vintage dashes 280z

[cgsheen1]

4 hours ago, 72ZDave said:

csgheen1--what LED bulbs did you use in your dash?

 

Thanks

QasimLed Bayonet BA9 BA9S 53 57 1895 64111 T4W Super Stable and Bright Led Bulbs Exterior Marker Indicator Interior Reverse Side Corner Light White 12V DC 10pcs https://a.co/d/9Ah2tn8

I bought the white and kept my green lenses. Mine is an early 260Z and polarity was correct.

Edited March 30, 2023 by cgsheen1

[HusseinHolland]

On 3/29/2023 at 10:45 PM, cgsheen1 said:

QasimLed Bayonet BA9 BA9S 53 57 1895 64111 T4W Super Stable and Bright Led Bulbs Exterior Marker Indicator Interior Reverse Side Corner Light White 12V DC 10pcs https://a.co/d/9Ah2tn8

I bought the white and kept my green lenses. Mine is an early 260Z and polarity was correct.

 

These you were able to dim? Looking at the reviews, it seems a crapshoot.....

[cgsheen1]

9 hours ago, HusseinHolland said:

 

These you were able to dim? Looking at the reviews, it seems a crapshoot.....

As I said in my previous post, the ones I bought and installed are fully dimmable.

Ya, bright. Phone video doesn't really do justice. I run them about half speed around town, turn them down when I'm driving in the hills at night...

Edited April 1, 2023 by cgsheen1

[HusseinHolland]

Pulled my dash during the week, today I stripped the frame

The right center support was cut off - I assume due tot he aftermarket AC evaporator box. I'm going to have to figure out how to make a new one. I'll install the stripped frame over the HVAC to see how I can add one back. I'll also add some more spot welds in-between the existing welds to reinforce it. I'd like to make sure my new dash says unstressed as possible.

The construction & assembly on these Datsuns is very nice. Harnesses properly secured, everything well organised, very tidy indeed!

 

[HusseinHolland]

Had a little time to work on the dash today, so I put the frame in the car to figure out the right side support brace

Left side brace sits right up against the box

Right side - definitely was removed due to Evaporator 

set the glovebox in place, to check clearance outside the evaporator box - none

Used a aluminum ruler to make a brace

I'll add an angle bracket back to the dash frame, to attach the brace to

frame back out to finish up the angle bracket for the brace & add spot welds to the existing structure

Going to replace the fusebox with an MTA 15 ATC fusebox, and a (4) relay panel

l

[HusseinHolland]

More work on the dash frame - primed & painted after fitting the right side brace. Test fitting with Evaporator box, duct & control facia

 

[HusseinHolland]

On 3/29/2023 at 10:45 PM, cgsheen1 said:

QasimLed Bayonet BA9 BA9S 53 57 1895 64111 T4W Super Stable and Bright Led Bulbs Exterior Marker Indicator Interior Reverse Side Corner Light White 12V DC 10pcs https://a.co/d/9Ah2tn8

I bought the white and kept my green lenses. Mine is an early 260Z and polarity was correct.

I bought a 10 pack (white) of these today - specifically because they indicate they use the same polarity as a DC bulb, and because you said they work with the dimmer. I personally dislike intensely the extreme brightness of LED bulbs, so being able to dim them without adding an extra circuit that makes them dimmable is essential.

The other ones (Kieurot) linked do not appear to be polarized, and appear to be on the long side, based on the pic provided

Edited August 18, 2023 by HusseinHolland

[SteveJ]

If you are using stock gauges with stock wiring, the speedometer has reversed polarity from everything else in at least one bulb socket. 🤦‍♂️

Make sure your bulbs can handle reverse polarity. I know that's covered in a thread somewhere on here. I added the bulb to my list after another member told us he found one.

I still don't get the obsession with dimming gauge lights. Jeeps with 20+ bright lights give me issues way more often that the gauges.

[cgsheen1]

6 hours ago, HusseinHolland said:

... I personally dislike intensely the extreme brightness of LED bulbs, so being able to dim them without adding an extra circuit that makes them dimmable is essential.

I'm with you there! I got my drivers license in the mid-60's and I'm used to INCANDESCENT GREEN gauge lighting - it's my preference. That is the very reason I originally kept incandescent bulbs in the gauges and developed the cleaning and painting method I've used for years on gauge bodies to maximize the output of the stock lighting.

I had a customer several years ago that bought some of the first LED "bayonet" bulbs and had me install them - I hated the brassy-ness of the light... They were bare LEDs (no dome).

I finally gave in after I replaced my H4 headlight elements with LED replacements. Then I wanted LED replacement bulbs for my turn signals and marker lights to reduce the amp load on that lighting circuitry... Then I decided to try the occluded dome gauge lights that I bought thinking they might diffuse the harsh light enough for me to live with.

I still don't LOVE their light "temperature" but it doesn't bother me that much and they are (or can be) so much brighter than stock. That helps me quite a bit with the Phoenix light pollution on our streets and freeways AND I can adjust them DOWN when I'm traveling out of the city.

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by cgsheen1

[HusseinHolland]

Finally getting the Vintage dash back in. Fit is very good, however there does seem to be excessive gap on the vertical surrounding the center console trim. I'm wishing I hadn't precut the excess vinyl to match the factory in this area. I'll add a pic later to illustrate. I left much of the excess material in the glove box area, I'll deal with that when I'm actually ready to install the glovebox. Have to deal with all the HVAC ducting before that happens

 

[HusseinHolland]

Center opening gap difference Left to Right 

Didn't notice with the original center console whether the dash aligned with the uprights. or if its staggered like this

EDIT - forgot to add pics with the LED bulbs illuminated

AS SteveJ mentioned somewhere the Tach lighting has reversed polarity sockets, so I use conventional bulbs there. Not quite as bright.

Edited October 10, 2023 by HusseinHolland

[HusseinHolland]

Had one of the new LED bulbs fail - the one in the AMP/Fuel started pulsing on/off. Swapped it out after confirming the power, ground & rheostat wiring to the gauge assembly were all not the issue. Interesting that they appear different color cast in the photo - they are all the same bulb. Secondary gauge pod have standard incandescents.