Found a 1984 300zx

[red_dog007]

Change in plans. I am working a double today, but tomorrow I am not working at all, so at around 3pm I am going to be checking out the vehicles. So I will be updating with info/pictures later tomorrow.

[daddz]

I got an '86 300ZXT recently, and needed to change the alternator. It's a damn hard thing to change, but I eventually got it done.

I bought it with the alternator off the engine, but still in the bay, so I never heard it run before buying it, but it was cheap enough so I thought Id take a chance with it.

Got it running, but it sounded like the lifters were very noisy, so I took them out to clean them up, like is says on one of the Z31 sites, but couldn't get them apart - too much gunk in them - so I order a new set from Courtesy Nissan. Its alot cheaper to have a new set flown down under from the USA, than it is to drive 10 minutes to my local Nissan dealer and buy them over the counter. How much cheaper? I saved about $700 by doing it that way!

Craig,

I have just been through the alternator swap on both of my Z31's and it is a pain the a**! It wasn't really hard but the many steps required as compared to an L-series seems ridiculous.

On the lifters making noise my 86.2 had a piece of carbon get loose and it jammed the electrode on the #5 spark plug. I suspect it was because of the high mileage (235k) and the fact that I let the car sit from mid-March until August of last year before driving it from Florida back to Maryland (920 miles). The car did fine from SoCal to So. Florida (2800 miles in 3 days).

Good luck with your '80's wedge mobile as I like to call them.

[red_dog007]

Well soab. The guy called and said Saturday or Sunday will be better for him. So hopefully the guy comes through. Starting to wizz me off a little. So I will have pics and more information up on the weekend.

Though I was thinking, for the 300, if it is a turbo, how much boost can a stock motor handle and can the turbo deliver with the help on an intercooler? Is it expensive to get this motor modified to handle more boost?

The motor in the 90's 300zxtt, is it a direct swap with the 80's 300zx? If I got this 80's zx, I would want some massive power coming out those wheels. At least 300hp with a preferred 350hp, and I know that the VG30DETT will deliver. Just not sure if the VG30ET can deliver that sort of power or not.

[daddz]

Though I was thinking, for the 300, if it is a turbo, how much boost can a stock motor handle and can the turbo deliver with the help on an intercooler? Is it expensive to get this motor modified to handle more boost?

The motor in the 90's 300zxtt, is it a direct swap with the 80's 300zx? If I got this 80's zx, I would want some massive power coming out those wheels. At least 300hp with a preferred 350hp, and I know that the VG30DETT will deliver. Just not sure if the VG30ET can deliver that sort of power or not.

To answer your questions let's start with the first one:

The VG30ET and VG30E are generally known to be robust engines and have been known to produce as much as 1000bhp**.

**see this website:

http://www.a2zracer.com/page90.html

The key is the bottom end cradle that Nissan utilized in the design of the VG30. Intercooler(s) are definitely the way to fly and will help the engine handle the extra demand. By the sound of this car I would be very nervous about modifying it until you are sure it has had regular maintenance and has proven itself to show good oil pressure--check the oil pressure switch as they are often not functioning by the time they reach this age.

To answer your second question: It's always expensive to modify these engines (a friend of mine used to own an '88 Turbo SE (commonly known as the Shiro) and his used HKS intercooler set him back north of $500. You can swap in used intercoolers from late '80's Mitsubishi Starions and so on but you get what you pay for so be careful.

The swap of a VG30DETT is more work than its worth and you get the same results from the VG30ET (see the website linked below). In Japan they offered a VG30DE beginning in 1987 and it was awfully cramped in that engine bay. It was a way for Nissan to test the powertrain before introducing the Z32.

I would start checking the following websites for Z31 information:

http://www.Z31.com

http://www.z31performance.com

http://www.zcar.com --the 84-89 section

If you end up with a Z31 make sure you replace all of the suspension bushings with a polyurethane kit as the bushings are probable all crap by now and the Z31 was known to be a bit of a pig on the road at speed. Also, be sure to replace the rubber brake lines with some stainless steel braided lines. While I was at it I replaced the rotors with some cross drilled ones from KVR in England. Those two modifications coupled with the Tokico springs and struts made a new car out of my 86.1 (the one with the black mesh wheels).

The next thing I would do is replace all of those damned vacuum lines in the engine bay with some SVH (silicone vacuum hose) like the ones from Hose Techniques.com. That made a huge improvement again.

This may sound a bit odd but I would finish the early Z first as in my experience you can end up being spread too thin very quickly when fixing up old Z cars. My '86.1 started out as a 'daily beater' and it quickly started to suck alot of cash that I rationalized as "i I am sitting in the car everyday it ought to look better...". Had I to do it over again I would have bought an old Sentra or something more appliance like. Just look at my signature line and you can see where this ends up and then all of a sudden it gets out of hand.

[red_dog007]

Thanks for all that info. That car I would love to have. Barely any money and you get an insane amount of power in return. I really hope that this 300zx is a turbo. Even if it doesn't run, and the body is in good condition, I would rather spend that $500 for the car to sit in my yard as a future project car then to not know what its future is going to have somewhere else. Though if the thing does run, I wouldn't mind taking it around for a few spins every now and then.

I would still finish my 240z car first before I get into the 300zx.

[red_dog007]

He really didn't have much. He has a few old 60's mustangs that need a LOT of work.

Here is the 1984 300zx n/a w/ 153k miles on it. I was hoping that it would have been in a little better condition as I would have gotten it. $500 for it, and he said that if I get more then 1, he will take $100 off each car, so this could go down to $400. He says all it needs is a battery and a fuel pump to run from what he knows.

Here is the 1983 Porsche 928. He is asking $1600 but this can become $1500. All this needs is a battery to run from what he knows.

On both cars, for the exterior all it looked like they needed was some care at a paint shop. Where all the money and time is going to go is in the interior.

[daddz]

I would stay away from both as they look like parts donors more than desirable restorable cars. If you like the Z31's keep an eye out on z31.com and also check:

http://www.cctol.com

I was on there a week ago and found a really nice '84 hardtop turbo in the Tampa, Fl. area for only $2500. The turbo hardtops are insanely rare.

If you want a project a mechanic friend of mine wants to sell his '84 300ZX hardtop. It has a bad engine but he has a good one to go with it. It has less than 95k on it but it has rust issues.

[red_dog007]

Also, if anyone is interested, he has a Camaro Z28 IROC. I am not sure which year it is, so I am not sure which V8 it has, but I can find that out tomorrow. It either has the 5.0L or the 5.7L in there. It also has the 5-speed tranny with it. Asking price is $1100 for the car though can become $1000 if I can get more then one car sold. The car is in pretty bad condition, though I figured someone might be looking for a swap.

Figured $1000 for the motor and tranny that runs already, and then a rebuild if you so choose would be a better deal then ebay.

If any of you go to hybridz, let them know. I am trying to post up these three cars, as the motors might be wanted for swaps, but for some reason I cant post in the classifieds. Anyone know if there is a posting limit before they let you make threads in the classifieds?

[red_dog007]

Man, I am really considering buying this car off the guy. He is willing to do payments and I might be able to get it cheaper then $500. He really needs to get rid of these rids in a few days, so I might be able to get it at least half off. I am thinking about checking it out again to really see how well held the interior is and depending on that and any other rust issues I might take it off of him.

At least get it running, and have it as a future turbo project car when I get my 240z finished. Plus I would get to have a nice weekend Z fix, and have the joys of reserecting a Z car.

I haven't looked elsewhere, but just by looking at my Black Dragon Auto catalog, all I can say is expensive. $400 bumper, $40 grill, $400 front fender just to fix the burn hole, and at least another $140 to get it running for a fuel pump.

So if that is all it needs to look in good condition and to run that would be a $980 price tag, then lets say at least $400 for the car, so a total of $1380 really to have a 1984 N/A Auto w/ 153k miles on it in good condition.

What do you guys think? A go or no go? Also, if this is the price needed to get it nice, do you think that I would be able to turn around and sell it for near at least $2000? Might get to pull a profit out of it and use that $$ for the 240z.

I am really debating here and just would like some input.

[daddz]

No. To answer your question a 2+2 automatic with leather and digital is the LEAST desirable Z31 there is. If you are thinking of making a profit you would be better off buying some stock and taking a chance in the stock market.

If you have the $1000 potentially to put into this car then spend it on your first generation Z car. A Z31 has the potential to become a money trap. There are assloads more things taking place under the hood of that car than you can imagine. All of those electronics especially the digital dash can be a big pain in the a** to sort out especially if the car has been sitting for what looks to be along time. It looks like the top of the radiator core support has been bent as well from whatever. I also notice that the driver's side hood stay (strut) is missing. Even at NAPA those are $40 each. I bought some from Nissan for 86.2 and they were $102 each. The top of the dash looks like the sun has had its way with it.

No matter what anyone says you would have to figure on changing the timing belt and all of the companion pieces while you are in there. I went Nissan all the way on mine and the parts alone were more than $300. You would be better off buying this car (if you must) and parting it out. This 300ZX is too far down the foodchain to be brought back. Then there's the injectors. has the recall been done at Nissan? If so, how many miles and years ago was that? Would they start leaking again once the car is up and running everyday. The automatic transmission: does it work properly. Does it slip. How about the infamous rear crossmember bushings? When they go bad they are not so expensive but they are one hell of a job to change. Does this car come with any service records? How well was it taken care of? If it was such a great car why is it sitting in a field? Ask yourself these questions as you look at it again. How much rust is under the car that you can't see yet? Check under the toolkit on the left side of the luggage area. Check under the spare tire in the right side of the luggage area. How long has that emergency brake been pulled up? Are the brakes frozen? Why is the steering column trim been removed? Any problems with the ignition switch?

The Z31's can be fun cars to own and drive otherwise I wouldn't have two of them but, if I had to do over again I would try something else. It's like a friend of mine used to say why would you want to eat vanilla ice cream everyday. I have had fun with my two Z31's and the fact that they are "twins" is kind of fun but if I knew that they would cost this much to be brought to where I like to have a Z car I would have bought something else. The funny thing both of mine were well maintained one and two owner cars and there was still alot of deferred maintenance that became my job once the keys were handed over. Alot of the rest is just because the cars we are dealing with have twenty year old components on them and that stuff just wears out.

Good luck in your decision but I would politely walk away unless you want to pursue the parts car route.