1978 280z Dash Voltage Regulator

[jovial_cynic]

Does anybody know how many volts the 1978 280z dash voltage regulator is supposed to push? Or if it even has one?

 

Just installed a 1978 280z instrument cluster (volt/oil/fuel/temp) into my 510, and wiring it all up directly (w/o voltage regulator) seems to produce expected results, but I've read a lot about a seemingly necessary dash voltage regulator. I don't know a ton about the 280z, so I'm at a loss here.

 

Thanks!

[jefe de jefes]

You decide to keep your car?

[jovial_cynic]

Not necessarily. I want to get it looking good so I can sell it for more money. I'm still doing stuff with it (just added door panels, LED tail light bulbs, etc.), because I can't stop doing stuff with it... but I'll still sell it.

 

In the meanwhile, one of the upgrades was the installation of the 280z gauges and speedometer. I'm handy w/ sheet metal, fiberglass, and bondo, so I like making things a bit custom...

[jefe de jefes]

I think sssr20det510 had one of those dashes in his 510 at one point. Maybe he can help answering your question.

[datzenmike]

The L temp senders are all the same and all Datsun gas senders seem to be 10-80 ohms so I would assume the gauges are more or less compatible too. The reason for the regulator is the battery voltage can vary from 11 to almost 15 depending on how many accessories are on and if idling or revved up. The gauge would change with a 6 volt varience so a regulator is used to drop the voltage to about 8 to keep the gauge supply voltage constant.

[jovial_cynic]

The L temp senders are all the same and all Datsun gas senders seem to be 10-80 ohms so I would assume the gauges are more or less compatible too. The reason for the regulator is the battery voltage can vary from 11 to almost 15 depending on how many accessories are on and if idling or revved up. The gauge would change with a 6 volt varience so a regulator is used to drop the voltage to about 8 to keep the gauge supply voltage constant.

 

I was under the impression that the 280z's sender runs 10-80, but the 510's sender runs 0-100. That's what I read on the 510 bblist archives.

 

So... they run 8v regulators to those gauges? Interesting. I also thought the later Z's ran 12v regulators. Ugh. So many different answers coming from everywhere. Do you have a source on that info?

[datzenmike]

I was under the impression that the 280z's sender runs 10-80, but the 510's sender runs 0-100. That's what I read on the 510 bblist archives.

 

So... they run 8v regulators to those gauges? Interesting. I also thought the later Z's ran 12v regulators. Ugh. So many different answers coming from everywhere. Do you have a source on that info?

 

10-80 or 0-100 I think will still work, close enough. The gauge may read further past the full tank when full or further past empty when empty is all. 620 and 720 tank senders are 10-80 ohms. My Hardbody FSM says 3.8 to 8 ohms empty to 83 to 93 full

 

My '78 620 and '74 610 FSMs both say 8 volts for the regulator. I run a 720 dash (with gauges) with my '78 L20B and gas tank the the gauges worked just fine.

[jovial_cynic]

In my case, I'm not too concerned about the 0-100/10-80 difference; I already squared that away w/ wiring in a pair of resistors, so that part is fine. I'm really just wondering about the voltage regulator, because having the voltage off from 8 to 14+ will certainly throw things off a bit. If it's 8v, I'll go hunting for a regulator that'll do 8v.