iluvJDM

Im looking to get a analog tach to replace the horrible digital tach of my 280zx. I want a tach that could mount in front of the original digital one. The main reason I want a new tach is that the dam digital one DOESNT DISPLAY THE DAMN THE REDLINE!
Who at Nissan thought it would be cool to not have the redline of the engine displayed by the tach?!?! Ive almost blown my motor 3 times because it looked on the tach that I was only at 5,000rpm when it was really at 7,000! Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions, please?

SHADY280

change out the whole digital dash for a stock analog one, a dont know if the harness is the same, but somebody will know.

NismoPick

Your digital dash doesn't have the redline mark? Cuz the digi dash that I had in a previous 280zx did:



Anyway, if you want an aftermarket RPM gauge, they are easy to install... just 4 wires: Power, Ground, Light, Coil - lead. You can get a huge rice rocket one or just a normal size one for like $30 these days. Check ebay, AutoZone, or Checker.

iluvJDM

See! thats what I mean! the 5k and the 7k are rightnext to each other!!! the engine's redline is 6k! So how do you know what RPM you at? Most cars have the 1,2,3,4k close and the 5,6,7,8k spread out! But the Zs is the opposite! So Nismo how do you know your at the redline? Oh and I want to get a small discrete tach not a fat 5" like all those dam ricer's in their automatic accords lol.

Lost Vegaz

I run a Apexi 5 inch electroluminencent one in my 3KGT. I don't think it is ricey, It folds up right in my periphal vision. I don't have to look away from the road to see it. And that is very important if your car does not have a rev limiter like mine. If I let her, she would try to spin to 10,000 +

Lost Vegaz

And as long as you actually use it for something other than just to have it, I would not consider it rice. If you have a rev limiter and a 5 inch tach then it's rice, and just unnecesary.

NismoPick

I totally agree that it's not a great tach. Even tho I have an analog setup in my turbo, I installed a Mallory Hy-Fire ignition w/ a rev limiter. I absolutely love it. I set the limiter @ 6100 rpm so when I'm out drifting or racing, I don't have to look down at the tach. That was a great investment.

jfairladyz

Yeah that digital tach is crap. I noticed that when I picked up my turbo car. I dont like the look of the whole digital dash either. I've got a choice right now and I'm going with the analog cluster. Plus I've got the 130mph speedometer on it so thats a plus.

apollo

I think digital guages can look awsome, but they have to be done right. This 78' 280 with digital guagues is a perfect example. If you want the anaolg look then by all means go for it. Just trying to show you some other options

jfairladyz

Yeah Apollo those look nice. I'm not saying I dont like digital guage at all. I just dont like the digitial guages in the 280zx. Mainly it's just the tach that gets me as far as functionality goes. But also the overall look of the dash just doesn't do it for me.

RodMoyes

The guages in that '78 are killer! I love the look with the MOMO wheel too. That is awesome.

Rod.

iluvJDM

Hey I dont have a revlimiter either! I almost blew the engine coming out of a drift! How can I install a rev limiter? If I at least had a limiter then I wouldnt concern myself with the tach too much.

NismoPick

This is what I said earlier in the thread: You can buy an aftermarket ignition w/ built in rev limiter.

Cost... ~$150 for a good one.

iluvJDM

Are you happy with yours? If it's good and you recommend it can you send me the link to the site you got it from?

NismoPick

yep... love it. You'll need a tach signal converter to go w/ it tho.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MALLO...39956197QQrdZ1



tach adapter:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MSD-D...spagenameZWDVW

iluvJDM

Thanks again Nismo, Ill look into it!