300zx TT motor?

[BrianZ32]

Nico fam.


What is up everyone. I had a question for anybody that can give me some tips and advice on this interesting offer. Some guy on craigslist hit me up that he had parts for a Z to see if i was interested. We exchanged numbers and i started messaging him. I have met him before because he is friends with my friend (dont lose me here). Anyway, he claims to have a TT motor with ECU and trans to see if i was interested. He says the motor has 65k miles on it and that transmission still works. He is asking $1500 for the motor with ECU and $2000 for all three. My question is how can i trust this guy's word that it works well? Is that anyway i can "test" to see everything works? It is already parted so its not like it is inside his old Z. Because for the price is not bad but i cant fully trust someone i dont know well. What do you guys think? His way of proving to me is getting a breaker bar and "crank the motor"
Help me out here.

[Zinprogress]

not really a simple way to test the motor, but you can mate the transmission to the motor and throw a starter on it and jump it with a car battery and do a compression test that way and hook an oil pressure gauge up to see what cranking oil pressure is. That should give you a fair idea of weather or not its hashed, but doesnt exactly give you clean bill of health.

[abazz009]

could also do a leak-down test, but only 65k sounds suspect to me.

[NolimitZ32]

Its most likely a JDM engine, he probably doesn't have paperwork on it or if he does it's probably fake or untraceable since these engines are basically pulled from half-cuts in Japan and shipped to the US in containers stacked on top of each-other. Unless he will give you a written warranty and agree to hold the money in escrow until you are able to confirm the engine is running properly or unless you have some other reason to trust him with $2k of your hard-earned money I would steer clear. In general the only way I would buy an engine is if I could see it run before it was pulled from the car, otherwise its a crap-shoot.

[DevilZ32]

It sounds kinda sketchy, I mean 2K for engine, ecu and MT... MT shouldn't be 500, and ecu and tt motor together shouldn't be 1.5k. Most tt motors go for upwards of 4k. 65k miles and 2k sounds real sketchy. Even if it is jdm motor, just make sure the engine, ecu and trans are working.

[NolimitZ32]

The price is not ridiculously low. Its not that hard to find that setup for $2.5k - $3k all over ebay, and cheaper if you hop on the phone and make some calls to importers and yards. Hell you could probably buy a wrecked USDM TT for $4k (which is the direction I would take if I were to do it again) I got my JDM TT w/ ecu, harness, and MT for $1400 shipped, this was more than a few years ago but the availability or the market for them hasn't changed that much, the prices just adjusted for inflation. As with any JDM engine though its a total crapshoot, I ended up doing a full rebuild on mine because of the s*** shape it was in.

[ca18det_boy]

I'd just start it on the ground. Simple enough to do with a can of starting fluid and a battery. Then you can actually see/hear it run and if you want you can do what zinprogress suggested and do a compression test right there.

[DCaff300ZX]

I agree with NoLimit, Stay WAAAAAY away from the jdm motors and either get a engine from a cut from reputable importer (engine still IN car), or Nissan yard, or source a wrecked TT from a insurance company or other salvage type outfit. The cut usually is the best route because of all the extra parts you get plus fasteners, etc. You may be surprised the places out there when you dig enough needing something odd but the key is to talk to people and ask lots of questions, not try to do it electronically. I found a really low mileage steering rack that way, only real extra cost is the shipping if it's too far away.

[Unglued13]

I'm not the OP but also deciding on doing a TT swap or buying a TT. The idea of buying an engine off Ebay has put me off the swap. How would you go about looking for a motor if you were doing this today? You mention calling importers.. Is this as simple as google in auto importers? Also mention contacting insurance companies... Is this common? I was pretty sure insurance companies sell the salvage cars at auction or to salvagers and don't deal with the public directly. I'm actively trying to source a motor as it's the deciding factor on if I'll do a swap or not (I actually want to rebuild the motor while shopping for the right body/chassis for it).

Thanks,

[DCaff300ZX]

I'm not the OP but also deciding on doing a TT swap or buying a TT. The idea of buying an engine off Ebay has put me off the swap. How would you go about looking for a motor if you were doing this today? You mention calling importers.. Is this as simple as google in auto importers? Also mention contacting insurance companies... Is this common? I was pretty sure insurance companies sell the salvage cars at auction or to salvagers and don't deal with the public directly. I'm actively trying to source a motor as it's the deciding factor on if I'll do a swap or not (I actually want to rebuild the motor while shopping for the right body/chassis for it).

Thanks,

Quickly since this is off-topic- Yes, finding the various different avenues to buy cars takes searching and imagination, realizing these cars/parts need a way to be moved somewhere, somehow. The insurance angle came via a comment from an ins. agent I was speaking with about my own car value after an accident, and other thoughts as to how to come upon hard to find parts on the cheap, along the lines of getting a half cut instead of just an engine (extra parts). They do send the cars to auction and often they can give you the details (the one I dealt with did anyway) and location and basic/starting prices of the car(s). Importers also would require a search or contacting various hotrod/jdm/etc. places and inquiring...around here (Washington State) we have a couple of notable importers and probably others less known, it would take personal inquiries regarding specific parts or cars in order to get pointed in the right direction. I also have access to my own Z guru who works on my Z when I can't/don't/won't, and he was also an importer of cuts and a few cars so he surely also would be able to direct me, if needed.
Just the basic stuff I've done my whole life keeping after old, interesting cars that aren't the easiest to work on or find parts for.

[BrianZ32]

I agree with NoLimit, Stay WAAAAAY away from the jdm motors and either get a engine from a cut from reputable importer (engine still IN car), or Nissan yard, or source a wrecked TT from a insurance company or other salvage type outfit. The cut usually is the best route because of all the extra parts you get plus fasteners, etc. You may be surprised the places out there when you dig enough needing something odd but the key is to talk to people and ask lots of questions, not try to do it electronically. I found a really low mileage steering rack that way, only real extra cost is the shipping if it's too far away.

To answwr you guys, he had bought a Z that came with the parts, i guess he was supposed to put it all together but either lost interest or just decided not to. He contacted me and seems to be in need of some cash which is why im assuming the low price. But im always very skeptical with parts such as this. Keep in mind i would not be doing the work myself, as much as i'd love to, i have no idea how. Rookie. There's a specialty Z shop local and i always go to them for advice. What do yall think? I have no idea what im looking at as far as labor costs if i were to even consider purchasing this guy's motor and such.

[NolimitZ32]

To answwr you guys, he had bought a Z that came with the parts, i guess he was supposed to put it all together but either lost interest or just decided not to. He contacted me and seems to be in need of some cash which is why im assuming the low price. But im always very skeptical with parts such as this. Keep in mind i would not be doing the work myself, as much as i'd love to, i have no idea how. Rookie. There's a specialty Z shop local and i always go to them for advice. What do yall think? I have no idea what im looking at as far as labor costs if i were to even consider purchasing this guy's motor and such.

This being the case I would say at minimum:
1. Trun the engine over by hand with a breaker bar, it should turn over smooth with a bit of resistance at each stroke's TDC with the plugs in, and very very easy with the plugs out, if this doesn't turn at all it may still be a usable but most likely its seized.
2. Pull the plugs (if you hadn't for the previous step) and check to see if there is any ATF in the cylinders, this is a common way to try to un-sieze an engine, if this was done to the engine that means it sat somewhere for a long time allowing moisture to seep in and oxidize the cylinder walls at the rings. Again, not catastrophic but certainly not a positive.
3. Do a leakdown test on the engine (you-tube and google are your friend), you'll likely have to buy the setup or borrow it from a shop if you have that sort of relationship with one, you don't need anything fancy (harbor freight will do), you will need an air compressor as well. This will tell you the general health of the seals, gaskets, and sealing surfaces, this will also let you know if there are any bent valves.
4. If the guy will let you and you aren't too apprehensive, pull the oil pan and valve covers and have a look at the general state of things, since you wont really know what you're looking for I would suggest finding someone who knows to help you out or paying your Z guy for a couple hours of his time, pull everything first, then invite him over, he'll appreciate your appreciation for his time. Also if your Z guy is the one that will be doing the install you may be able to strike a deal with him on a discount or even looking at the engine for free.

I'm not the OP but also deciding on doing a TT swap or buying a TT. The idea of buying an engine off Ebay has put me off the swap. How would you go about looking for a motor if you were doing this today? You mention calling importers.. Is this as simple as google in auto importers? Also mention contacting insurance companies... Is this common? I was pretty sure insurance companies sell the salvage cars at auction or to salvagers and don't deal with the public directly. I'm actively trying to source a motor as it's the deciding factor on if I'll do a swap or not (I actually want to rebuild the motor while shopping for the right body/chassis for it).

Thanks,

Your answer is simpler. If you have a NA and it runs well and is in good shape and you don't have a particular special connection to it the best route is to sell it and buy a TT, less hassle, less pain, and believe it or not MUCH less money spent in the end. If you must swap then Dcaff covered it.