09 WRX DYI A-Pillar Gauge Pod

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 01:31 PM

So I was bored today an desided to try out making my own a pillar gauge pod.

Make sure you are ready to prep and paint the other a pillar to match.
I had my old gauge pod from my 2004 miata.

I took out the a pillar.
FYI the air bag deployes between the apillar and the rubber trim.

Nice area to run my wire for the AFR and boost gauge.

Its a close fit but needs work.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 01:40 PM

Start by sanding the inside of the pod and the area on the apillar the pod will be glued to.

I used 5 min epoxy on the inside of the gauge pod. Work fast before it gets gummy. Use 15 min expoxy if you have never used this stuff.
After I put the pod on the Apillar, I tacked the whole thing together with foam friendly thin CA and kicker. ( it will flex more than reg. CA.) You can get both of the glues from a local hobby shop. I also think i saw some at hobby lobby.

Before we start puttying and fiberglassing, do a test fit.

off to go mix and spread bondo. Next set of pics soon.

wawawrx · 03-21-2009, 03:12 PM

nice idea! cant wait to see how it turns out

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 03:28 PM

Putty time!

Sanding the rough shape. You can see how it will blend in.

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 03:32 PM

And more Putty time. This layer will fill the first layer and smooth it all out.

And after sanding the putty. You can see the final blend. Hopefully this will be the last time for the putty.

J_Vengeance · 03-21-2009, 05:36 PM

looking good cant wait to see it finished

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 05:44 PM

Ok so to see any cracks or scratches I shot a thick coat of primer. I then wet sanded it down.

Now I used .75 fiber glass cloth. Mixed 5 min epoxy with denatured Alcohol. This it to thin the epoxy. Then I applied the cloth to the edges of the pod. This is to prevent the cracking between the plastic and the bondo.

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 07:07 PM

All most done.
Im using filler primer to fill any scratches. Im also using it to give the apillar the smooth finish. I will do this to the other apillar as well.

This is a long process of spraying and wet sanding. The more you do it the smoother it will be.

The next update will be the finished part. So far not bad for a day of work.

Newbuggy · 03-21-2009, 07:18 PM

wow looks good. Have you done all this today?

redgt09 · 03-21-2009, 07:22 PM

Damn that looks incredible wish I had skills like that.

KB21 · 03-21-2009, 07:50 PM

Great work! Look forward to seeing the finished product!

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 08:55 PM

Ok Finished.
Its not perfect. But it works

.

I used Graphite Grey Metalic and also painted the other apillar. I did not sand and smooth the other side. Just wanted to see if i needed to. Maybe next weekend I will do it along with the B and C pillars.

Inside shots. Its crapy pics but you get the idea.

AtomicFrawg · 03-21-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbuggy

wow looks good. Have you done all this today?

Yeap started at around 11 am and just finished 8pm. All while watching 12hrs of Sebring.

This has been a fun project. Once the paint fully cures, I will get in car shots.

Chris L

codesoccer · 03-21-2009, 09:01 PM

that looks sick good job man!!

CorrPerformance · 03-22-2009, 02:05 AM

Dedication and patience is the key here. Great results Chris! U also picked a nice weekend to work on this project. Beautiful weather all day long.

Keep the pictures coming man, it's looking superb.

Evo killerz · 03-22-2009, 08:36 AM

good effort anyway

bsikora · 03-22-2009, 02:34 PM

looks great bro! i like that color of the pillars

Blake

wawawrx · 03-22-2009, 02:51 PM

nice job

do work!

J_Vengeance · 03-22-2009, 03:13 PM

looks good blends well pretty good

MicMcKee · 03-22-2009, 05:53 PM

Nice work mate,

Haha not when are you going to make me one...

SOLUTION · 03-22-2009, 05:59 PM

What happens if the A pillar air bags go off?

ASHRAF · 03-22-2009, 07:02 PM

i wish someone offers an A pillar pod, or a clock pod, or any pod for that matter for '08s

I have a set of defis and i want them to go on clean

i wish i was good to try and make my own

props on what u did

wawawrx · 03-22-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASHRAF

i wish someone offers an A pillar pod, or a clock pod, or any pod for that matter for '08s

I have a set of defis and i want them to go on clean

i wish i was good to try and make my own

props on what u did

Perrin has the $100 double pod that goes over your steering wheel base. personally i
a: hate the location
2: cant believe how overly priced that piece of plastic is

remotehuman · 03-22-2009, 10:27 PM

props. looks good

AtomicFrawg · 03-22-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOLUTION

What happens if the A pillar air bags go off?

The airbag depolys between the apillar cover and the rubber seal. The apillar does not move. In the first few pics you can see the ridged plastic mount for the airbags. This mount dirrects the bags downward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoOpqiU4ics

Notice in the video, The a pillar trim does not come off the a pillar.

03-21-2009, 01:31 PM	#1
AtomicFrawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 197739 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lafayette,La Vehicle: 2009 WRX Obsidian black pearl	09 WRX DYI A-Pillar Gauge Pod So I was bored today an desided to try out making my own a pillar gauge pod. Make sure you are ready to prep and paint the other a pillar to match. I had my old gauge pod from my 2004 miata. I took out the a pillar. FYI the air bag deployes between the apillar and the rubber trim. Nice area to run my wire for the AFR and boost gauge. Its a close fit but needs work. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads. Last edited by AtomicFrawg; 03-21-2009 at 01:41 PM.

03-21-2009, 08:55 PM	#12
AtomicFrawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 197739 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lafayette,La Vehicle: 2009 WRX Obsidian black pearl	Ok Finished. Its not perfect. But it works . I used Graphite Grey Metalic and also painted the other apillar. I did not sand and smooth the other side. Just wanted to see if i needed to. Maybe next weekend I will do it along with the B and C pillars. Inside shots. Its crapy pics but you get the idea. Last edited by AtomicFrawg; 03-21-2009 at 10:16 PM.

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03-21-2009, 01:40 PM	#2
AtomicFrawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 197739 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lafayette,La Vehicle: 2009 WRX Obsidian black pearl	Start by sanding the inside of the pod and the area on the apillar the pod will be glued to. I used 5 min epoxy on the inside of the gauge pod. Work fast before it gets gummy. Use 15 min expoxy if you have never used this stuff. After I put the pod on the Apillar, I tacked the whole thing together with foam friendly thin CA and kicker. ( it will flex more than reg. CA.) You can get both of the glues from a local hobby shop. I also think i saw some at hobby lobby. Before we start puttying and fiberglassing, do a test fit. off to go mix and spread bondo. Next set of pics soon.

03-21-2009, 03:12 PM	#3
wawawrx Scooby Guru Member#: 200730 Join Date: Jan 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Conshohocken Vehicle: 2008 \\\/\/RX SWP	nice idea! cant wait to see how it turns out

03-21-2009, 03:28 PM	#4
AtomicFrawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 197739 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lafayette,La Vehicle: 2009 WRX Obsidian black pearl	Putty time! Sanding the rough shape. You can see how it will blend in.

03-21-2009, 03:32 PM	#5
AtomicFrawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 197739 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lafayette,La Vehicle: 2009 WRX Obsidian black pearl	And more Putty time. This layer will fill the first layer and smooth it all out. And after sanding the putty. You can see the final blend. Hopefully this will be the last time for the putty.

03-21-2009, 05:36 PM	#6
J_Vengeance Scooby Newbie Member#: 189860 Join Date: Sep 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Clarksville, TN Vehicle: 2006 StageII WRX TR WRB	looking good cant wait to see it finished

03-21-2009, 05:44 PM	#7
AtomicFrawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 197739 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lafayette,La Vehicle: 2009 WRX Obsidian black pearl	Ok so to see any cracks or scratches I shot a thick coat of primer. I then wet sanded it down. Now I used .75 fiber glass cloth. Mixed 5 min epoxy with denatured Alcohol. This it to thin the epoxy. Then I applied the cloth to the edges of the pod. This is to prevent the cracking between the plastic and the bondo.

03-21-2009, 07:07 PM	#8
AtomicFrawg Scooby Newbie Member#: 197739 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lafayette,La Vehicle: 2009 WRX Obsidian black pearl	All most done. Im using filler primer to fill any scratches. Im also using it to give the apillar the smooth finish. I will do this to the other apillar as well. This is a long process of spraying and wet sanding. The more you do it the smoother it will be. The next update will be the finished part. So far not bad for a day of work.

03-21-2009, 07:18 PM	#9
Newbuggy Scooby Specialist Member#: 152042 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Lynden, WA Vehicle: 2002 WRX WRB	wow looks good. Have you done all this today?

03-21-2009, 07:22 PM	#10
redgt09 Scooby Newbie Member#: 192015 Join Date: Oct 2008	Damn that looks incredible wish I had skills like that.

03-21-2009, 07:50 PM	#11
KB21 Scooby Specialist Member#: 186441 Join Date: Aug 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Lumberton, NC Vehicle: 2004 Impreza WRX PSM	Great work! Look forward to seeing the finished product!

03-21-2009, 09:01 PM	#14
codesoccer Scooby Specialist Member#: 179573 Join Date: May 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: South Florida Vehicle: 2002 MBP Bugeye Flip Flop Tuned on corn	that looks sick good job man!!

03-22-2009, 02:05 AM	#15
CorrPerformance Scooby Newbie Member#: 153056 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NOLA	Dedication and patience is the key here. Great results Chris! U also picked a nice weekend to work on this project. Beautiful weather all day long. Keep the pictures coming man, it's looking superb.

03-22-2009, 08:36 AM	#16
Evo killerz Scooby Newbie Member#: 182874 Join Date: Jun 2008 Chapter/Region: International Vehicle: 2007 wrx WR Blue	good effort anyway

03-22-2009, 02:34 PM	#17
bsikora Scooby Specialist Member#: 125573 Join Date: Sep 2006 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Houston Vehicle: 2006 2.5i ProTune by Sean S.	looks great bro! i like that color of the pillars Blake

03-22-2009, 02:51 PM	#18
wawawrx Scooby Guru Member#: 200730 Join Date: Jan 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Conshohocken Vehicle: 2008 \\\/\/RX SWP	nice job do work!

03-22-2009, 03:13 PM	#19
J_Vengeance Scooby Newbie Member#: 189860 Join Date: Sep 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Clarksville, TN Vehicle: 2006 StageII WRX TR WRB	looks good blends well pretty good

03-22-2009, 05:53 PM	#20
MicMcKee Scooby Specialist Member#: 185297 Join Date: Jul 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 2008 Evo X RR	Nice work mate, Haha not when are you going to make me one...

03-22-2009, 05:59 PM	#21
SOLUTION Scooby Specialist Member#: 43602 Join Date: Sep 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Vehicle: 2005 Outback Sport	What happens if the A pillar air bags go off?

03-22-2009, 07:02 PM	#22
ASHRAF Scooby Newbie Member#: 193921 Join Date: Nov 2008 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Houston, TX Vehicle: 2010 Impreza WRX STi SWP	i wish someone offers an A pillar pod, or a clock pod, or any pod for that matter for '08s I have a set of defis and i want them to go on clean i wish i was good to try and make my own props on what u did

03-22-2009, 10:27 PM	#24
remotehuman Scooby Specialist Member#: 201995 Join Date: Feb 2009 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Quincy, MA Vehicle: 2005 bugeye Flat White & whatnot	props. looks good