I got a dual guage a-pillar pod for christmas and i need to paint it since it comes black. I have the tan interior and i really don't know how to go about painting it to look like the rest of the plastic stuff in the Explorer. Where could i get the paint to do it?

You can get factory match paint from http://paintscratch.com/

I recommend sanding lightly with 600 grit. Apply Duplicolor primer gray, then Duplicolor tan paint. It is a small piece, so will be easy to paint. Sand again lightly after 2 coats of primer, then apply about 3 coats of the tan.

This wont match your interior perfectly, but will work well for about $10. Duplicolor is available at Autozone.

Paint that doesn't match looks like hell in my opinion. Remember, YOU will be looking at this job every time you drive.

You can also take the A moulding to a local paint store and have their match computer determine the exact color and mix it for you' that is what I did since I was too impatient to wait on the paintscratcj.com paint.

Good luck......

Originally posted by XLT_66
I got a dual guage a-pillar pod for christmas...

Where did they get it from? Post some pictures.

I'm assuming this one:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=26758

You're welcome ;)

I got mine as well as the digital gaugesfrom Dakota Digital,

http://dakotadigital.com/

I used the Duplicolor paint on mine (what Alec mentioned) and it turned out great. I didn't even use primer. It matches great.

http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3058/4434explorer_gauge_pod_01.jpg

How hard was it to rig up that oil guage? I need to since my OSU isn't working, I'd like to know my real pressure, if I really do have a problem I'm in trouble.
That does look very sweet, how much was the final cost of everything?
-----Nate

Al, duplocolor makes paint to match factory paint codes... the stuff you can buy at Autozone... i have done some kick panels in this before, and it matched EXACTLY.

The oil pressure was actually pretty easy to mount. It's an electrical, so it was only a few wires. The sender is mounted near my oil cooler. I'll take a pic tomorrow and post it. It's great knowing the real oil pressure. Many times my "real" gauge is reading zero pressure witht he "Check Gauge" light on, while the Autometer is reading OK pressure. Book saya 40-60 psi and I'm getting about 50.


The DupliColor paint I used matches the interior perfectly. It works really great. When you first spray it on, it looks like a completely different color, but it dries to match perfectly.

alsi if you go to your local automotive paint supply store they have a plastic paint adhesion primer from a company called S.E.M GREAT FOR PLASTICS.. also i would lightly sand it with 600 grit or higher as this help with adhesion..

I use a vynal dye for any interior pannels like my Q logic Sub surround. It works great. I got it from a local PPG paint shop.

Originally posted by nweibley
How hard was it to rig up that oil guage? I need to since my OSU isn't working, I'd like to know my real pressure, if I really do have a problem I'm in trouble.
That does look very sweet, how much was the final cost of everything?
-----Nate


Sorry for the delay. Here is a pic of my oil setup, including the oil pressure sender.


Remote Mount Filter:
http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3058/4434oil-filter-01.jpg

http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3058/4434oil-filter-02.jpg

Oil Cooler:
http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3058/4434oil-cooler-2.jpg

Oil Pressure Sender:
http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3058/4434oil-pressure-sender.jpg

:) Thanks. Doesn't look too tough!
What oil cooler rig is that? Looks like a high-quality radiator (the questions never end)
-----Nate

It's the Perma-Cool unit. If you do get one, you will have to use the remote mount filter as well, as the sandwich adapter does not fit. The two barbed hose fittings point right at either the engine or the frame. The remote mount filter adapter has fittings that point down, so the hoses will fit.

On my X, the oil runs from the stock filter location to the remote filter, to the oil cooler, then back to the stock filter location. The oil pressure sender is on the return from the cooler to the engine.

It was pretty easy to do, but I recommend that you do the installation while doing an oil change, so you don't end up having oil pouring down all over you. Not that it happend to me, mind you, I just heard about it happening to this guy I know... :D

The duplicolor is fine for the top coat and matches pretty well . AS far as prep work plastic parts that have a texture should always be "sanded" with a scuff pad , not sand paper , cause it wont rough up the lower part of the texture , leading to peeling later on .Temperature changes will have a affect on this . If it came with a factory primer on it , theres no need to prime it .If it didnt then theres a product you can get from your local automotive paint supply called marhyde , its made for plastic and they also have custom colors the paint supplier can make . The products for plastics have to remain flexable for them to adhear properly , thats why standard automotive paint wont work . The paint will get hard , the plastic will flex and it comes off like a egg shell . If you plan on keeping ther rig for a while id suggest you go with my suggestions but if your only gonna keep it for a short time , then grey laquer primer and Duplicolor will work . I restore autos from the ground up and Ive learned from many mistakes . Good luck and those piller pods look cool as heck.

Do you know of a reason why that gauge pod wouldn't fit a '00 Ex? They only list '95-99. Thanks!

Should fit up to '01.

Alec, i've decided that you are not a medical student, that you really live inside the server for this website. You always have an answer.

Anyways, i have the mechanical tranny temp guage. To install this, do i have to drop the tranny pan and replace the lost fluids? Would i be better off to just send back the mechanical and try to get an electrical or something like that.? How hard is it for two guys, one who has worked on cars for years, and another who has worked only on 60's and 70's cars to install this. Would there be anywhere we could mess up?

I would definately go electrical.

Take a look at http://dakotadigital.com/