behind dash wire questions
 

I have a 280zx 2+2 NA USDM. I bought it a few years ago (running) from a guy who wanted to do his own restoration. Problem is, he ripped most of the wires out of the dash. So many in fact that i am not able to just trace them and splice things together.

I had purchased the one wire strand that goes from the the junction box above the fuse panel over the hump to the gauge cluster. Turns out it was the wires for an analog cluster, my can had the digital. I found an analog cluster online from a 79 and was told it would plug and play. It will not. Only one clip on the wire harness will attach to the cluster.

My question is, Should i find an analog cluster for an 83 and just go with that, or would it be easier to find the wire strand from a 79 to plug into the cluster. And if i go with the second option, will the other clips on the strand plug into the rest of the connections along it's route?

The first pic shows the plugs for the cluster, the second are the wire harness plugs.

Thank you in advance.

(apparently the pics are upside down)

if you would really like answers that would help you and avoid flames give the following info when you post: year of car, n/a or turbo engine, stick or slushbox, digital or analog dash. Most of us can tell by the year what model you have ie 85T is a turbo z31. Z cars come in many flavors and they are all different. example 84,85,86 Z31's pretty comparable. there were changes in 87,88,89. in addition 300ZX can refer to two completly different cars the Z31 and the Z32. No mindreaders here the more info you can post the more likely you get a cogent useful answer. The cars with L engine (straight six) changed almost yearly from their introduction. A 240Z and and a 280Z have similarities but they can also have wide variance.

my apologies. I thought i had put my year in there.

83 280zx 2+2 N/A. Manual transmission. Came with a digital dash that lit up, but didn't show any read outs. (no temp, fuel, RPM, or speed read outs.) The car was missing the HVAC panel, and the radio. Previous owner had lost the keys so he just pulled the ignition cylinder and used a screw driver to start it.

What you have in the pictures is a analog under dash harness and you need a digital under dash harness for 83 N/A non turbo witch I have and I will be happy to sell it to you.
Also I have analog cluster to fit your harness that you bought.
Just let me know what you want to do and I will be happy to help.
Jamal

Thank you for the quick response. I don't know if buying the wire harness for the 83 would work or not, (as i said above) my cluster never lit up. I'm afraid that if i buy your wire harness for the digital cluster my speedometer still wont light up.

I know it's a long shot and i don't blame you for saying "no" but would you be willing to let me try the harness first? I would pay for shipping (both ways if needed).

Either way, let me know please.

Personally I like the analog gauge cluster much better myself. The digital dash tach is not linear and it drives me nuts. Get the analog cluster preferably from a 1979 or a Canadian or other import so you're not stuck with an 85MPH cluster

I have both clusters 120 miles and a Canadian cluster.
Jamal