please, only 300zx techies respond
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please, only 300zx techies respond
I am being given an opportunity to purchase a 1991 300zx 2+2 non-turbo from a neighbor who owns a body shop/used car lot. He is giving me an impossible to pass on deal if i buy it before they prep and paint it for sale. The main concerns I am trying to get answers to is what should I look for in that car when i test drive it friday after work? And also, since this is a non-turbo, is it possible to take the turbo parts from another engine and have them installed onto my engine or is a swap necessary? Also, as far as having the car, which would be better to use for an all around racer/project car manual or automatic? I will be going in on this car as a project with a few friends and we all want to convert this to a twin turbo and also add a decent nitrous system to get as much possible power from it as we can (this car will end up being the anti-rice, anti-show vehicle. A true sleeper mackin a primered body). I know that with cars like our civics its always nicer to have teh auto if you plan on modding with things like turbo and nitrous, but what about the 300zx? Like i say in teh title, only guys/girls with firsthand experience that can truly help me and not just pw my thread are requested to reply and help me out on this. any help is appreciated, thanks.
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From: Newtown, Connecticut, US
Rep Power: 0 how much is the unbeatable deal? bc by the time you purchase it and turbos (which i am not 100% sure is possible) you could be up to around a price thats not so unbeatable for what you want. dont get me wrong, i am dying to find a 91-96 300z thats a good enough deal to buy, just depends on what this price hes setting for you is. also, the best things i have heard are 5 speed.
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From: Roseville, CA
Rep Power: 0 Hey, I had a Z31('84-'89) before my civic, but I also have experience with friends' Z32s.....I'll tell you right now that converting to twin turbo is gonna be a pain is the *** and the wallet. If you are getting a helluva deal on it, dont worry about it, it can be done, it's just not as easy as it sounds(wiring on all Z's is a beeotch). Only thing you really need to ask is when was the last time the timing belt was changed, and see if the T-tops are leaking. For the NA version I would definitely recommend a stick shift, but if you go turbo, either one should do about the same. Surprisingly enough, you can get good power gains out of the N/A version of the car with bolt-ons(exhuast, ignition components/etc.) Still, there's nothing like a Z32 TT. My friend's got a '91 with a Stillen(oh yeah) engine and that thing f*ckin hauls....PM me if you have any more questions....[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
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From: parsippany, New Jersey, US
Rep Power: 0 if you want to convert to twin turbo your best bet is to swap the whole engine. the twin turbo has lower compression to handle the boost of the turbos. the n/a model has higher compression so if you bolt on turbos you'll most likely damage your engine. also, check if the t-tops are cracked. cracked t-tops usually means twisted frame. twisted frame means poor choice for a race car.
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Rep Power: 0 Unbeatable price im lookin at right now is about 7000 to 10000 under the kbb private party estimate, but thats if i buy it before he preps and repaints the car for sale on his lot. Hes been my neighbor forever now and hes not really one to try and rip you off when it comes to his business, besides hes hooked employees at my dads company up with inexpensive reliable cars that have had less than average problems for being 10+ years old. I think im pretty much taking it off his hands for the initial cost on him plus their labor charges put into it for the inspection and maintenance work they have done to it. Im thinkin for what we want the car for, paint is the least of my worries, and even a crap stereo just to have tunes will be good enough until the car sings by itself. Ok, so i want to check what all they have actually worked on or replaced during the maintenance check, and also check the t-s for cracks or leaks. Anything else major that i could check on that you can think of? its like less than 24 hours until i go check it out and run it around town on a test drive thru various road conditions to check acceleration, handling, suspension, gauges, "smells and sounds".... thanks.
Oh yea, havin this car, assuming all perishable parts have been or will be replaced with new ones, and that the engine has been taken car of, without the turbo, am i still in for a treat as far as a "fun" car? I mean i know i love the style of this car and ive always wanted one and now that i have the chance i want to know what im in for instead of being let down once i get behind the wheel.
Oh yea, havin this car, assuming all perishable parts have been or will be replaced with new ones, and that the engine has been taken car of, without the turbo, am i still in for a treat as far as a "fun" car? I mean i know i love the style of this car and ive always wanted one and now that i have the chance i want to know what im in for instead of being let down once i get behind the wheel.
my dad's got a 300ZX and he loves it. He's got the 5 speed non turbo, but did an engine swap to a newer z engine non turbo along with a ton of other mods. The turbo vs. non turbo is a crazy price jump as well as insurance increase. Say if you buy the car for $10k then you're gonna need at least another $6-10k depending on if you can find an engine, then get it put in properly, along with a bunch of other parts. My suggestion if you really want the Z, get it and modify the existing engine for performance. Good luck
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[hr]Originally posted by: OmegaBlue2k1
Unbeatable price im lookin at right now is about 7000 to 10000 under the kbb private party estimate, but thats if i buy it before he preps and repaints the car for sale on his lot. Hes been my neighbor forever now and hes not really one to try and rip you off when it comes to his business, besides hes hooked employees at my dads company up with inexpensive reliable cars that have had less than average problems for being 10+ years old. I think im pretty much taking it off his hands for the initial cost on him plus their labor charges put into it for the inspection and maintenance work they have done to it. Im thinkin for what we want the car for, paint is the least of my worries, and even a crap stereo just to have tunes will be good enough until the car sings by itself. Ok, so i want to check what all they have actually worked on or replaced during the maintenance check, and also check the t-s for cracks or leaks. Anything else major that i could check on that you can think of? its like less than 24 hours until i go check it out and run it around town on a test drive thru various road conditions to check acceleration, handling, suspension, gauges, "smells and sounds".... thanks.
Oh yea, havin this car, assuming all perishable parts have been or will be replaced with new ones, and that the engine has been taken car of, without the turbo, am i still in for a treat as far as a "fun" car? I mean i know i love the style of this car and ive always wanted one and now that i have the chance i want to know what im in for instead of being let down once i get behind the wheel.[hr]
[hr]Originally posted by: OmegaBlue2k1
Unbeatable price im lookin at right now is about 7000 to 10000 under the kbb private party estimate, but thats if i buy it before he preps and repaints the car for sale on his lot. Hes been my neighbor forever now and hes not really one to try and rip you off when it comes to his business, besides hes hooked employees at my dads company up with inexpensive reliable cars that have had less than average problems for being 10+ years old. I think im pretty much taking it off his hands for the initial cost on him plus their labor charges put into it for the inspection and maintenance work they have done to it. Im thinkin for what we want the car for, paint is the least of my worries, and even a crap stereo just to have tunes will be good enough until the car sings by itself. Ok, so i want to check what all they have actually worked on or replaced during the maintenance check, and also check the t-s for cracks or leaks. Anything else major that i could check on that you can think of? its like less than 24 hours until i go check it out and run it around town on a test drive thru various road conditions to check acceleration, handling, suspension, gauges, "smells and sounds".... thanks.
Oh yea, havin this car, assuming all perishable parts have been or will be replaced with new ones, and that the engine has been taken car of, without the turbo, am i still in for a treat as far as a "fun" car? I mean i know i love the style of this car and ive always wanted one and now that i have the chance i want to know what im in for instead of being let down once i get behind the wheel.[hr]
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