anyone use the scoshe FM2157B din pocket when switching to a single din headunit? hows it look does it fill in the spot well or does it leave a ugly gap?

its inexpensive too, about $10. too bad it doesn't have a door. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...+-+FM2157.html



Or what other brands is everyone using for cubbies?

 

you might want to put some gauges in that spot instead...

 

I got the Mazda original piece with the door when I did the same thing. Got from Ray at Malloy but it was $$$.

 

that oem piece is definitely $$.

the thought of moving my dash mounted gauges down the the din did cross my mind, same problem though im gonna have to find a good source for those.

maybe i'll try this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/52mm-...Q5fAccessories

 

wrote this up a couple years ago

http://cid-8c34ca1250a69fc9.office.l...l%20Gauges.pdf

 

thanks bill, awesome instructions

 

I just ordered the scosh one sicne EBay said I had expiring credits...l may or may not bother to use it. I kind of regret it now now that I'd read that PDF :-\

 

The problem with putting the gauges there is that you have to look down in order to see them, even if you mount them above the stereo. When you're hard on the throttle the last thing you want to have to do is take your eyes off the road to look at your boost gauge. For that reason I prefer the 3 gauge pod that replaces the dinky little center speaker. That way I'm still looking in the general direction I'm going. I also found that if you install the boost gauge on the left side and orient it so 0 is straight up you can see your approximate boost level through your peripheral vision.

I saw a write-up where someone took a PFC Commander and installed it in place of the ashtray. I was thinking about trying to do something similar, but install mine below the head-unit. Testing showed me that it's a bad angle and makes it hard to see in that location unless you angle it up slightly, plus it would involve making some custom pc boards for the commander since the display would have to be mounted beside the buttons. I think it would look cool, but it's on the back burner for now.

I installed a Alpine head unit, then added a DIN pocket below. It didn't fit exactly right, but with the aid of a dremel tool it was pretty easy to modify and now it looks like it came from the factory. A little tip...get some glue called E3000. It comes in 3 colors (black, white and clear) and it is awesome for little projects like this.

 

i went with a metra pocket:


http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...a+98-7599.html

well this one since its the same thing but cost me less http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...8-00-9000.html

im not too happy with it. one of the mounting tabs that clips the trim ring on the pocket snapped, pretty brittle considering i was being really careful. also the entire pocket wobbles. the brackets just don't grip the dash tight enough, it wobbles left, right, up, down

i'll fix it somehow but it doesn't perform too well out of the box. its better looking than the scosche imo but maybe the scosche doesn't have the materials and fitment issues..

oh yeah it says on the back made in the USA. lol