mx5cartalk.com

Gents,

i have been toying with the idea for a while now to gut the OEM radio, antenna & relevant wiring in order to make way for 3x gauges currently where the radio sits - it currently takes up 2x DIN slots, i also aim to retain the plastic surround that sits around the whole area (radio, air con). the gauges i am thinking about are the Defi BF series which are 60mm in diameter.. oil press, oil temp & water temp.

hoping one can answer some questions i have as follows:

1. once i remove the radio, is that whole area free of obstacles e.g. brackets that can potentially get in the way?
2. will 3x 60mm gauges fit or would i need 52mm instead?
3. i want to make a custom carbon fibre backing flat plate with the 3 holes that will hold the gauges
4. can anyone point me in the direction of an off the shelf antenna plug?

is there anything else i should be aware of - watch out for? i will have an electrician/mechanic do all the wiring for me - but will prep the area up as much as i can before handing it over to them with all required bits & pieces.

cheers,
Jas.

1. Yes, it's just a big hole.
2. 52mm only if you also plan to fit a 1 DIN radio.
3. You can also get one for $50 off ebay.
4. There is already an antenna plug in the car, but here you go: https://www.jaycar.com.au/car-radio-antenna-adaptor-plug/p/PA2038

It's all very straight forward. The hardest part is removing the OEM radio.

Locutus wrote:1. Yes, it's just a big hole.
2. 52mm only if you also plan to fit a 1 DIN radio.
3. You can also get one for $50 off ebay.
4. There is already an antenna plug in the car, but here you go: https://www.jaycar.com.au/car-radio-antenna-adaptor-plug/p/PA2038

It's all very straight forward. The hardest part is removing the OEM radio.

thanks for the info.. just to clarify, not going with single DIN guages..which would require the 52mm gauges - instead im using the whole area (which once the radio is fully removed is 2x DIN slots), would 60mm gauges fit here - im thinking they will be placed in a triangular shape?

also:
1. where can i find the OEM radio removal tools - there like long metal pieces as seen here @2:28 >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN1h-iJ09w8&t=636s
2. to clarify, the plug i was referring to is purely for asthetics.. when i remove the antenna completely i just want to block that whole up nicely without anything poking out from the body of the car.

thanks again,
Jas.

The Green Goblin wrote:1. where can i find the OEM radio removal tools - there like long metal pieces as seen here @2:28 >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN1h-iJ09w8&t=636s

You don't need the tools, I just used a couple of bits of wire as per this video.
Yes it was just as easy as he made it look!

I would advise based on previous experience having important gauges down low out of eyesight unless there is an audible alarm or a separate light to get you to look at them.

Magpie- i think you've omitted "not" from your sentence?

advise NOT having important gauges out of site.

It's not good having any instrumentation that requires your head being turned away from the road.
Keeping them inline or beside the instrumentation cluster or inline with your forward view of the windscreen is advisable.
You wont believe how distracting gauges out of this site line can be, and tunnel vision forms while you obsess over the instrument's content and you awareness of the road ahead vanishes.

...speaking from experience 15 years ago where i really thought i knew better

Thanks Droo!

What the OP could do if going for the Defi BF series is to get the ZD display.

A wire coathanger works for the radio tools, otherwise super cheap auto sell he tools.

For blocking off the antenna hole in the rear guard, there are a few options.

1: a rubber grommet from Clarke rubber. Just push it in until it clips on the lip of the metal.

2: metal grommet with rubber seals. Pushes on from top, you then tighten the big washer underneath to clamp it down.

3: weld up he hole and have it painted.



Obviously option 3 is best, but costly.
1 looks neatest to me, but runs the risk of leaking or being pushed in/out by something.
2 is good and watertight, and secure, but I personally don't like how they look.

The Green Goblin wrote: to clarify, the plug i was referring to is purely for asthetics.. when i remove the antenna completely i just want to block that whole up nicely without anything poking out from the body of the car.

You can just use a blanking grommet of an appropriate size and use some sealant when installing into the hole.

https://www.clarkrubber.com.au/blind-grommet

thanks for the responses all. the DEFI gauges all have warning lights & alerts which you can set according to preference, they're good quality - had them in my s15 too.. i wont have to monitor them whilst driving. i will think about the plug option for the antenna.

the one thing i still don't have 100% clarity on is, will 3x 60mm gauges fit if set in a triangular shape within the 2x DIN slots? all im seeing on the net are 52mm guages mostly single DIN.