fixing up my 89 z31 w/ 82k.

[89300zxTT]

I need to do my timing belt and paint anything that is inside my engine bay besides the bay itself. Any ideas on how to paint, what to paint and not to paint, colors, (my car is white, I'm thinking fire engine red)

How hard is it to do a timing belt? I have decent experience and my father used to own his own garage, but knows nothing about imports.

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be welcomed.

Thanks a lot.

[AZ-ZBum]

Difficulty is a relative term.

If you have a difficult time changing a light bulb, then a timing belt job is not for you.
If you can rebuild motors with your eyes closed, then it's a simple task.

What to paint is also up to you. If you don't know how to paint, I suggest leaving it up to someone who knows what they're doing. Doing a full color change is expensive and very time consuming.

[89300zxTT]

I can remove nuts and bolts. I have the Haynes manual, it just looks like it is a PITA. Is it worth it to have it done at a garage. About how many labor hours would it be to do it all (take apart, change, put together) for someone that has worked on car for about 4-5 years, just no imports. (a 2000 buick century and a 91 dodge spirit).

[300ZXttZMAN]

Ok a couple of questions about certain things
First: Your profile says your car is an 89 300zx NA
Second: The title of your thread says fixing up my 89 Z31
Third: Your Screen name says 89300zxTT

So what do you have??? Im effing confused haha.. Clerify it for us and welcome to nico

[89300zxTT]

a z31 is a 300zx up till 89. 90+ is a z32 300zx. I got a glasspack for it today. $25 w/ a muffler clamp. Just need to weld a bracket to keep it stock.

[AZ-ZBum]

a z31 is a 300zx up till 89. 90+ is a z32 300zx. I got a glasspack for it today. $25 w/ a muffler clamp. Just need to weld a bracket to keep it stock.

Depends on your location. In some countries (even English speaking ones), there were 1989 Z32s.

[evildky]

but most of us are in the U.S. where the Z32 started in 90, so when someone says 89 I assume Z31 and I think most of us do

[AZ-ZBum]

but most of us are in the U.S. where the Z32 started in 90, so when someone says 89 I assume Z31 and I think most of us do

Which is why many of the sites I'm on have requested that users have their basic location information in their profile. To prevent mixups of providing incorrect information because of geographical differences.

I would also have assumed he meant a Z31 seeing as how this was posted in the "Classic Z" section (vs the "Z32 section") and has Z31 in the title, but he did put "TT" in his username. But you know what they say when you a**-U-ME something.

[evildky]

Which is why many of the sites I'm on have requested that users have their basic location information in their profile. To prevent mixups of providing incorrect information because of geographical differences.

I wish it was a requirement, it's a lot easier to interact with people when their car and location are listed beneath their username, sor some reason everyone assumes everyone else knows what car they have and what area they live in

[89300zxTT]

TT is in my username because I got T-Tops. I am going to supercharge my 89 z31, and then 2-3 years later turbo it. Still working out how to do that though and retain all the A/C parts. I'm thinking of attaching the belt for the supercharger to the A/C compressor somehow. That way if the belt snaps because of the supercharger, my car will still run, just not as strong.

[evildky]

the sc is a waste, if you want an sc someone was selling a complete vq35de with stillen sc for like 5 grand, that included everything, even the 6 speen trans, otherwise, simply do the turbo conversion

[89300zxTT]

why is it a waste? i want it because the turbo has to spool. and i will turbo later like i said.

[AZ-ZBum]

LOL! You really have no clue, do you? First car? How much can you afford? Chances are pretty good, you don't have the money.

There are two reasons NOT to do a supercharger.
1. The Z31 came with a turbo. i.e. Adding a turbo is much easier than a supercharger.
2. The Z31 came with a turbo. i.e. Adding a turbo is much cheaper than a supercharger.

Then there is the whole trying to keep it under the hood aspect, let alone trying to retain AC.

[evildky]

the easiest way to add sc is the titan/xterra swap (vg33er) (which is fairly rare) whichonly made 210 hp, you can change pulleys and make a bit more hp but it's a positive displacement unit meaning you can't add an intercooler so you are limited, and I don't think it'll clear the stock hood

stock n/a Z31 is 160, stock turbo z31 is 190, with the turbo you can add an intercooelr and turn up the boost and get nearly 300 whp before additional mods are needed, and it was a factory option so it all just bolts and plugs in (in stock form)