Some 'socially' conscious groups felt that it was irresponsible for manufacturers to make speedo's that went over 85 mph as it would 'incite' the youth to speed irresponsibly.

They got enough 'experts' and politicians to agree and new DOT regulations were implemented that mandated any 1980 or later model year car sold in the US would have a speedometer that went no higher than 85 mph.

After a few years of no change in 'juvenile' speeding accidents and enough jokes about the stupid Americans and the regulations were rescinded.

I'm not sure if it was in 84 or 85 that things went back to 'normal'.

One easy way to fix your speedo is to have your speedometer re-calibrated to kph rather than mph. That 85 mph speedometer will go to 136.8 kph. If you have your kph re-calibrated to mph you'll have a 136 mph speedometer.

Voila!

Or, you can just do what I did and get a 210 mph speedo!

 

[QUOTE=duowing]Just something about that needle going up is so much better than watching the damn numbers. QUOTE]
Hell yeah that is waaayyyyy true. That is the same way in my 300zx. I hate those analog gauges, and watching the needle rip to the other side of the speedometer is a little more adrenaline pumping than watching the damn numbers rise

 

I figured I'd bring this thread back. Just cus I was driving yesterday and I began to think. I was in my Z, doing 85, I then gave it more gas I could feel it going up, but it seems like the RPMs are getting up to about 4500 or so, and then that damn digital gauge has the tiniest space for 5-7k RPMs so I can't really tell how much and if the Tach is reading the RPMs as higher, and the thing is I'd like to just push it farther to say I did it, but at the same time I'm afraid of trying to push it too far. Anybody have a general idea of how fast you can safely go with an auto?

 

uh hum... safe in what way? For you? or the car? The 280zx's love hittin 100+ mph. As long as it stays cool & below redline... there shouldn't be a problem.

 

The one thing I'm not sure of, is if the Tach is moving up or not. I swear I've seen it, and I can feel the pull of the car, but I can't tell how much the tach has gone up. Does anyone know for sure whether the tach is still going up on the digital?

 

See this is why I stay way the hell away from digital instruments. They are the worst idea anyone came with for monitering the cars systems. Why they ever even tried to move away from analog I have no idea. They work better, are usually more responsive. If you can feel the car pulling then the tach "would" be moving up. You'll know when you've run out of steam. And just for the sake of your ease of mind: You're probably no going to be able to reach the top of your rev range in top gear.

 

Because digital gauges are the gauges of the future! It was 1983 man. Digital watches, digital radios, voice warning system, digital readout to tell you the tail lights are out, and digital gauges!!! ya!

 

Yeah I remember that crap My grandpa had a lincoln that was digital everything and spoke to ya too. I hated the way that car smelled Digital is good for convenience and ease of reading. But if it's performance you're talking about then you can't beat the precision of analog. Too bad the auto engineers of the day thought they could get away with making the inside's of cars look more like the Enterprise

 

Well if only this were the 1980's my car would be the most furturistic awesome thing ever.

 

In the 80's it was the most futuristic awesome thing.

But then again, so were mullets

 

Hey MacGyver is still awesome!

 

I want to do the 160mph speedometer gauge conversion from zcarparts.com but the damn speedometer cost about $170!

 

ya plan on doin 160 in ya 280zx a lot?

Didn't MacGyver come out about being gay? "Not that there's anything wrong w/ that!"

 

160? I wish... . i wanna go as fast as i can though.
My brother was almost born at home because the "good part of MacGyver" according to my dad was on, and my mom started going in labor 5 minutes before the show started.

 

I can just picture my Dad saying "Hold on Honey, it's almost Half time. If we hurry I can drop you off and be back in time for the second half"

 

LMFAO!!

 

^ Its those families that obviously didn't have a VCR back then ...

TAPE IT PEOPLE!

 

We've got NismoPick here being awesome with the Seinfeld quote!

 

Yes! I was hoping someone would get that!