speedo mod
05-11-2005, 11:20 AM
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: squwamton
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speedo mod
I REALLY though that this was going to be alot harder mod but.... it wasnt . it took about two hours this moring to pull it apart and put it back .. droping the the streeing colum was a little scary frist time jitters 
but once it was pulled apart its not that hard to fig out .. iam stoked i didnt think that i would be able to keep the ecu read out but with a little swaping from one cluster to the other and shes GOLDEN ..
but once it was pulled apart its not that hard to fig out .. iam stoked i didnt think that i would be able to keep the ecu read out but with a little swaping from one cluster to the other and shes GOLDEN ..
05-11-2005, 12:25 PM
#4
More Than Meets The Eye
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 5,120
Yep just a simple swap. I did it both in my '81 and '82 280zx's. Verry universal, then I set the miles to what the old gauges said. So they are accurate! 
No changing anything. Just swap them out one for the other. Works great, not a hitch! 
I did it both in my '81 and '82 280zx's. Verry universal, then I set the miles to what the old gauges said. So they are accurate! No changing anything. Just swap them out one for the other. Works great, not a hitch!
05-11-2005, 01:15 PM
#6
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yep yep yep the hole thing comes apart eazy peaze.. you can get just the gauge from ebay for like $70.00 bill ... i was lucky eff to get the hole piece from a 79 car a the a zdriver member had it for sale. so i took both of them apart and swaped them up up the hardest part was getting the speedo cable hooked back on to the back of the cluster but it got alot eazyer after i found out that the cable comes free at the fire wall 
the hardest part was getting the speedo cable hooked back on to the back of the cluster but it got alot eazyer after i found out that the cable comes free at the fire wall
05-11-2005, 09:50 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by WildmaN
Yep just a simple swap. I did it both in my '81 and '82 280zx's. Verry universal, then I set the miles to what the old gauges said. So they are accurate! No changing anything. Just swap them out one for the other. Works great, not a hitch!
I did it both in my '81 and '82 280zx's. Verry universal, then I set the miles to what the old gauges said. So they are accurate! No changing anything. Just swap them out one for the other. Works great, not a hitch! ya i sould have messed with it more i didnt reset my OD to what it was. didnt want to break the new speedo
mabe i will pull she apart and try to make my OD right
05-11-2005, 10:49 PM
#11
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
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Just remove it and stick a screwdriver tip in the back and spin it for a few hours. It'll roll over to zero and then bring it back to what you want it. That's the safe way to do it. Don't open it up or you might break the odometer.
05-11-2005, 11:06 PM
#12
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Bay Area
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I just found an old picture of mine...
http://www.kamikazeracing.org/dl/210speedo.jpg
If you get one from a Canadian ZX from 1980 to 1983 you'll get a 6 digit OD too.
http://www.kamikazeracing.org/dl/210speedo.jpg
If you get one from a Canadian ZX from 1980 to 1983 you'll get a 6 digit OD too.
Last edited by lww; 05-11-2005 at 11:13 PM.
05-11-2005, 11:53 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by BleachZee
Just remove it and stick a screwdriver tip in the back and spin it for a few hours. It'll roll over to zero and then bring it back to what you want it. That's the safe way to do it. Don't open it up or you might break the odometer.
Dam a few hours **** maybe if i hooked a drill to it it would take 30 mins
J/K
IWW THATS SICK WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWEN THAT SOONER ....
Last edited by 81 Black L28E; 05-11-2005 at 11:55 PM.
05-12-2005, 08:13 AM
#15
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
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Ya right, like you're ever going to go over 140mph! It sure looks sweet though.
I'm sticking with my 85 because I want to get some really cool gauges for my car and they only come in 85mph. Besides, I drive slow.
It sure looks sweet though.I'm sticking with my 85 because I want to get some really cool gauges for my car and they only come in 85mph. Besides, I drive slow.
05-12-2005, 08:33 AM
#16
Bleach is my Hero
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,293
Originally Posted by BleachZee
Ya right, like you're ever going to go over 140mph! It sure looks sweet though.
I'm sticking with my 85 because I want to get some really cool gauges for my car and they only come in 85mph. Besides, I drive slow.
It sure looks sweet though.I'm sticking with my 85 because I want to get some really cool gauges for my car and they only come in 85mph. Besides, I drive slow.
05-12-2005, 08:49 AM
#17
Head Muckraker
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Originally Posted by BleachZee
I want to get some really cool gauges for my car and they only come in 85mph.
How cool is a 'Stock' 210 mph speedo?
My dad just bought a brand new 2005 Pontiac GTO and was bragging about how it had 400hp/400ft.lbs torque and the speedo went to 200 mph.
He was very disappointed when I told him my 23 year old car had 410hp/420ft.lbs torque and showed him my speedo that goes to 210mph!
Of course, I paid more for mine than he did and his comes with a warranty...
Last edited by lww; 07-26-2005 at 05:15 PM.
05-12-2005, 09:12 AM
#18
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
Originally Posted by s/cL3.0
Befor I had my tranny rebuilt and I actually had a fifth gear I was still pulling away from a BMW M3 at 140..
I know LWW could go that fast if he wanted to, but nobody else on here has that kind of engine.
The gauge is not exactly aftermarket. It is an aftermarket gauge made just for the 280ZX. This was going to be a surprise. I'm sure Skully will look this up, buy it, and install it before me and post pictures. Then I'll look like a copycat.
It is white face with REVERSE glow, not just white stickers that glow all over if you sand the backing off the stock gauge.
Of course, if they made it for the '79 280ZX you know I'd be all over doing that swap and getting the reverse glow gauges. I even had the guage set but sold it because I like the reverse so much and my car rarely see's anything past 70.
05-12-2005, 09:33 AM
#19
Bleach is my Hero
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Okay I might have been off seeing is how my speedo goes to 85MPH, The M3 speedo {digital} said 140 if you go to http://www.geocities.com/z_design_studio/ put in 4800 as the redline RPM the 3.545 diff 81-83 factory tranny and tire size of 195x70x14 it will say 134MPH in fifth gear at that RPM but I was still pulling away. As far as my mods go 8.0:1 cr, intake, +1mm pistons, CFDF clutch, and 10lb. flywheel.
As far as my mods go 8.0:1 cr, intake, +1mm pistons, CFDF clutch, and 10lb. flywheel.
05-12-2005, 11:08 AM
#20
Externally Wastegated
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,220
All speedos have error so that may have been why your friend's BMW read 140 while the actual speed was ~130. If there ever was a 100% accurate speedo, rally racers and the Silver State challenge racers in the bracket classes would be all over them. Either way, good kill though.
05-12-2005, 11:23 AM
#21
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
oh, ok. So 3.9 rear then?
Ya, my car runs out of power before it can get to that RPM in 5th. I've got 8.8:1, K&N, headers with exhaust. That's all. Not really much to talk about with the stock cam and stock compression.
I'm thinking my top speed was 125mph. If I was still accelerating it was probably 1mph every 5 seconds. Nothing to talk about though.
With a turbo, you should be able to reach 6,000 rpm in 5th I would think. 145-150mph maybe on a 3.7 rear
LWW probably has a 3.54 rear with a T5 so he can go about 170mph in that 400hp car
These cars really aren't made to go that fast. Do not try to turn while going over 120! Really you should have all new suspension parts, stiff springs, lowered, air dam and whale tale spoiler to keep you on the road.... I mean, track.
Ya, my car runs out of power before it can get to that RPM in 5th. I've got 8.8:1, K&N, headers with exhaust. That's all. Not really much to talk about with the stock cam and stock compression.
I'm thinking my top speed was 125mph. If I was still accelerating it was probably 1mph every 5 seconds. Nothing to talk about though.
With a turbo, you should be able to reach 6,000 rpm in 5th I would think. 145-150mph maybe on a 3.7 rear
LWW probably has a 3.54 rear with a T5 so he can go about 170mph in that 400hp car
These cars really aren't made to go that fast. Do not try to turn while going over 120! Really you should have all new suspension parts, stiff springs, lowered, air dam and whale tale spoiler to keep you on the road.... I mean, track.
05-12-2005, 01:00 PM
#24
The Evil Twin
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 9,296
Originally Posted by WildmaN
Hey I had my rpm's doing 5300 in 5th gear. The first year I got my '81. I am pretty sure I was doing about 140mph or so. I know I was cooking. I was getting a rush, that is for sure!
I am pretty sure I was doing about 140mph or so. I know I was cooking. I was getting a rush, that is for sure!
05-12-2005, 01:11 PM
#25
More Than Meets The Eye
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 5,120
Hey Bleach also, the '82 that I am currently restoring. Supposedly the guy I bought it from, which he destroyed it, and abused it. He claimed he got nailed doing 160mph! Because that is what the cop said that pulled him over! And of course the cop asked. "Do you know how fast you were going." And then the guy's reply. "Well my speedometer says 85mph." Because that is what it said. And then I realized that he snapped the inside of it. Because it didn't work at all. And the needle was busted clean off. He said that he had 3 or 4 grand in fines. And he had to go to school for a few months. Of course I don't know if it is actually truth. But it is a nice thought, to think maybe my Z broke the sound barrier! LOL!
And basically 2 + 2's are designed to carry more passengers. A good family sportscar! LOL!
He claimed he got nailed doing 160mph! Because that is what the cop said that pulled him over! And of course the cop asked. "Do you know how fast you were going." And then the guy's reply. "Well my speedometer says 85mph." Because that is what it said. And then I realized that he snapped the inside of it. Because it didn't work at all. And the needle was busted clean off. He said that he had 3 or 4 grand in fines. And he had to go to school for a few months. Of course I don't know if it is actually truth. But it is a nice thought, to think maybe my Z broke the sound barrier! LOL! And basically 2 + 2's are designed to carry more passengers. A good family sportscar! LOL!
