Replacement guages

[pharmer]

Hello all,

Newbie here, just purchased an unrestored 1973 240Z from a gentleman in California. While I'm still waiting for the spring warmup to takeover here in Minnesota I'm compiling a list of parts and repairs to bring my car up to driving condition.

Check out this link:

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/403453

I'd like to install similiar AutoMeter guages in my Z, but I have no idea where to start. Do any of you have experience replacing the guages on your Z? Any help you can give me is much appreciated.

Photos of my car are attached. I'll publish my "action plan" in another forum for comment when I complete it. Thanks a lot for any help you can give, and I'm very happy to a part of this community finally!

Pharmer

[240ZX]

pharmer,

Replacing your stock gauges with after market gauges is not always a direct bolt in and go deal. Unless some of the guys chime in here and add to your request, my suggestion would be to remove your dash (and boy is this a fun job), remove the old gauges, take gauge opening measurements, purchase the correct diameter gauges that you desire, and start figuring out how you will secure the new units to the dash. Usually it's a matter of a little sheetmetal fabrication skills. And besure to label everything you remove so you can get it wired up again to work. Taking pictures is good too! Also, while you have the dash out, inspect all the wiring, connectors, duct work, heater core, hoses and fan assembly. It's not a difficult job, it's just time consuming. Some of the items like the heater components should definitely be addressed with the dash out. You'll hate yourself if you don't take advantage of the opportunity. Oh! purchase a shop manual, it can help if you've never been through this exercise before. Hope this help you some what!

[pharmer]

Thanks for the advice.

When you say "shop manual", do you mean the Nissan/Datsun shop manual or something like a Haynes or Chilton manual?

For that matter, maybe one of you Professional Z-Car Nuts could post a suggested library for us newbies to chase down?

thanks,

pharmer

[TomoHawk]

Higuy,

Courtesy Nissan in TX has the factory Service Manuals (FSM) on CD:

http://www.zcarcreations.com/cdman/cdman.htm

The Haynes books are OK for reference and to read before you get to the FSM. I keep a few reference books handy.

[GunnerRob]

Originally posted by pharmer

Thanks for the advice.

When you say "shop manual", do you mean the Nissan/Datsun shop manual or something like a Haynes or Chilton manual?

For that matter, maybe one of you Professional Z-Car Nuts could post a suggested library for us newbies to chase down?

thanks,

pharmer

2ManyZs posted an eBay auction for factory service manuals yesterday. I checked them out and recall that there was one offered for your year Z ('73 right).

Here's the link to 2ManyZs post:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=77589#post77589

[seerex]

research threads there was on on autometer replacement and i know it wasn't a perfect fit but very close

[TomoHawk]

While on the subject, what about replacing the factory speedo with another one? Do you have to declare anything to DMV or any thing?