I have an 82 280zx non turbo and i wanted to as if my radiator was suppose to have 3 rows or just 2. My original only had 2 but i believe it was from an older model. My new one has 3 and I just wanted to ask if this may have been causing some of my overheating problem?

Also I don't think my wires are bad but my temperature gauge works rarely for a few seconds. It use to work consistently and it has gotten progressively worse up to now and really never comes on long enough to check to see if the new radiator solved my over heating problem. Is my gauge gone bad or do I have some other problem?

 

Check your temperature sending unit on your thermostat housing. You could have a broken wire, or the unit could be bad. It is located on the bottom right corner with a yellow wire, sticking out of it. I have an '82 N/A like you. So it should pretty much be the same. Good luck.