Time Pilot Arcade PCB Upgrades for Original Konami Hardware
Original Time Pilot arcade machines use dedicated Konami hardware that can be upgraded without replacing the original game PCB. A compatible Free Play and High Score Save Kit adds modern convenience while preserving the original controls, graphics, sound, gameplay timing, and classic arcade hardware.
Before choosing a Time Pilot upgrade, confirm the arcade PCB and processor configuration inside your cabinet. The HighScoreSaves Time Pilot kit is designed around compatible original hardware and installs at the Z80 processor location.
Time Pilot and Time Pilot '84 use separate upgrade products. Confirm the exact game and PCB in your cabinet before ordering.
Understanding Time Pilot Arcade PCB Upgrades
A Time Pilot Free Play and High Score Save Kit is a daughterboard-style upgrade for compatible original arcade hardware. Rather than replacing the game with a multicade computer or emulation platform, the upgrade works with the existing Time Pilot PCB.
This approach is useful for collectors and restorers who want conveniences such as permanent score storage and configurable operation while keeping the original arcade board as the foundation of the cabinet.
Time Pilot PCB and Z80 Compatibility
The HighScoreSaves Time Pilot upgrade is designed for compatible original Konami Time Pilot hardware and installs at the board's 40-pin Z80 processor location.
If the Z80 is already installed in a suitable socket, the processor can be removed for normal kit installation. If the processor is soldered directly to the PCB, a compatible 40-pin socket must be installed before the upgrade can be fitted.
What to Check Before Choosing a Time Pilot Kit
Classic arcade boards may have been repaired, modified, converted, or fitted with replacement components during decades of service. Inspect the actual PCB rather than assuming compatibility from the cabinet artwork alone.
- Confirm that the cabinet contains compatible original Time Pilot arcade hardware.
- Locate the Z80 processor on the PCB.
- Determine whether the Z80 is socketed or soldered directly to the board.
- Inspect the processor socket and surrounding area for previous repairs or damage.
- Review the Time Pilot installation guide before removing the processor or installing the kit.
Time Pilot vs. Time Pilot '84
Time Pilot and Time Pilot '84 should not be treated as the same arcade upgrade. HighScoreSaves lists them separately because the correct kit is determined by the specific game and hardware inside the cabinet.
If your cabinet is running Time Pilot '84, use the dedicated Time Pilot '84 category and product information rather than ordering a Time Pilot kit based only on the similarity of the game names.
High Score Saving on Original Time Pilot Hardware
The compatible Time Pilot kit provides permanent score storage while continuing to use the original arcade PCB. The current kit supports the Top 5 scores with initials and separate supported score tables based on lives settings.
Purchase-specific options such as Standard versus Wi-Fi operation, current kit features, optional processor and socket choices, and ordering information are kept on the product page so this category can remain focused on hardware identification and compatibility.
Choosing the Correct Time Pilot Upgrade
Choose the Time Pilot Free Play and High Score Save Kit after confirming compatible original Time Pilot hardware and the Z80 processor configuration on your PCB.
Use the product page for current ordering options and exact kit features, and review the installation guide before working on the processor or PCB.
Always identify the PCB and processor inside the cabinet before selecting an arcade upgrade.