Pillar pod disaster!

[Eric-BlackMSP]

Hey guys

My friends and I really messed up my mazdaspeed;s interior pillar. I mean really.

First off we had the brillant idea to drill a hole through it to run the wires for the boost and a/f gauges. Any thoughts on another method instead of drilling?

Second the pod doesn't even fit, so we have to use a heat gun to mold it to fit, rookie job at best.

Third the pod is black, so i need to paint it

Fourth upon finishing we broke that plastic "nub" at the top of the pillar! Now the thing won't stay in. I'm using mounting tape to hold the pillar to the car, and the pod to the pillar.

Here is what we think we can do:

1.)Screw the pillar to the car using very small finishing screws.
2.)Take the pod off and spray paint a grey color to match the pillar.
3.)Screw the pod to the pillar with black finishing screws.

Any help would be awesome in turns of information!!

Also anyone know where I can buy a pillar? Ebay turned op nothing. I would hate to go to dealer. Also if I try the junk yard what year proteges will fit our MSPs in terms of the pillar??? My bet is 00 and up.

Thanks in advanced!!

E Man (rookie modder learning from every mistake)

 

[Vulcanon]

you can buy one that fits perfectly....it's just a replacement for the stock pillar.... autometer makes it

 

[PaulMP3]

just get the whole pillar pod. it will cover your old pillar. Paint it b4 installing, take your time for now on with all platic clips in the car, they are fragile. Might want to use a rivot instead of a screw, it will look nicer.

here is mine.

i repainted it since then, but it turned out nice.

 

[KYREDP5]

Hehe. I broke the tabs on my A-pillar too today.

 

[Matthew]

i need to see some pics of this debacle

 

[KYREDP5]

Mine looks decent. I went to Home Depot and had the match the pain VERY closely. Righ now I'm brainstorming on how the get the stock Oil Sender off. I've tried everything. My Fiancee is at Walmart now looking for a shorter socket wrench that will hopefully work.

 

[PaulMP3]

Mine looks decent. I went to Home Depot and had the match the pain VERY closely. Righ now I'm brainstorming on how the get the stock Oil Sender off. I've tried everything. My Fiancee is at Walmart now looking for a shorter socket wrench that will hopefully work.

pull your intake mani bracket and take off your oil filter, you will get a lot more clearnce.

I also have homedepot paint for my pillar. All the had was a quart so i have a lot left over.

***hmmmm what else could i paint grey****

 

[Protege2K]

Well I guess I will join the club of guys who busted their A pillar. I have already ordered my gauge pod but I am not sure if it covers the whole pillar or if it is something I will have to screw in. I ordered it from cardomain.com so if anyone could tell me I would appreciate it. Here is a picture from the cardomain site.

 

[KYREDP5]

pull your intake mani bracket and take off your oil filter, you will get a lot more clearnce.

Thought of that. Unfortantly I stripped one of the bolts on the bracket, and can't figure how to get it off.

 

[SonicRacer]

Why are you guys so rough with your brand new cars?

 

[Protege2K]

Why are you guys so rough with your brand new cars?

I call it tough love.

 

[alexlitov]

Try car-part.com for a replacement one if you really ****** it up...

 

[KYREDP5]

Why are you guys so rough with your brand new cars?

She likes it rough.

Well all is well with mine now..

BTW: Finally got the Oil Pressure sender off.

 

[t3ase]

Well I guess I will join the club of guys who busted their A pillar. I have already ordered my gauge pod but I am not sure if it covers the whole pillar or if it is something I will have to screw in. I ordered it from cardomain.com so if anyone could tell me I would appreciate it. Here is a picture from the cardomain site.

Without knowing a lot of info about that pod, it looks like a universal pod that is *not* a full pillar. Universal means you're going to have a tough time molding it to the pillar, trust me. I gave up trying to melt mine and it's just on there now. However, that pic you provided may just be a generic pic that's not specific to the part you ordered, as many sites do. I dunno.

As far as paint, guys, it's not that hard. Go to Autozone and look for a spray can of "Plastikote Vinyl Color" with a sticker that says "410 Gray" on the back of it. It's so close to the interior color, it's not even funny and it's only like $4/5 for a can. No need in getting a huge bucket of paint.

 

[Little Beavis]

Driver's side, left A - Pillar is Mazda part BL8D-68-170-03 on a MP3. It is the light gray, so maybe the others are the same. I think the MSP is the same, but not sure.

Don't ask why I know this. . .

Actually, I'm taking out my A pillar to go "stock" and moving the gauges to where the radio and pocket currently are.

Anyway, the way I attached my Autometer 3 gauge pod was to drill a hole at the very top of it through both plastic pillar pieces and into the metal reinforcement underneath. I then glued the plastic pieces together.

If you pull off the covers (carefully, without breaking them ) then you can see the support I'm talking about. I drilled a small hole and used the plastic "rivot" the cover came with and have had no problems whatsoever.

I agree though, it was a pain in the butt to get everything in there, the paint was a pain to match, a pain to get a good paint job, etc. Painintheass. . .the whole thing.