Convertibles

[zswap0429]

Hey just trying to find out who else on here has a vert so I can see what kind of work they were able to do. I know some of the customizing options arent quite as easy for us due to the complete lack of interior space.
For example: battery relocate, amps and subs, etc...
Just curious

[Rager]

^ i think you are only one of a couple guys on the forum that i know about that have verts. and i dont see them post very often. as far as the engine bay is concerned they are identical in all Zs. what are you trying to do with yours? can you post up some pics of the insde of your car?
??

[NolimitZ32]

I think I'm hiiting my mid-life crisis a couple decades too early but I have been looking at verts online with heightened affection lately

[Ace2cool]

I just want an S2000... *shrug*

[NolimitZ32]

I almost bought one after my WRX. fun but way too honda-high-revving. no torque

[zswap0429]

But they are light as f***. Makes up for it.

I cant take pics right now since im not near my car. But the battery relocate is the first thing I want to do
And the engine on the 93 is the exact same as the 90-92

[NolimitZ32]

The S2K is still fairly slow in comparison to many other "sporty" cars and has the gutless feeling of tourquelessness. They are OH SO MUCH FUN on a track but I couldn't imagine driving one daily, I would get so bored.

[zswap0429]

Yeah. Ill keep my 300 vert. Best of both worlds... especially after the tt engine goes in

[Ace2cool]

Nah, I'd want one FOR daily. I've driven one, and though you do have to rev it to the moon to make lots of power, but that just makes it more tame to me. Kind of a "power when you need it" type thing. With a couple of mods, it revs even faster and makes more power, so it really does become a great DD.

[NolimitZ32]

I hear what you're saying but I'm used to TOT (torque on tap). So to me its ehhh.

[zswap0429]

Yeah. I just dont need a daily driver like you do. I never drive more than 20 miles a day. Living on base has its advantages. So no "tame" dd for me

[RubyRed300ZX]

But they are light as f***. Makes up for it.

I cant take pics right now since im not near my car. But the battery relocate is the first thing I want to do
And the engine on the 93 is the exact same as the 90-92

It's not so much as your engine is the same as a 90-92; but, the fact is your car is a 92. The "93" convertibles were "built" from 92 slicktops. They were shipped from Japan to ASC in Southern California. ASC has plants around the US (Headquartered in Detroit). ASC stands for American Sunroof Corporation. They've been around since the 70's when they were making aftermarket cheap little pop-up sunroofs. Nissan contracted with ASC to cut up the slicktop and fabricate the aluminum truck lid and all the plastic components and the folding top etc. (literally every part to make the conversion).

Back in the early or mid-80's, I was in Detroit for a meeting at ASC and got a tour of their R & D Buildings (probably around 200,000 square feet). They had a Porsche 968 which they had stretched 16" and created a 4-door. Pretty much the exact same design as the RX-8 in the function of the rear doors. They had shipped it over to Germany in an attempt to sell Porsche on the concept. If my memory is correct, the 968 was green. Porsche declined the proposal.

Anyway, for the 300ZX, their process was to cut away the top, then using a large scale coordinate measuring machine (gantry style) to digitize what was left of the interior and exterior of the car. From there, they designed the "completed" convertible in CAD to complete-out the parts requirements. They did the final assembly in Southern California.

Hence, your 1993 convertible is actually a base model 1992 slick-top. Just like mine.

[Rager]

^ wow i did not know that. so the convertible didnt come stock from the factory? thats so weird . are they the company that did that green concept Z ?

[zswap0429]

Thanks for the quick lesson. I knew the convertibles were finished in America. I just didn't know which company exactly.
Good info
So is that why the cocoa model is only available in America? Because they were finished and painted here?

[Ace2cool]

You should look up the ASC 2+2 Spyder if you like that kind of history. Hardtop vert 2+2, only one of which was ever made, and Nissan declined manufacturing and selling it. It really was beautiful.

EDIT: Rager, yes, ASC was the company that did the Spyder concept.

And as far as the Cocoa being available only in America, I don't think that's the reason. The cars were shipped finished, but ASC took the slickies and turned them into verts until 1993, when Nissan began manufacturing them themselves. Any vert with a production date before 1993 was a conversion of a slicktop made by ASC. So basically, Nissan ships cars, ASC buys slicktops, makes convertibles, sells for markup.

[Rager]

what about that new guy that had the custom 2 piece vert? didnt he have a stock TT vin and everything ?

[Ace2cool]

Yeah. That was a custom job from a place in Florida, IIRC. 100% custom.

[zswap0429]

Anyone know where I can see a pic of it? Im pretty interested

[Ace2cool]

my-300zx-is-different-from-other-conver ... 70491.html

[RubyRed300ZX]

"The cars were shipped finished, but ASC took the slickies and turned them into verts until 1993, when Nissan began manufacturing them themselves. Any vert with a production date before 1993 was a conversion of a slicktop made by ASC. So basically, Nissan ships cars, ASC buys slicktops, makes convertibles, sells for markup."

....No, not correct. All the convertibles (1993-1996) were assembled by ASC in Southern California. After 1993, Nissan was building out the cars with some ASC parts integrated into the assembly in Japan; however, they were still shipped to ASC as a hardtop. Final assembly involved ASC cutting the roofs off with a plasma torch and finishing the build. And, ASC did not buy the cars from Nissan. They worked as a vendor to Nissan; and, ASC had no role in the pricing decision. If I recall correctly from when I bought mine, the price of the 1993 convertible was $46,000 (right around the same price as the TT). Just for perspective, that would be about $85,000 to $90,000 in today's dollars. Obviously the costs associated with the work done by ASC influenced the final pricing charged by Nissan; but, ASC had no role in setting the price.

In my earlier post, I used the word "conversion" which is perhaps a poor choice of wording on my behalf. ASC was contracted to design, engineer, fabricate, and to assemble. Not an uncommon thing in manufacturing, and certainly not uncommon in automobile manufacturing. The purpose of making the correction here to your post is so the Original Poster doesn't think he's driving around in a 1970-1980's "Conversion Van" rolled out of a barn in South Bend, Indiana (complete with green and gold shag carpeting on the floor, and unsightly oak trim everywhere). At the time, ASC had total revenues of well in excess of $500 Million a year. ASC had plants in several locations in the US, Canada, Germany, etc. Prior to "building" the 300ZX convertibles, they also built all of the 240SX convertibles as well. They also built all of the Mitsubishi 3000 GT convertible hardtops (1995-1997). ASC also had a full assembly line set up in Bowling Green, right across the street almost from GM's Corvette plant. This is where final assembly of the 1986-1996 Corvette convertibles were done by ASC. The 300ZX convertibles were assembled at ASC's plant in Southern California. I don't recall which city; but it was not far from Huntington Beach, California. I owned two manufacturing plants not far away, and those plants were in Huntington Beach.

Anyway, my point here was just to clarify my prior mistake in using the word "conversion." It, in a way, reminded me of when I see people ranting about using only genuine Nissan Parts, rather than saying OEM parts. I swear some people must think that Nissan makes MAF sensors, Knock sensors, spark plugs, tires, batteries, and raises their own cows for the leather upholstery. Last automobile manufacturer to be anywhere near that was GM in the 1930-1970's. The great Vertical Integration Strategy of MBA's everywhere throughout the 1950's and into the early 1970's.

Ok, it's 3:30 in the morning, now past my bedtime.

[zswap0429]

Not to mention the Mitsubishi starter

[zswap0429]

Oh and thanks for the link. That vert looks awsome... plus it has trunk space... more than I can say.