I have a 79zx. I want to swap my my analog cluster for a digital one what else do i need? I found one at te junk yard that i gotta go get still its from an 83 i think i dont remember. If anyone can help please.

 

You also need the dash harness and thermostat housing water temp sensor (we've discussed this many times).

And you'll regret swapping it in after about 2 days of driving.

 

The sensor from that year just so it can show you the temp on that cluster correct?
.lol. Whys that? U get tired of seeing lines going up and down?

 

Get the sensor from the car that has the digital dash.

The digi dash was cool in 1982 because it was "futuristic". That's it. The speedo still only reads to 85mph (Your 79 likely has the 130mph). The tach has a latency longer than a 56k modem, and the gauge wire-strips often lose contact, leaving the gauge blank (black).

Other than that... if you are going for the JDM nostalgic feeling, the digi dash will do it.

 

The scale also isn't linear on the gauge. Our brains are set up to work with analog gauges - a quick look and the info is in our brain with little thought unlike the digital dash which needs to process the info. Take a look at modern cars - the technology for a digital display has been around for a long time but for the quick important gagues like RPM and Speed they are still analog (or a digital representation).

I've said it a hundred times but I always wanted a 280ZX turbo, 5sp and a digital dash. Hated it after about five minutes when I got my first S130 with a digital dash.

 

I just joined and saw this, even though this is a few years old, I can attest to the complaints about the digital dash. I have only driven my '83 280ZX a few times around the block, and I can tell you that I would MUCH RATHER have a set of analog gauges for the many reasons that are listed on this thread. Not to mention that I am trying to figure out why all of the digital gauges suddenly stopped working, but the rest of the cluster is operating just fine. IF there was a way to convert this junk over to an analog cluster, I am all in. Unless I sell this car.

 

I agree, the digital dash is trash.

 

Is it possible to repair/clean the gauge-wires or do I need to replace them? All of the digital gauges in my cluster stopped working today. Not a good thing to happen when you are trying to sell it.
'83 T