best way to spend 2k?

[outcrydrummer]

Tax season is approaching and I'm letting the z get 2k of the proceeds......

I'm looking for ideas on where to spend the money. My z is a bone stock 85 300zx turbo. No real mechanical issues.....the minor ones I'm already fixing.
Just looking for some advice from you experienced z guys here.........
Turbo upgrade?
Intercooler?
Motor work? Internals?

Any help would be appreciated. I'm going to start tracking down parts and figuring everything up so I have a plan in place for it when its time to spend the cash And I need extra time to help convince the wife I'm spending it wisely haha.

Thanks

[float_6969]

I'm not a Z guy, but I always tell people the same thing when they ask me about upgrading a stock car. Start with the mechanical. If the car is sound and reliable, then start on brakes and suspension. You'll be surprised how much more fun a car can be with a set of brakes that can pull your face off, tires that stick like glue, and suspension that doesn't roll over like a pig in the mud.

[outcrydrummer]

Coming from drum brakes I don't really need to do any brake upgrades lol......already feel super good compared to what I normally drive. This is going to be my fun drive around car.... Not into drifting or auto cross. Just want more power out of it. So I'm leaning towards the best z31 power mods to a bone stock car.

[evildky]

front mount intercooler, boost controller, cone air filter, free flowing exhaust (Centified muffler is a popular option) should get you in the 260 whp range, beyone that you kinda need to look at injectors, ecu turbo and fuel pump all at the same time then you can push it to around 400 whp before the pistons let go

[outcrydrummer]

Is that muffler your talking about a brand? Never heard of that before. Also would you happen to know a safe boost level to run before the motor comes out for rebuild. I was thinking 10psi. Thanks for the help

[evildky]

Certified muffler is a shop that makes bolt in cat back or even turbo back kits for the Z31, great quality, great prices but they make them to order so it takes a week or 2 to get a kit.


Safe boost, withotu addign an intercooler about 10 psi is abotut he safe limit. Add an intercooler and you can run it up to 14-16 but at that point you'll have maxed out the stock turbo, fuel injector, fuel pump and ecu. You might be able to get a couple of pis more out of the stock turbo but withotu the supporting mods. Lots of good info here
http://www.redz31.net/turbofaq/turbo.faq.htm

[outcrydrummer]

Thanks for the reply.

I was curious about the intercooler kits. I did some looking around and found a few places that carry kits specifically for the z31 but they are about 2 grand......... OO

Is there any certain kit thats reasonable or am I better off getting a used universal kit and doing it myself?

I think I'm going to do the exhaust myself too. I have a buddy with a pipe bender, I think I'm just going to get that cat out of there and pick up a decent muffler and see how it works out.

[evildky]

Most Z31 guys do their own thing, and just about every one is unique. I'm running a vertical flow intercooler and pass both pipes besire the radiator, it helps that I have no a/c. Most people opt for the vertical flow intercooler for packaging and efficiency reasons,most run one pipe over the top of the radiator and convert to electric fan. Some go very radical and run custom plenums and vertical mount a radiator to simplify things a bit. Lost of options and no 2 seem to be alike, I think CM was talking of offereing an intercooler kit but not sure if anything ever came of it.

[outcrydrummer]

I appreciate it. Im in the process of looking for an electric fan....clutch fans are the enemy anyways. I also ditched the ac stuff for extra room. Guess i will add all that to my parts list lol.

[evildky]

I prefer the manual fan which is why I routed mine the way I did, just be sure to buy a good electric fan and shroud it as best you can.

[itsa260not240z]

If you start making more power you will wish you had better stopping power. I would do at least a rear disk conversion even if its off a stock z car

[evildky]

If you start making more power you will wish you had better stopping power. I would do at least a rear disk conversion even if its off a stock z car

The OP has a Z31. They came with much better brakes than the s30, including 4 wheel disks. The 88-89 Z31T brakes are simple yet cheap upgrade for earlier Z31's.

[itsa260not240z]

Unless i misread i thouging i had read something of drum brakes. Sorry for not using my head but yes s30 has not very good stopping power in which i plan on buying my old zx back for the four wheel disk set up to putunder my coupe'

[evildky]

the rear disk conversion on the s30 helps ballance the raking but doesnt dramatically improve braking or fade. Converting to a larger vented rotor really helps, and that require the toyota callipers somethign aftermarket