hi i just got a 1983 280zx 2+2, it has the regular needle dash kit and im wondering if i can change the dash to the digital type, will it fit, and would i need to change anything or buy anything else to make it work correctly? thanks i hope someone has info.

 

I've never known anyone who wanted to switch from analog to digital. Yeah, the digital might look cool, but it is well known to have so many problems. That's why most people want to switch from digital to analog, which is much more reliable, and the gauge components can be easily changed out. The digital cluster doesn't give you that option, and you'd have to be an electronic expert to repair it in most cases.

 

If you want em, I've got 2 diff. sets of digital gauges to give away.

 

LOL, "give away" ... see what I mean? Heat Rave knows what's up also. Why else would he be giving them away?

 

They were actually given to me by the previous owner of one of my ZX's, who had a lot of 280ZX parts he threw in. I listed the gauges in with that parts giveaway thread I started a couple months back. I still have a lot of free parts to give away.

 

Dude don't go digital, I have an '83 with digital. And I already think it is a piece of crap. Stay with analog, you will thank us later. I think the digital dash was a downfall to the 280zx. Hmm makes me wonder. Anyway I am keeping it for now. But when I do decide to keep my '83. I am putting the 130mph speedo, and harness, and getting rid of the digital. It is your choice, but we strongly urge you not to swap to digital, you will regret it man.

 

I did... I swapped analog to digital in an 82 I had. It's quite an easy swap. You need:

-Digital gauge cluster
-Digital dash wiring harness
-Digital dash coolant temp sensor (located on the thermostat housing)

Swap the parts & wa-la! Like Z Car Barbie & WildmaN said... the digital dash has many drawbacks performance wise, but if your Z is just a cruiser, the digi-dash livens it up a lot!

EDIT... and the digital dash uses GREEN back lights, instead of ORANGE... so you'll want those bulbs too.

 

See, i did the opposite and swaped to analog, much more accurate. Anyways i didn't need to swap the temp sender, mine works just right.

 

Going from digi to analog, I don't think you need to, but from analog to digi you do.... the digi sensor is better I believe.

 

That doesn't make since. Mine reads right, i know 180* will burn you...

 

I just lay it out for ya'all to play it out! I don't explain how it was designed!

Didn't you read the radiator cap warning "Do not remove when hot" ?

 

No? my sticker's gone.

 

One other problem with the digital cluster, which I forgot to mention earlier ... a major problem:

It's very difficult, and sometimes completely impossible, to read the gauges when the sun is shining on them, with or without the T-Tops in place. If you thought it was a pain not being able to read the LED on your stereo, just think of what it'd be like if you were excessively speeding, or even worse, your engine started overheating, and you had no idea until it was too late to avoid serious damage.

 

Yeah that is true ZCB also there not accurate, my idle was fluxuating three or so bars. Anyways back to the movie.

 

yeh i had a 300zx and i know the sun makes it so you cant see.
it did have flickering problems but i resoldered the joints in 20 minutes and viola! it worked just like new.
i think its mostly the age of the solder joints thats causes the flicker and the not coming on at all problem. because if you look at them with a magnifying glass theyre all cracked (when theyre malfunctioning)
i kinda like the digi dash, hehehe makes me feel nightriderish.


and could i actually get those digidashes off you heatraveR? do you have any harnesses or the other things i may need? and does anyone have any fenders? ive been lookin around but im not having any luck.
mine are rotted at the bottom. i was thinking of doing some fiberglass to hold it on but ugh i dont want to do that. i guess i will as a last resort.

 

So what I am getting from this thread is this. Okay I have decided to get rid of my digital setup in my '83. What all do I need to do, to switch to analog? What it sounds like it, I wont have to change anything. (except the gauges of course) Is that correct, or do I need to change some things? I need to know quite soon, because I am getting another rebuilt motor for my '83. And I don't want to run it with the digital crap.

 

Read: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/showt...t=digital+dash

and/or this one:

https://www.zdriver.com/forums/showt...t=digital+dash

 

Okay so what it look like, is I have to change the dash harness correct? Man what a pain, and I need to locate a complete one to boot. Well I better look around, I don't want to keep the digital in. Thanks for the response man.

 

You also need the other water coolant sensor.

 

Is that where my temp gauge reads? the one with the yellow wire on it? I had to super glue mine, because it wouldn't solder, I tried. That is on my '82 I mean, anyway yeah I will just get a sensor new. And I would like to get a '83 dash harness for that year. To save me any grief, so it is a simple swap. Also what about my auto climate control? How much trouble is that to change back to manual? If it is too much bother, I wont screw with right now.

 

Super simple... they both plug & play to the same harness.

 

My disco dash works just fine and is pretty accurate (from what I can tell when it gets the annual smog check).

I just want to do the mod (one of these days) so it'll count higher than 85!