1988 300zx (non-turbo)-I'm at the $$ Crossroads (threshold) with my Z

[tsalad]

Just replaced alternator (and battery)...Now bad news....needs water pump and timing belt. Waa aaahhhhh Mechanics saying $800-$1200 depending on parts/labor, how bad it is, etc...he's not recommending I do it.

should I schedule "end of life" counseling?

Aside from A/C, brakes/shocks, some electrical issues, it's in fairly good shape (all original).

New car is out; used car will be next choice. Why not the devil I know ("snowball"), vs. the devil I don't know (someone else's piece of crap).

Any thoughts...btw i'm in California where Labor/Parts costs are very high.

Thanks!!

Theresa

[evildky]

this is why so many of us do our own labor

the timing belt on the Z31 isn't terribly expensive or difficult, but there are a lot of little titmes in the way whichmake ti time consuming

at least you know where you stand with this car

cars in general make a terrible investment, if you want cheap economical car, get a civic, a Z is about passion and a love o the drive and the marquie, if you want return on investment buy a house, I'll be lucky to recoupe half of what I have in my Z32, my Z31 actually I might make over cost on due to the strict budget cap, my S30 is a ie of parts worth maybe 1/3 of cost, but I keep on going for the passion

[Perrenial Badass]

Drain coolant. Remove fan shroud and coolant hoses. Remove accessory belts, pretty easy but one bolt on the alternator can make that one belt difficult. Remove timing belt cover. Set cyl. #1 to TDC on the compression stroke. Mark rear timing belt cover and timing mark with white paint in case you bump it when the belt is off. Remove old timing belt. Remove water pump. Install new water pump. Install new timing belt, tension, reinstall all the parts.

Not difficult to do, the hardest part for me was to stop replacing stuff. The "while I'm here" mentality made it take a month to do (waiting on parts) because of replacing the CHTS, water pump, alternator, PS pump, etc.

You can get a Haynes manual at Autozone, pick it up and you'll have no trouble doing it yourself.

[tsalad]

Thanks for the "helpful Hints." I've always just changed the oil on my cars, except this one.

With "Snowball," I leave all the work to a trustee mechanic, primarily because I would break all my fingernails.

I love this car and hope to save it in the near future.

I'm putting her to sleep for awhile (non-op) untill I find the funds to get her tip top.

bye bad-a**.

theresa

[evildky]

lol, OH! theresa! sorry, always glad to have zchick's among usthe name snowball might also be appropriate givin the repair issues