Greg'Z33 |
04-06-2007 09:11 AM |
My 350Z with 280ZXT DNA project
I've always liked the look of the 280ZX Turbo OEM gauge face for the "OIL" gauges. They incorporated a oil temp gauge as part of the oil pressure gauge into the same housing. I'm working on a project where I'm going to modify the OEM 350Z center gauge cluster to accept an oil temp gauge as well as pressure. It's been a real challenge to get this to work. The pics show the OEM 280ZXT gauge face in the 350Z "OIL" nacelle. This scale is not accurate and will be changed from white to orange to maintain the OEM 350Z look, as well as changes to the layout of the scale itself but at least you can get an idea. One of the biggest challenges was how to place the oil temp movement so that it would come down out of the top of the cluster, just like the 280ZXT. This was accomplished by using an old spring from a camera I had laying around to make a flexible shaft. The bearing collar for the gauge needle shaft was cobbled up from an old 350Z oil gauge movement. I also liked the fact that Nissan put backlit function names on the 280ZX and first-gen 300ZX's for "OIL", "VOLTS", etc.,
gauge covers. I've incorporated that (rather crudely at this point) into the cluster as well so at night, "OIL" and "VOLTS" will be back-lit.
Obviously, I have more work to do but I thought I'd share what I've done so far.
http://www.sfzcc.com/gus/350Zgauge280ZXT1.jpg
http://www.sfzcc.com/gus/350Zgauge280ZXT2.jpg
http://www.sfzcc.com/gus/350Zgauge280ZXT3.jpg
http://www.sfzcc.com/gus/350Zgauge280ZXT4.jpg
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