My first METRA gauges for PURE

[WickedZ]

Yup Pure asked me to install gauges for his metra. Im not even close to being done, but I got a call from work saying I got the job in Tallahassee with free room and all. So I had to pack everything up, so this is my progress so FAR. I have invested a total of maybe 1.5 hours on this to this point. I made sure all gauge pods sit flush to the gauge before laying my material and glassing. I then cleaned up the gauge area after DRY and made sure all my cubbys fit the gauge flush still. ALL Grovey so far

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK PLEASE

WELL finished as far as my supplies would let me, plus im moving right now. Hope he likes it. couple small areas around the rear defrost button I couldnt get perfect smooth to save my LIFE. Around the gauges LOOK crappy, but its just the pic.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o163/paulwarren19/025.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o163/paulwarren19/024.jpg

[zx2loon]

I wanted to do something like that....just didn't want to move the other controls to the cubby below....

[WickedZ]

all gauges ANGLED towards driver

[WickedZ]

OH I will also clean up around the CD player spot you see messed up. Its in progress

[WickedZ]

The metra is 100% cleaned up with my dremel and a few layers of filler. Its been completely over worked and shaped and now sits for the rest of the do 100% covered in spot puddy. All gauges fit 100% flush and very visable from the side. I had my gf hold it up and I sat in her car and seen how it would look.

[Connal]

Wicked, I'm glad to see you are working on more things. It looks like it is going to turn out pretty good.

[03zx2]

One question how is he gonna remove it if he ever has problems with the gauges or cd player?

[WickedZ]

One question how is he gonna remove it if he ever has problems with the gauges or cd player?

Hey bud, the pics were my progress as of like 12 hours ago lol. I have cut out everything and cleaned up the cd player hole, ect. Its about 95 percent done now and will be painted and finished either toniight or tomorrow.

I drilled out the 4 small holes that remove the metra from the car.

[WickedZ]

Wicked, I'm glad to see you are working on more things. It looks like it is going to turn out pretty good.

Everyone else, chill out. And could a mod please clean this thread up so it pertains to the topic?

Thanks bud. yeah I try to kep myself busy and I enjoy trying new things. Thank god the metra I have now is better looking cleaned up then the pics you guys see. There are no WAVES or anything like that now.

[WickedZ]

I love all you guys.

Big hugs LOL.

signed teamzx2 RICER

[scort2498]

looks awesome. i cant wait to see em in person. if your lucky i will have you do mine. when the time comes of course...

[corby_baby]

removed lol (wrong screen hahahah n00b=me)

[corby_baby]

Good Job Paul On The Metra :]

[WickedZ]

thanks corby

[ZX2guy19]

Paul, very nice man. How hard is it relocation the controls?

[ImCrazy]

Back on the metra thing anymore pics paul. you do some innovative shit man.

[WickedZ]

Um I dont know, Its up to Pure and what he is doing. All he told me to do was take his metra and make 3 gauges fit. Now Im sure I didnt have to go overboard and angle them and all.

When I recieved it, It had no controls and he just stuck the gauges in the holes. I just made it look a little more inviting

[WickedZ]

Um yeah I can take some pics of it NOW, as in sitting in garage covered in spot puddy.

[ImCrazy]

sure I like to see the progress.

[WickedZ]

ok will post in about 15 mins so stay tuned.

[ilarson007]

It looks good, but how the hell you going to control the HVAC? And rear defrost?

[ZX2Extreme]

Ok so how would one go about moving the ac controls

[WickedZ]

It looks good, but how the hell you going to control the HVAC? And rear defrost?

The HVAC is up to Pure the owner of this. The rear defrost is still going to be there. After the finished filling and painting is DONE, I will drill out the metra removal holes (4 of them) and REOPEN the rear defrost button spot. No worries. I just didnt want to have to work AROUND the small holes and AROUND the defrost button so I filled it in for now. Just trying to save time in the end

[WickedZ]

Ok so how would one go about moving the ac controls

My guess would be splicing into the wires and extending them? Could be wrong

[ImCrazy]

shit relocate the defrost too.

You can put the hvac controlls anywhere the cables will reach most relocations ive seen are to the cubby. Id love to see the put in the center console with switches or somethin.

[ilarson007]

shit relocate the defrost too.

You can put the hvac controlls anywhere the cables will reach most relocations ive seen are to the cubby. Id love to see the put in the center console with switches or somethin.

+1, but I could see that getting in the way, or I could see accidentally bumping them and what not.

[WickedZ]

pics page 1 UPDATE. sorry so blurry, but was in a hurry

[Blue ZX2]

Well I think it looks good! And congrats for geting things done while making a family happy! Takes a hell of a man to do that. I salute you sir!

[WickedZ]

the family part is the hardest thing I ever took on.2 kids and all and im only 24. Sucks to see my Z go downhill, but its ok.

[WickedZ]

Pictures always make my stuff look like SHIT. I promise much better in person for SURE

[00zx2s/r]

haha I still haven't finished the cubby you did for me! lol. But ya about relocating the controls, wut about the hot and cold switch? how do u extend that sinces it's not just a simple wire?

Hey great job man! Very attractive! Good anglation (if thats a word) also! lol

[WickedZ]

you asking the wrong person Brotha

[00zx2s/r]

lol eh, it's just a questino being thrown out for whoever!

[WickedZ]

haha I still haven't finished the cubby you did for me! lol. But ya about relocating the controls, wut about the hot and cold switch? how do u extend that sinces it's not just a simple wire?

Hey great job man! Very attractive! Good anglation (if thats a word) also! lol

And see what can be done when your not sick or bothered? I only spent 1 day on this to this point, and its going to be painted and everything by the end of the night.

[ImCrazy]

wheres the pics man?

[WickedZ]

wheres the pics man?

1st page brotha. They are a bit shakey cuz I was in a hurry. Will finish the metra tomorrow

[WillZX2]

good work Wickedz that'll be sick bro.

[pure]

wow , I told you to make a post but you already did! awsome. Let me explain the reasoning behind this. First of all my car doesn't have AC or heat. I didn't like the fact people could see my gauges on the pillar while driving , so to keep things looking stock (from the outside) and I didn't have AC I removed all the knobs , drilled the holes out to fit the gauges , well it wasn't very flush due to the way the metra is made so I always wanted to fiberglass it , Fiberglassing is by far not my thing so the fact that wicked said he was looking for work (i know this isn't much) I figured I shoot and ask to see if he was interested and as you can see he did it and I think it looks great.. I'm debating on putting a wideband there or having it located some where else (may talk to you about that one too wick! :) ) Looks good bud , thanks!. I'll post pics of it installed when I get it.

[yellow2000S/R]

haha I still haven't finished the cubby you did for me! lol. But ya about relocating the controls, wut about the hot and cold switch? how do u extend that sinces it's not just a simple wire?

Hey great job man! Very attractive! Good anglation (if thats a word) also! lol

I made a post... somewhere LOL


EDIT: Found it: http://www.teamzx2.com/showthread.php?t=635&highlight=cable Look though this topic.

[Hypnose Zx2]

well i think it looks good

[WickedZ]

thanks guys

[WickedZ]

Thanks mods for cleaning this up. I would have hit report to mod when first started to get out of hand, BUT I dont have a report to mod button

[SeRiousZX2]

Its the triangle sign in each post. : )

Now back on topic lol.

[WickedZ]

Serious, your imputs on subject please? I am finishing up the sanding today and going to paint it. DO you see ANYTHING I should do before paint it? I was going to reopen the defrost button and the 4 small holes for metra removeal just before I paint it.

[SeRiousZX2]

I'd be more than happy to give my imput but I can't see the pics. Government computers won't let us pull up photobucket pics. It will let me look at them through image shack. Sorry...

[TranceZ]

Looks nice WickedZ.

[WickedZ]

Well I just shot it with its first coat of primer. Its now hanging in the garage drying. I see some more imperfections I need to address. So tomorrow I will head down there and fix all the errors and shoot it agian with primer. If all looks good, I will finish painting it glossy black and a few coats of clear

[pure]

nice .. can't wait to see it!

[WickedZ]

Hey bud Im totally out of filler, and sand paper. Im going to have to finish this at the shop in Tally. I will be going there monday for sure. They have some supplys I can use wink wink. sorry for the delay. Im so broke right now, I cant buy sand paper to be honest. gotta make sure baby has formula and food for my family

[pure]

man thats fine.. family comes first not a damn metra gauge pod! I have a little one also so I know how it is. I wish you would of told me in advance I have supplys at the house I would of sent them also! Just let me know when you get around to finishing it.

[WickedZ]

well im going to try to squeeze whats left of my filler and hardner to finish. Its just little spots that need a bit of attention nothing serious. Dont worry brotha I got ya back.

[WickedZ]

UPDATE:

hangin and all painted and 3 coats of clear. Will post pics tomorrow. One of my best jobs thus far I think

[WickedZ]

Here are the finished pics. WELL finished as far as my supplies would let me, plus im moving right now. Hope he likes it. couple small areas around the rear defrost button I couldnt get perfect smooth to save my LIFE. Around the gauges LOOK crappy, but its just the pic.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o163/paulwarren19/025.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o163/paulwarren19/024.jpg

[Blue ZX2]

looks good.

[ImCrazy]

looks okay, i think the defrost looks horrid, and it looks like it needs more wet sanding like you were saying in your previous post, cover up that defrost and relocate it man it looks outta place big time.

[scort2498]

Ok so how would one go about moving the ac controls
He dosn't have ac he has no control's before theis was dont all his spots sat empty kinda funny looking.

[Waterboy9000]

maybe you should avoid painting in black, just so some imperfections dont jump out so much.

[yellow2000S/R]

maybe you should avoid painting in black, just so some imperfections dont jump out so much.

LOL

Wait till I make a new topic for the dakota flares. The rears are almost to paint stage before pulling molds for them. Shits going to be high build primer, 2 layers of black, and then 2 layers of clear then wetsanded and buffed to a high shine. (needed to make release easier when I make mold, and also gives a very smooth finish to parts comming from mold).

[Waterboy9000]

yeah... maybe you should show wicked how to it look right.
looks like hes forgetting the filler primer, and guide coats, and wet sanding...

[yellow2000S/R]

yeah... maybe you should show wicked how to it look right.
looks like hes forgetting the filler primer, and guide coats, and wet sanding...


His metra face is almost there. Just really needs a thin coat of filler and then some sanding with 180-220 grit, then a few coats of high build primer, wetsanding with 400&600, then clean and paint/clear or whatever.

Takes a lot of time to get stuff "right". Its taken more time than I thought it would for the fenders now that I'm working on them LOL.

[WickedZ]

yes I didnt use high build primer, cuz I didnt know what that was, and I FAILEd at tryiong to wet sand. I just never learned it. mayeb someday oh well.

[ImCrazy]

yes I didnt use high build primer, cuz I didnt know what that was, and I FAILEd at tryiong to wet sand. I just never learned it. mayeb someday oh well.

wet sanding is:

A) Essential

B) Easy

[Waterboy9000]

it will make your product look smoother, and with a overall nicer appearence