How To : Install a 1 DIN Pocket with Lip
 

The OEM pocket is bad. Too narrow, too short, doesn't hold enough and stuff flies out of it when you hit the gas.

I had a pocket from my previous ride and wanted it installed but wouldn't you know it, the factory unit fits a 3/4 DIN or something stupid like that.

So we just adapt a 1 DIN to fit correctly.

The whole reason for this project? I wanted a bigger pocket that holds my garage door opener. That's it.

What You Need:
Tools to remove center console (There's probably a how to somewhere...)
Dremel or in my case a grind wheel
Some sort of sticky pad or rubber to line the pocket (stuff still flies out)
1 DIN Pocket

I used one from a MX6 and here's the most important part....

PART NUMBER B02A-66-9M0A from any Mazda Dealership.

Optional are lights/LED's if you want and you'll see why later.

The specs on the LED I used are:
60mcd / 12V @20mA, 80mm - 24 awg wire leads made by Knight Lites model KLC-3070RL-12V-1P purchased from Active Electronics.

Here's a picture of the pocket in my old ride.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/images/howto/Mine1.jpg

You'll need to take out the center console. Look for something about a new headunit install and you should be good.

Next here are some pics of the the MX6 pocket.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...2A-66-9M0A.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...-9M0Aback2.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...6-9M0Aback.jpg

And here are some shots comparing the crappy OEM pocket to the new one.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...thecrapOEM.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...hecrapOEM2.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...hecrapOEM3.jpg

So what's the problem?

Well take a look. The new pocket is just higher than the OEM one and it's upper face lip (?) makes fitment impossible.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...hecrapOEM4.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...M0Acloseup.jpg

How do we fix that?

We attack that upper lip in order to fit it in our dash.

I started by using a dremel to grind it down, but it was too cold outside so I just put it right up against a grind wheel.


Pics of the upper lip removed.

As you can see in the 2nd pic I ground down the lip a bit too much on the sides but that's not a problem.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...9M0Alipcut.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...M0Alipcut2.jpg

did some preliminary fitting.

The first 2 show the pocket installed without the headunit's faceplate.

The next 3 show it with the faceplate. As you can see it hides the booboo from the grinding well.

What is not shown is that I fashioned a "support" from strapping wire just to help hold up the pocket a bit better.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...minaryFit3.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...minaryFit4.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...iminaryFit.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...minaryFit2.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...minaryFit5.jpg

Essentially you are done.

But what about the light/LED?

Well I found out that in the dark it's really hard to see the pocket at all so I installed a single LED. I used a Red LED, and was trying to combine it with a Red jell sticky pad to give it a great lighting effect.

I spliced power from the cigarette lighter to the LED.

The last pic shows how it looks now at night.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...o/Notbadeh.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...andIonizer.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/images/howto/HeadOn.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...riversView.jpg

But wait!

I'm not finished yet.

The OEM pocket "might" fit in the lower storage area right?......

I thought about removing the ashtray/lighter combo to put the OEM pocket there too.......

And I've got to do something about those useless cupholders.

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...OEMConsole.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...ureProject.jpg

https://www.torontointegras.ca/image...reProject2.jpg

So was it worth it?

Absolutely. Stuff still flies out of the pocket under acceleration but that red "jelly" sticky pad really helps.

And the red LED helps me to reach for the pocket easier at night.

That white thing in the cigarette lighter is a air ionizer that I eventually painted black.

Isn't my defroster button supposed to light up like my hazard button?

And you can see my fan speed switch doesn't light up bright either....

One day...Oneeee day. You will need that cupholder.

I do use them to hold my cup for my cigar!

But something a bit higher and bigger to hold beverages bigger than a pop can would be nice.