
I like this one if it looked cleaner
http://www.msprotege.com/members/bbrich57/Phils%20Pod%20Thread/Gauge%20Pod.jpg
where did you get this pod from? i think it looks real nice
Gambino
03-21-2006, 02:07 AM
where did you get this pod from? i think it looks real nice
this isnt mine, I just found the picture from somewhere, dont remember even though I found it earlier today.
SicMade3
03-21-2006, 10:21 AM
thanks Jeph, the one he postd is mine....heres some more...
/selfless plug
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/775000-775999/775503_432_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/775000-775999/775503_384_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/775000-775999/775503_391_full.jpg
***sorry couldnt resist but throw this one in for fun (cabpatch)
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/775000-775999/775503_438_full.jpg
/end selfless plug
@mazda3zoom, your cluster shroud and top part of door panel looks really good blue, ive often thought about painting mine silver to match my dash strip/car, you did a great job, taht just makes me wanna do it more...for your doors, did you glass/bondo over the top of it to make it smooth than paint it?
and for that other gauge pod on teh dash, that thing is a piece, it looks nothing like that, the fitment is horrible, theres a thread floating aroudn the m**************** about it, i think i posted a link here to it before....
Gambino
03-21-2006, 11:08 AM
yeah, I know that one isnt that great, if I decide to go with that kind of design, i would make one custom. Also, where did you get your center dash pod?
SicMade3
03-21-2006, 11:42 AM
yeah, I know that one isnt that great, if I decide to go with that kind of design, i would make one custom. Also, where did you get your center dash pod?
i made it... Navi Dash piece + egauges DIN 3 gauge holder = center dash pod
Thats why it looks so clean, its custom fiberglass?
bbrich57
03-23-2006, 04:23 PM
I like this one if it looked cleaner
http://www.msprotege.com/members/bbrich57/Phils%20Pod%20Thread/Gauge%20Pod.jpg
That was a picture that I posted on another thread here. I saw it on eBay for $40 + $5 shipping, made by LowTek, and according to others who have experienced it, it is. 'Course, that doesn't mean that with a little fiddling it couldn't be OK.
Here's my pod. In these pictures, it is not yet installed, just sitting there. If you look you will see that it is not even centered. I've since installed it with (4) phillips head screws painted charcoal black metallic. It fits better now too.
Can't remember for the life of me where I picked this up, but in the '80's I was in "the business" and bought a lot of stuff. This is a leftover that I've had in a box for about twenty years waiting for the right vehicle to use it in...
http://www.msprotege.com/members/bbrich57/Gauges/GuagePod.02.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/bbrich57/Gauges/GuagePod.01.jpg
Gambino
03-23-2006, 05:52 PM
I wish I could get that exact same one....
Yeah, that one is sweet, i'd even put that in my car.
Gambino
03-23-2006, 05:58 PM
does anyone know where I can get a universal one like that? I am leaning toward an A pillar cuz I can get one for $25, but that isnt final
bbrich57
03-23-2006, 07:49 PM
I wish I could get that exact same one....
Wish I could help you, but I don't know. The MotoMeter gauges installed, VDO's second line (re: cheaper) at the time, were ordered at the same time I remember, but form where???? I also have a two gauge pod of the same type, but that one was damaged in storage. I may still find a place to use it anyway.
mazda3zoom
03-23-2006, 08:11 PM
I wish I could get that exact same one....
Ask and you shall recieve....Found these on my suppliers website. Retail for 71 i think it said. Could probably get it for $60. Sometimes you can find stuff like that on ebay, but then you have to worry about quality and stuff like that.
hmmm... thats pretty sweet looking. i wonder how it'd look on MY dash
Gambino
03-23-2006, 10:00 PM
that is pretty sweet. My only concern is making it look flush.....enough of concern to still stick with the A pillar, plus that pillar is only $25
A pillars are teh ghey. :)
mazda3zoom
03-23-2006, 10:24 PM
that is pretty sweet. My only concern is making it look flush.....enough of concern to still stick with the A pillar, plus that pillar is only $25
Yea but some bondo, sanding, and paint could make anything look flush. (thumb)
phil doesn't paint, he uses sharpies ;)
tsunami
03-24-2006, 02:07 AM
you mean he is now past the crayola stage... if you like the way it looks in bbrich's car why not order it, his doesn't seem to be molded in at all and it looks nice and flush, all you have to do is put a small hole to pull the wire through and then screw the fucker down...apillars suck deffinatly cut your vision down as zoom said...
mazda3zoom
03-24-2006, 04:18 AM
phil doesn't paint, he uses sharpies ;)
haha (poke)
Gambino
03-24-2006, 12:01 PM
so a sharpie wouldnt cut it in this case? damn
The only other tough part is the other piece is more than twice as much.
I hate choices
you mean he is now past the crayola stage...
LOL yeah, we got him past that stage a couple weeks ago. He's now mature enough to NOT color all over his face with markers.
But back on topic. Any pod you choose will serve the same function. It just depends on what you want, and how you want it to look. I think the one on the dash looks more OEM, but i know you don't care if it looks that way or not.
Gambino
03-24-2006, 02:15 PM
yeah, I know they will all save the same purpose. I mostly wanted to see some to compare cost. I like dash pods and a pillars, and I will likely just go with the a pillar simply because its $25
LOL, thats like 20 bucks that can go towards your turbo!
bbrich57
03-24-2006, 09:28 PM
that is pretty sweet. My only concern is making it look flush.....enough of concern to still stick with the A pillar, plus that pillar is only $25
THAT'S IT!!! I'm sure it didn't cost that much back then though, but I remember thinking it was expensive even for the time. But that was then, and this is... what is "this" anyway? (thumb)
Phil, You won't like the "A"-pillar type. Even Mazda3Zoom says it gets in the way, and it doesn't look "natural," if that's the right word for it?
The center stack type assimilates better. If it doesn't fit quite right (it IS a universal type, remember) there are tools, tools such as profile gauges and files, tin snips and sandpaper to adjust for the dissimilarities in surfaces.
bbrich57
03-26-2006, 03:22 PM
that is pretty sweet. My only concern is making it look flush.....enough of concern to still stick with the A pillar, plus that pillar is only $25
Tsunami: Thanks, but in those pictures it's not even "tied down" yet... and it still needs a little fine tuning, but not too much. It fit pretty well out of the box.
Phil: eKeystone.com won't let you in unless you are a Wholesaler and can prove it, but Summit Racing will and the thing is $48.69. Here's the link:
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=egnsearch.asp&N=309211+4294905596
Gambino
03-26-2006, 07:56 PM
Thanks, but on a real spontaneous day I ordered the a pillar. its cheap and I didnt want to spend all my time debating on what to do
mazda3zoom
03-26-2006, 09:11 PM
Thanks, but on a real spontaneous day I ordered the a pillar. its cheap and I didnt want to spend all my time debating on what to do
did you get the gauges too? or are you gonna order those seperately? Which ones do you think your gonna go with?
bbrich57
03-26-2006, 09:26 PM
Thanks, but on a real spontaneous day I ordered the a pillar. its cheap and I didnt want to spend all my time debating on what to do
(yawn) / (sad1) / (dunno) / (screwy)
Mazda3Zoom: did you get the gauges too? or are you gonna order those seperately? Which ones do you think your gonna go with?
Aaaaaa.... BOOST gauge? Aaaaaan..... Oil Pressure? Aaaaaaaaanother Oil Pressure?
Gambino
03-27-2006, 02:26 AM
did you get the gauges too? or are you gonna order those seperately? Which ones do you think your gonna go with?
I just got the pod. I am getting autometer cobalt gauges. I will be getting boost, oil pressure, and undecided on the third
Gambino
03-27-2006, 10:58 AM
A/F or EGT?
yeah, more than likely
Gambino
03-27-2006, 02:04 PM
did you get the gauges too? or are you gonna order those seperately? Which ones do you think your gonna go with?
also, how long did it take you to receive this once you purchased it??
bbrich57
03-28-2006, 04:51 PM
yeah, more than likely
May I suggest an oil tempature gauge? A good idea if you are going to boost, but it's a good idea anyway and often overlooked.
They are fairly easy to run these days. The sender comes in the form of a replacement oil pan oil plug and you simply run a wire from it....
Gambino
03-28-2006, 04:54 PM
so are you saying oil temp AND oil pressure? or one or the other?
bbrich57
03-28-2006, 05:03 PM
so are you saying oil temp AND oil pressure? or one or the other?
They're both important, and if possible I would, and do, have both. But if I had to give one up, it would be the pressure gauge.
You already have an idiot light which is not perfect but something. If you lose that much OP, your engine is probably due for a tear-dowm anyway, or it won't survive.
What you don't have is a way to tell you when it's OK to run hard... say above 3000 RPM's.
You are in cold country and to me that makes it even more important. You might have water temp long before you are up to operating oil temp.
mazda3zoom
03-28-2006, 05:51 PM
They're both important, and if possible I would, and do, have both. But if I had to give one up, it would be the pressure gauge.
You already have an idiot light which is not perfect but something. If you lose that much OP, your engine is probably due for a tear-dowm anyway, or it won't survive.
What you don't have is a way to tell you when it's OK to run hard... say above 3000 RPM's.
You are in cold country and to me that makes it even more important. You might have water temp long before you are up to operating oil temp.
Dude the factory oil pressure light doesnt work, im saying this cuz i blew my engine and the light never came on once. I let my "friend" who works at midas or jiffy lube change my oil and the dumbshit must not have put enough oil in it.....then clunk, clunk, clunk.....no light. Just my opinion though.
bbrich57
03-28-2006, 06:04 PM
Dude the factory oil pressure light doesnt work, im saying this cuz i blew my engine and the light never came on once. I let my "friend" who works at midas or jiffy lube change my oil and the dumbshit must not have put enough oil in it.....then clunk, clunk, clunk.....no light. Just my opinion though.
In the first place, you have to admit that chances are good that your case is an isulated incident and that most cars on the road, including Mz3's, have a working oil prees idiot light.
Second, I said "if I had to give one up." Hell, if it were up to me, all cars would be mandated to have both gauges and idiot lights!
mazda3zoom
03-28-2006, 06:24 PM
In the first place, you have to admit that chances are good that your case is an isulated incident and that most cars on the road, including Mz3's, have a working oil prees idiot light.
Second, I said "if I had to give one up." Hell, if it were up to me, all cars would be mandated to have both gauges and idiot lights!
Possibly, but still the damn light didnt come on. Thats why i have a oil presure gauge. I do agree though that all cars should have both gauges.
I have no idea, but wouldnt the oil warm up before the coolant?
bbrich57
03-28-2006, 10:06 PM
I have no idea, but wouldnt the oil warm up before the coolant?
Actually unlike water, oil is a very good insulator and under normal conditions will usually take twice as long to heat up to an optimal tempature of +/- 235*F. Not to mention that it has to heat up more than the usual 195*F that the coolant does.
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