buying a 300zx.

[savage25_sc]

Guys ime planning to buy a 300zx.ime choosing between '91 na 2 seater,stick shift,114Kmiles,sleek top for 4 $7450 or '91 tt 2 seater,stick shift,112K miles,t top for $7800..which is much better?what do I need to change upon buying it?any issues commonly found in '91 Z's?

is it still obd1?ime worried if it could pass emmisions.

[NSR240sxe]

TT's are much better cars than the NA's. 300hp vs 222hp and a slew of other features. For similar money, if they're in good shape, go for the TT. The only appeal of the NA that you're looking at is that its a slick top and slick tops are very rare and very hard to find. But despite that appeal, t-tops are the way to go.

And yes, they're OBD-I

[AZ-ZBum]

... and a slew of other features.

Oh really? What other features were on the TT that weren't on the NAs?

[One_Love]

Oh really? What other features were on the TT that weren't on the NAs?

Id like to know this aswell

[savage25_sc]

the tt runs rough when idling.the seller told me it might be faulty injectors.hows the maintenance for 300zx?any issues?

[NSR240sxe]

Oh really? What other features were on the TT that weren't on the NAs?

Adjustable suspension, standard t-tops, hicas, wider wheels, etc etc. Come on, someone as smart as yourself should know that.

[evildky]

if your gonna buy a Z then you prolly want more power so the TT is a no brainer, as for the rough idle, there are lots of TT's around if this one isn't right get on to the next, get with your local Z club they will likely know of others available or at least be able to tell you who in your area knows these cars fotr the best service, anyd unledd you know when the timing belt was changed for sure, change it and plan on gettng all the tensioners and pullies and seals, it's a pain but a lot cheaper than a new motorcheck zcca.org and look for clubs in your area

[AZ-ZBum]

Adjustable suspension, standard t-tops, hicas, wider wheels, etc etc. Come on, someone as smart as yourself should know that.

Hicas (which MOST TT owners eliminate) and wider wheels (easily correctible) I'll give you. But TRY to find a slicktop NA. They're more rare than spotting Richard Simmons in the Chicken Ranch.

Try again....
Modified by AZ-ZBum at 1:47 PM 4/8/2006

[savage25_sc]

so '91 sleek top na is a good buy for $7450?it got 114K miles.its 2 seater."ime going to use for daily driving."

[rsmithdrift]

N/A Z32's are such turds. lol. 190hp is def not enough to compensate for there emense wieght of ~3200lbs.

N/A Z31's are the turds just the same 160hp and ~3000lbs.

TT's are awesome cars. 320hp is more than enough. Hell, the 230 the Z31 Turbo's make is enough, but I always seem to want more.

[AZ-ZBum]

N/A Z32's are such turds. lol. 190hp is def not enough to compensate for there emense wieght of ~3200lbs.

N/A Z31's are the turds just the same 160hp and ~3000lbs.

TT's are awesome cars. 320hp is more than enough. Hell, the 230 the Z31 Turbo's make is enough, but I always seem to want more.

You really should check your facts before posting....

Z31 NA = 160hp (88-89 = 165hp)Z31 T = 200hp (88-89 = 205hp)Z32 NA = 222hpZ32 T = 300hp

[One_Love]

^^^^ aint those numbers at the crank, his numbers are better if we are talking about whp.

[AZ-ZBum]

Yes. My numbers are crank numbers. Only his Z31 NA was correct. His Z32 NA was underestimated (maybe wheel HP, close anyway). His Z31 and Z32 turbos were seriously overinflated and not even close to accurate on any published data.

[savage25_sc]

do you have a reliable mechanic who could check the car ime buying?may i ask where are you in AZ?

[AZ-ZBum]

I do all my own work, and I stay away from the Z32s. Check with PitStop Performance and see if they'll look it over for you.

Or, just swing it into one of the Nissan dealerships. They love telling you every little detail that's wrong with it.

[One_Love]

Or, just swing it into one of the Nissan dealerships. They love telling you every little detail that's wrong with it.

aint that the truth lol. Thats the best thing to do.

[nsrZ32]

nsr240sxe was right. As cool as a slick top (not sleek top) is, it will never be a TT. You will regret it every single day if you settle for an NA. Plus that price is way to high for a high mileage NA, slick top or not. The potential of the TT is far greater and there are a lot of differences.

AZ-ZBum....why do you attempt to speak about Z32's when you obviously aren't all that educated on them? I know that you know more about Z31's than most, but don't try to talk about how there aren't many differences with the NA and the TT. On the motor alone there are a dozen differences. And FYI, HICAS is amazing up until about 500hp, beyond that it is somewhat twitchy. A slick top is rarer, but will forever be a 5,000 car. I've seen a good amount of them and all they are is a bare bones base model z32. Sit on your hands man.

savage25_sc, if you have any z32 questions feel free to hit me up. I'm sure I can be of assistance.

[AZ-ZBum]

So the differences between the NA and TT Z32s are:- twin turbos (and minor internal stuff)- adjustable suspension- wider rear wheels- HICAS

What else? What else could you get on the TT that wasn't available on the NA? I'm actually trying to get information. You guys are getting all defensive.

[nsrZ32]

So the differences between the NA and TT Z32s are:- twin turbos (and minor internal stuff)- adjustable suspension- wider rear wheels- HICAS

What else? What else could you get on the TT that wasn't available on the NA? I'm actually trying to get information. You guys are getting all defensive.

There is more to it, but here's some of the motor stuff that I had saved on my computer.

1. The blocks are similar. They both have oil squirters that direct oil towards the underside of the piston, but they point at different angles. The oil squirters on the TT direct oil straight into a off center hole on the underside of the TT piston, which leads to a hollow area inside the top of the TT piston. The NA ones just direct the oil towards the middle of the underside of the piston which has no passages inside. They blocks have all of the same oil passages. Two passages are plugged with a bolt on the NA block (one on each outside face that feed the turbos on a TT). The TT has two oil passages plugged inside where the oil filter bracket mounts, the NA has two small check valves in this location. They are plugged in the TT providing more pressure so that the oil will go through the lines to the oil cooler, which returns back to the oil pan. There are check valves on the inside of the TT oil filter bracket where the oil filter screws on, but none on the NA The purpose of these check valves is if the oil filter somehow becomes clogged or collapses that oil will still circulate.

2. Piston rings, and Crankshaft (main) bearings are the same. The rod bearings are the same size but the TT ones are a different alloy (kelmet).

3. Of course the pistons are different because of lower compression ratio in the TT, 8.5:1 in respect to 10.5:1 on the NA. The internal structure of the pistons is also different, the TT ones have a hollow ring inside the top that fills with oil for better cooling and a thicker dome towards the center.

4. Oil pumps are different. They mount the same and are the same internally except for the spring for the pressure valve in the TT one is tighter, so it produces more needed pressure to circulate oil to the turbos and cooler.

5. Oil filter bracket on a TT is different (longer) because it has an outlet that accommodates the hose going to the oil cooler. There is a spring loaded valve in the bracket that will not let the oil circulate to the cooler unless there is sufficient pressure. The NA does not have an oil cooler.

6. Intake cams are different. All the exhaust cams are the same. The 94-95 cams were different than the 90-93 but just like the earlier ones they are all the same except for the intake cams on the auto TT. The 96 cams were ALL the same.

7. The valves are all the same size. But the exhaust valves on a TT are made from a stronger alloy (iconel)

8. The bare heads are different.

9. The spark plugs are different, they run different lengths.

10. The oil pan is different because the TT one has 2 tubes protruding on the sides where the oil return hoses for the turbos mount and another one for the hose returning from the oil cooler.

11. The turbo engine obviously has a few different accessories and systems to accommodate the turbos. The exhaust manifolds on the TT are much shorter than the NA ones, which go all the way down and tie into the exhaust section including the catalytic converters. The turbos are oil lubricated and water cooled. So there are oil and water, supply and return lines everywhere on a TT motor.

12. The throttle bodies are the same size but the passenger side one is different on a TT simply because one of the water lines attached to the bottom of it has a junction in it to feed water to one turbo.

13. The upper and lower intake manifolds are the same TT and NA 90-92. The newer ones are different from the earlier ones. They made the change to the new style injectors, lower plenum, and the intake port on the heads in 93 for the NA but not till 95 on the TT. So lower plenum and heads would be different on 93-94 NA and TT's. The upper plenums changed just a small bit in 94 when the angle that the flange of one of the EGR tubes bolts on to the plenum rotated about 30 degrees. Just enough stuff to make interchanges a pain.

14. Head gaskets are different.
Modified by nsrZ32 at 3:54 PM 4/9/2006

[AZ-ZBum]

Good god man. I asked for basic differences. Not every single nut and bolt different. All that crap I would call minor engine differences.

Fine. Boil it down to NA and TT engines are different.

Now, what else is included in this "SLEW" of differences?

[nsrZ32]

Suspension is obviously different, in addition to being adjustable. Dampening, spring rates, etc.

HICAS and all included plumbing, wiring, module in engine bay, rear components, etc.

I believe that the sway bars are different sizes.

The hood on TT's is aluminum. On NA's its steel.

Front subframe is different.

Injector size is different (370cc's vs 238cc's)

ECU's are completely different, thus, engine harnesses are completely different.

Front bumper is different.

TT's had the factory wing.

As you know wheels and tires out back were wider.

There's more with the motor but I won't go into detail as I've obviously given you too much lol.

Driveshafts are different.

Brakes on the early NA's were smaller.

Some options were available on the TT and not on the NA, and many features were standard on the TT that weren't on the NA.

I dunno, there's more, and if you want when I remember it or have more time to compile a list I will. But there really is a lot of difference. Thus the reason that is it not worth buying an NA and doing the TT transplant and conversion.

[AZ-ZBum]

Thanks. That's a lot more helpful.

I'm not trying to be an ***. Just what's really the important stuff to make a descision between the NA to TT when considering a purchase.- 300hp vs 222hp- All wheel steering (they probably won't know what HICAS means)- only 2 seater t-tops (NAs can be slicktop, t-top, convertible, or 2+2)- electronically adjustable shocks

[savage25_sc]

so is this a good buy: '91 tt 2 seater,stick shift,112K miles,t top for $7800..or should i looks for more?

[nsrZ32]

that's a good price. average for a good condition early 90's TT with those miles would be around 10K

[savage25_sc]

should i replace anything aside from engine,transmission oil change,timing belt,tensioners change?

[SouljahZ]

I also hear that 300zx's have a problem wtih fuel injectors. I was looking at buying a 1993 Z32 NA for $4500. One thing the guy mentioned was that problem. he had 3 replaced already. so just a heads up. The car is also a T-top with 112k miles and its a 2 seater 5spd. Besides that the car was solid. Sound like a good buy?

[evildky]

he must be running cheap gas I've never had an injector fail, $4500 for a clean car sounds like a good deal to me, it's better to spend more and get a cleaner better maintained car if at all possible, if not you'll spend the difference and more fixing the little problems that add up