Having owned my Zed for (almost) 3 weeks, I’m now beginning to think about mods. I have a few ideas in mind, in particular the dials.

 

As it stands, I have the standard KMH dials with blue illumination. Now, I have two main issues with said dials. Firstly, there are dark spots where the light doesn’t evenly cover the back of the cluster. Secondly, there is a MPH sticker in the middle of the dial (despite still being in KMH) which is lifting.

 

After doing a bit of digging, I came across a company in Poland called Moman who make plasma dials. They said that they’d be able to make a set which says MPH and (going by the pictures) they look pretty good at night.

 

I’ve had a search on the forum and it looks like a few people have mentioned these dials before, I’m just wondering if anyone went ahead and purchased some, and what they thought of them?

 

Thanks

I haven't heard of them, but I assume they are similar to these ones??

http://www.zcentre.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.pbv.tpl&product_id=172&category_id=73&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=7

They're a bit more subtle than those

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-300ZX-Z32-plasma-tacho-illuminated-glow-gauge-tachoscheibe-plasma-dials-/131427974498?hash=item1e99b7bd62:g:cYwAAOxykUZTiHQT

Make sure they do it with the 180mph and not 160, nice looking dials in the standard black format :thumbup1:

I haven't heard of them, but I assume they are similar to these ones??

http://www.zcentre.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.pbv.tpl&product_id=172&category_id=73&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=7

 

I have these, really like them. I have also installed Prosport Evo digital gauges in top radio slot.

I have these, really like them. I have also installed Prosport Evo digital gauges in top radio slot.

 

I would like them, but I have aftermarket clocks that go up to 300kph, so i dont know if the readings will be in the right place, maybe need a different resistor or something??

Got a set of nismo clocks in mine and they goto 300 as well.

 

I would like them, but I have aftermarket clocks that go up to 300kph, so i dont know if the readings will be in the right place, maybe need a different resistor or something??

Got a set of nismo clocks in mine and they goto 300 as well.

 

Mine are ZSport, look exactly stock but go up to 300, have a Zsport logo on, and remove limiter.

Edited April 26, 20169 yr by Alic

Got a set of nismo clocks in mine and they goto 300 as well.

 

I have "Z Sport" stock clocks that go to 300kph. I swapped it out though for a 180kph JDM Custer which reads in MPH. I've thought about removing the speed converter. Why? Well just because really.

Make sure they do it with the 180mph and not 160, nice looking dials in the standard black format :thumbup1:

 

I emailed them and they said they could make them go up to 180 and put MPH instead of KMH.

 

Sounds exactly like what i'm after. Just wondered if anyone could shed some light on the quality.:confused1:

I would imagine they will be well made, but remember these stick over the top of your original dial faces, so you need to be mindful of a couple of things, dont get the ones where you need to take the needles off to fit, the speedo will likely not work properly again as the needle has to be re-seated under load, ie ign on, also make sure you use a semi flexible glue, ie not superglue which dries rock hard, but something like uhu or even pritt stick. Once in place make sure they have stuck completely flat, the tell tale area to watch for is on the rear of the needle as it sweeps round the dial. It has been known for the face to lift and the needle to stick, so take your time and be methodical in fitting.

 

Also as a final thought, once you have used a glue on the old dial faces and you change your mind, you will need a new set as they will be ruined, visually

I would imagine they will be well made, but remember these stick over the top of your original dial faces, so you need to be mindful of a couple of things, dont get the ones where you need to take the needles off to fit, the speedo will likely not work properly again as the needle has to be re-seated under load, ie ign on, also make sure you use a semi flexible glue, ie not superglue which dries rock hard, but something like uhu or even pritt stick. Once in place make sure they have stuck completely flat, the tell tale area to watch for is on the rear of the needle as it sweeps round the dial. It has been known for the face to lift and the needle to stick, so take your time and be methodical in fitting.

 

Also as a final thought, once you have used a glue on the old dial faces and you change your mind, you will need a new set as they will be ruined, visually

Don't the moman ones not have holes at the edges to slot in place? IE no need for glue, or do they not work like that.

These are mine!

These are mine!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]96602[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]96603[/ATTACH]

I posted those indiglow ones ^^, but Joe wanted something more subtle lol.

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

Hadn’t given much thought to how they are fixed in place. Assumed they would be held in around the sides, didn’t considered that they would need to be glued.

 

For now I may just look at replacing the bulbs in my speedo to try and eliminate the ‘dark spot’ I have going on. Also going to remove the MPH sticker. It’s a quick fix while the speedo is coming out for the MPH conversion.

 

Currently looking at LED’s for the pods either side of the dials. The factor bulbs appear a little dull – or I’ve just been spoilt by the ‘modern’ cars I’ve been driving.

I'm sure Phutumsch has dealt with these guys............

I'm sure Phutumsch has dealt with these guys............

 

What a memory you have sir :thumbup1:.

 

I don't have them fitted anymore....i went back to stock but my all experience was good, i will say further they were more familiar with the series 1 type clocks than my later ones.

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?167737-VFM-Ebay-Indiglo-Dial-Faces

For now I may just look at replacing the bulbs in my speedo to try and eliminate the ‘dark spot’ I have going on.

 

Couple of people on here (mondo maybe?) have got rid of the bulbs and put led strips around the area behind the clocks, which apparently give a much more even light. I've got some on order to have a go myself!

What a memory you have sir :thumbup1:.

 

I don't have them fitted anymore....i went back to stock but my all experience was good, i will say further they were more familiar with the series 1 type clocks than my later ones.

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?167737-VFM-Ebay-Indiglo-Dial-Faces

 

Glad to hear your experience was a positive one. Did you have to glue the dials in place, or have any trouble refitting the needles?

 

That reminds me… I keep forgetting to PM you about a set of 99 spec rear lights

Couple of people on here (mondo maybe?) have got rid of the bulbs and put led strips around the area behind the clocks, which apparently give a much more even light. I've got some on order to have a go myself!

 

I’d be interested to hear how you go about doing this and what you think of the end result.

I’d be interested to hear how you go about doing this and what you think of the end result.

I'm sure someone that's done it will be along soon!

Take a look in the tech faq section, i put a post in there long ago about dash led conversion, but i use smd led strips now instead of the ones in the pics in the section.

Requires taking the complete dash binnacle apart, clocks out leaving you with the bare white carcass etc....

 

Also regarding fitting the dial faces, they are a thin piece of rigid film and if they were not stuck down evenly on the face of the existing dial face then the needle would catch and not sweep smoothly.

 

I fitted some of the earlier versions years ago and came across this issue, especially after using superglue the first time lol

Edited April 27, 20169 yr by groover

Glad to hear your experience was a positive one. Did you have to glue the dials in place, or have any trouble refitting the needles?

 

I'd avoid superglue because it's instant and be inclined to use something that cures not as fast, clear silicone, bostik or evostik, at least then you can wiggle about for a while afterwards until you're 100% happy.

 

And as Graham said, use sparingly, evenly and avoid great big blobs.

 

Needles have a bit of tolerance when going back on their spindles, just don't push them all the way down, not to where they were perhaps before and use a basic thin fork to lever them off would be the best advice i could give.

Couple of people on here (mondo maybe?) have got rid of the bulbs and put led strips around the area behind the clocks, which apparently give a much more even light. I've got some on order to have a go myself!

 

Yep, that's exactly what I did:

 

 

The light spread is now really really good with no dark spots anywhere. These have been done for a good couple of years now and I've had no issues. :)

I'd avoid superglue because it's instant and be inclined to use something that cures not as fast, clear silicone, bostik or evostik, at least then you can wiggle about for a while afterwards until you're 100% happy.

 

And as Graham said, use sparingly, evenly and avoid great big blobs.

 

Needles have a bit of tolerance when going back on their spindles, just don't push them all the way down, not to where they were perhaps before and use a basic thin fork to lever them off would be the best advice i could give.

Was it hard to zero the needles back as you had to take them completely off?

Yep, that's exactly what I did:

 

The light spread is now really really good with no dark spots anywhere. These have been done for a good couple of years now and I've had no issues. :)

 

Your dials look great Mondo, what did you wire the led strips to and are you able to dim them?

 

At the moment I’m leaning towards LEDs over plasma dials. I need to take the speedo out to convert it to MPH and I’m thinking that whilst I’m doing that I put in some LEDs and also tackle the pods. The light behind the climate control display has died and I’d like to get that sorted.

 

Take a look in the tech faq section, i put a post in there long ago about dash led conversion, but i use smd led strips now instead of the ones in the pics in the section.

Requires taking the complete dash binnacle apart, clocks out leaving you with the bare white carcass etc....

 

Groover, saw some threads last night regarding LED conversions and the one’s you’ve done look fantastic. Especially like the fact you have different lights for the arrows etc in the pods.:thumbup1:

 

Could you direct me to any write ups you’ve done on the LED conversions, was searching last night but couldn’t seem to find them.:confused1: