My Nissan 300ZX

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So two days ago I found a '85 Nissan 300zx on craigslist, I called about it yesterday and explained that I was interested in the car, but I wouldn't be able to go look at it because of my job. I asked if she would be willing to drive to me so I could check out the car. Surprisingly she agreed. She arrived around 8 last night. I knew I was going to buy the car no matter what. I had her take me around the block once anyways.

She was selling the car for her husband's sister, the sister needed the money and the wife wanted it out of her yard. I offered her $650 but she said she couldn't go lower that $700. I said that was fine since that night I had already made about $250 working.

Now for the pics.









As you can see the paint is faded, the hood looks horrible, the interior is wrecked, and the body has several dings and dents. The engine seems to be fine, it's the 3.0 liter V6, no leaks or anything so far. Power steering doesn't work. Clutch and tranny feels good. The throttle wants to stick every now and then. No ac or heat, the power windows work though. The T-Tops haven't leaked on me yet. Oh, and I can't adjust the seat back or forwards, luckily it's just about perfect. Also the tires are brand new, I mean really new, I might take a picture of them with a penny in the treads just so you can see how new they are.

Not 100% on plans yet. I either want to turn into some kind of track car, or use it as a car to learn the basics of drifting in. I'd really love to learn to drift in an actual car.

So what do y'all think?
 
A little beat up, but some love will go a long way. I say go for a track car with it as well. It should be a great car to learn the basics in with just minor mods. 👍
 
Since it sounds like you want to track it, for $700 I'd say its a steal. If its mechanically sound, for the most part, I'd likely skip the drifting and head to the local enclosed track. Ditch the seats in favor of a racing setup (dual Recaros?), strip the interior, and get a Maaco paintjob... You're good as gold. A car you can take racing and not worry too much about messing up.
 
YSSMAN
Since it sounds like you want to track it, for $700 I'd say its a steal. If its mechanically sound, for the most part, I'd likely skip the drifting and head to the local enclosed track. Ditch the seats in favor of a racing setup (dual Recaros?), strip the interior, and get a Maaco paintjob... You're good as gold. A car you can take racing and not worry too much about messing up.
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I think after that, all he'll need are brakes & maybe new springs (& clutch?). How much horsepower did these models put out?
 
A quick-ish check on wikipedia says that the VG30E which seems to be in this car produces 160hp, and 174ftlbs of torque. Sounds like plenty if he lightens up the car it'll be pretty nippy. Nice purchase Loon. Hope you have fun with it.
 
Heh that's a mean Z31. Definately fix the throttle problem and the power steering and then I'd say just take everything out of it.
Perhaps buy a second hand race/sports seat for you and also I would bet that the shocks would be shagged so maybe spend a little money on some cheapo spring + shocks package. No reason to spend huge coin if it's just going to be a thrashabout.
 
I have driven a 50th Anniversary Z31 years ago a lot and my biggest gripe was the incredibly soft suspension, maybe the shocks were on the way out as well but it felt like a water bed when thrown around a bit.

The VG30E engine wasn't as perky as I expected but it stll went ok, have fun with it 👍
 
How's the frame on this thing? I've heard rust is a notorious thing on these. Hopefully you bought a red 80's coupe with a black hood that has a better frame than mine did.
 
Reventón;3308192
I think after that, all he'll need are brakes & maybe new springs (& clutch?). How much horsepower did these models put out?
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Brakes would definitely be the best thing to buy, certainly the most important before everything else as a piece of safety equipment. If the shocks and springs are still in pretty decent shape, it may not be the most-important thing, but since you can pick up a full kit for a couple hundred bucks, that gets a "why not?" if you're build a racer.

Strip the interior, install racing seat with five-point harness, swap in a set of solid disc brakes, perhaps a halfway decent coil-over setup, match with a good set of rubber... You have an excellent weekend car to tinker around with.
 
Awsome car. Good find! First thing to do is ditch that hideous exhaust. A simple turbo setup will open that VG30 wide open. :D
 
Dude, you got yourself a nice find there. Glad you found a car you're happy with. As im sure my first will be a piece of 🤬 that i can get cheaply.
 
You neither? oh, well the past is the past.

It's nothing that a little TLC, or maybe a lot, can fix. and when your done you will have a mighty decent car.

(BLITZ: don't get a Dorf.)
 
If you stiffen it up to go weekend racing, expect the targa top to start leaking. The chassis will flex and cause all sorts of difficult driveability problems( only to reach the top of it's class), because 2/3 of the roof missing.But by all means have fun and enjoy it.
 
So far the general concensus is that I haven't done too bad. Brake pads are going to be changed probably teusday because the rear ones are about gone. The shochs and springs definitely need to be stiffer because there's plenty off body roll right now. I do plan on buying either a new air filter or checking on a cold air intake for it. As well as changing the spark plugs and changing the oil. I'm hoping the local junk/salvage yards might have a Z I could steal a hood off of and possibly the turbo setup off of. Cosmetic wise I doubt much will happen there. I don't plan on insuring, at least right now, because of what I want to use it for.
 
Nice to see that you're back loon. If you'd ever like to participate in a friendly drag race I'd be more than happy to race you (once I find a job that is).
 
I wouldn't have paid over 500 dollars for that dirty heap. That's gonna need like a 400 dollar detailing.
 
Loon
I'm hoping the local junk/salvage yards might have a Z I could steal a hood off of and possibly the turbo setup off of. Cosmetic
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Good luck with that..
 
Good Purchase.

I'd also consider steam cleaning the engine/engine bay to see if any problems are living under the dirt.

There are enough aftermarket seats out there that you have ample choices, cheep.

Nowadays, a RUNNING $700 car is a bargain. It's also understood that it's either a beater, or a project car.

The Z31 was considered a "boulevardier" so the suspension is gonna be soft.
The Z31 design guys were on crack, and designed most of the performance out of their performance flagship.
 
Omnis
I wouldn't have paid over 500 dollars for that dirty heap. That's gonna need like a 400 dollar detailing.
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Agreed. The only thing that doesn't look rusted or beaten is the Sony Headunit.
 

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