im thinkin about gettin a 300zx around the end of the school year (couple months) to take with me to college, just for the simple reason that ive loved thost cars since i was like 14.......but i need to be sure that its not gonna come back and bite me in the ass in a year or two (or any time in the next four really)

so i need to ask a few questions real quick:
-what kind of milage do the tt motors usually get until they require serious maintinance
-when im lookin at one, what are a few of the usual suspects on these cars, like what on em could have underlying issues
-how strong are the manual trannies on em
-any production years better than others? for what reasons?
what kind of boost are the stock turbos goot till
-what are the stock turbos?
-any issues with the suspension or drivetrain that i should look into on these cars
-what is the usual price range for em?

thanks in advance guys

-evan

 

First of all no matter what they are money pits, I got a perfectly good TT that could have ran like it was for a while but I have put already over 2K into it without labor as I did the work myself..

The motors should last a long time, it is the turbos that will have a limited lifespan but both will depend on prior ownership and how they treated the car, I would look for a lower mileage one and preferably stock.

The prefered years are 93-95 mainly because the 90-92 have hydraulic HICAS which can be a pain in the neck when it leaks, trust me. My turbos are currently consistently boosting to around 10 but with ECU and boost controller 17 is possible.

Issues with suspension are mainly age and wearing out components.

These cars are definetly not for the budget minded or not self doers, it is a project no matter what consition you get it in and must be a work of love.

Price for a good condition TT with 90-100K miles would be around 10K at a minimum more depending on year and milage.

 

hmm. alrighty then, thanks for that info man......

i hear ya about the money pit thing, but then again, what sports car isnt? and with the turbos lifespan, if they do go out, how hard is it to access them with the motor in? are we talking like putting it on a lift to get to em, or pulling the motor to get to em?

 

Much easier to take the motor out, although it can be done without, everyone that has tried it seems to say they would take the motor out if they did it again.

 

Before you get a z32, take a look at the engine bay, then, and only then, will you answer all your questions

 

i don't know of anyone who has removed both turbos on a TT without removing the engine from its stock location, whether that means dropping the crossmember, or raising it off the mounts, or anything like that. the motor has to come out in order to get to those rear upper 13mms on the t25 flanges. and getting the oil lines off? pfffffft. I can have the motor out of a Z32 in about an hour and a half, in my prime I could do one in under an hour.

They are incredible cars, but the age they are at now makes them very expensive to maintain. its the engnie bay heat taht is the real problem causer.

 

well I have removed both turbos with the motor in without lifting it or droping it alittle it was a bitch but no where near as hard as getting the stock o2 housings off , and I have witnesses that will testify , personaly it is not worth it it takes to long and your hands get cut up and it just plain sucks .

 

Hey man really look into the z32 only if you really want one and tyr you hardest to foind one that has low miles... donot get a na with the hopes of turning it inot a turbo.. it just costs to much(only do it if you really love your car)
also just as an example the z32 is a fantastic car..but you really have to have a decent amount of money to maintain it ... but what car doesnt cost a lot of cash in the long run.... just think about it this way.. JUST FOR THE SPARK PLUG WIRES at autozone these wires are $111.00 each due to there is no disturbutor unit there are 6 individual coil packs. also if you dont do the labor work your self. alot of shops will charge you a arm and a leg due to teh engine compartment is so cramped.....hope you enjoy the info

GiDDeNz

 

wait, so the z32s actually have COP ignition, that explains how they cost so much, but then there shouldnt be any wires at all.........