I've got an 80's 280zx is there a later digital dash (saw one in the local advertiser advertised as a digital dash out of an 83?) that will swap in in its place?
Or is there even that big of a difference?

Also, my clock seems to choose when it wants to work and when not, is this a common problem, its a digital clock if that helps any. I haven't been able to pinpoint if it does it at certain times or what not, it just seems to be relatively random.

One more question, my stereo, its a dial radio, rather annoying having to tweak it around town to pick up a station, Theres also a cassette player to the right of it, is there a year model that had a digital one that'd swap in there or was there an option that you could get a digital one?

I don't want to completely tear the car apart and make my own, would like to keep it at least datsun parts, within a reasonable year distance.
Thanks,
Luke

 

Hey man you should be able to put the factory digital radio in your Z. And my clock I currently have I cannot set the time on it. But I recently won another cluster on e-bay all gauges working. I am not sure on the digital dash. I believe they came out in the '82 models. I personally like the analog better. Less problems, of course I never cared for digital gauges anyway. On E-bay right now there is a couple of original digital radio and cassete players going cheap! And they come in the original stereo housing. 2 of them are being sold by the same seller. Just type in 280zx radio or stereo. One is a BUY IT NOW for $70 I think, and the other is either $50 or $60. Great deal, but I already have 3 sets of those stereos. I don't know if the 3rd one works or not. Anyway hope this helps, and I agree, I am trying to stay Datsun with as much as possible.

 

Hey again; I just looked at my watch list on e-bay. Type this in exactly 280 zx AM FM radio cassette. Have the 280 and then the zx spaced just like above this line. Hope this helps, and if you still can't find them PM me with your e-mail address, and I will send you an auction link.

 

Only the last year, 1983, had the digital gauges.
I heard you have to also swap out the sending units on certain sensors to read correctly on the digital dash. Like, fuel sending unit, oil pressure, tach, or something. Its more complicated than just swapping the gauge. If you have an 83 with the digital dash already and yours goes out, then swapping the gauges will fix it.

I have an 83 parts car if you want to buy the gauges but I'm not sure on what all else you need to buy. I'm also not ready to pull parts off it just yet. way too busy...

My 1982 digital clock goes out and comes back at random. At one point I thought it was related to the temperature of the interrior but now I'm not sure. Mine works fine for setting the time and even though it doesn't always display something, when it does come back it still has the correct time!

 

Hey Bleach I have seen a few '82's that had the digital dash. That's why I thought that they came out in that year. So I don't know if they added it in or it was special from the factory.

 

9/82-12/82 production maybe? That 'should' be titled as an 83.

Nissan's official release is that the digital was an 83 only feature. You'll typically find them in 1983 cars.

 

My '83 digital clock acts exatctly the same. Haven't been able to figure out why it goes blank, then pops back with the correct time either...

 

Haha ... now I'm glad the only accurate stock gauge on my Zed is the clock.

 

How do you reset the odometer on the digital guages? I'm about to start taking it apart, I just got the car off ebay for 300$(83 280zx NA) and want to completly restore it, and maybe swap in a built 350.It's just, I do not want people oohing and aahing and then seeing "279876" on the odometer...Oh and it still runs like crazy...purs like a kitten! I was very impressed. Everyone I've met so far has told me l28's are bullet proof, and I beleive it, dang.

 

Thanks for all the replies; one more quick question though, I'm not up for spending 70 bucks on a radio, especially since I've got a couple CD players here at the house that we've tossed out of cars at work. I've seen pictures of it, but have no idea as to where to start looking, its a full panel (looked satin black?) that replaced where the radio/cassette combo was and made room for a CD player. Is it just a swap in panel and you're ready to go, or is there something that will need to be cut?

 

Quite simple ... just that little metal face ... mine's cardboard with electrical tape on it.

Everything else should be a bolt-in affair - at least mine was. The wiring will kill you though.