Hello, I wasn't sure if this was a good forum to join for advices and information. I just found myself a 1986 300zx N/A in the back of my dads shop thats been untouched for several years collecting dust. It's a 5 speed with approximately 170k+ miles. Original gold paint with the 50th anniversary leather seats and a f*** up 3/4 working digital dash( the fuel meter is showing blank).The female computer voice (Bitchin' Betty I believe) was annoying so I pulled and disconnected it. The car starts but idles rough and has a giant rusty hole in the muffler and is misfiring. The headlights are not working correctly because the previous owner had rewired it to bypass the headlight pop-up motor. I needed a car to mod so that I do not touch my Daily Driver, so this is going be my project car. I'm planning on doing an NA2T Conversion with no catalytic converter or muffler (f*** CA Smog) and do not know whether I should just buy the stock turbo manifold and parts for my car or do some more research and build a brand new turbo setup.

So far, in my city, it is difficult finding a whole turbo'd parts car to purchase for cheap from a local junk yard or just from people. And finding turbo parts separately was a little pricey and tough. I did find a whole 1986 300zx turbo car for sale that wasn't running and had a cracked head and bashed interior that was an hour away from town, but the idiot wanted $600 for it and he did not even have a title.

Here are some pictures of how the car is sitting.










And here is my Daily Driver/Rust Bucket I use to go from point A to point B.

Using factory turbo parts like manifolds and things will save you a lot of hassle, going custom will cost whatever it costs

One of the more common turbo manifold designs is to replace the left side with a log type that exits where the a/c compressor goes, that's a nice place for the turbo, easy to get to, lots of room for pipes, and you won't need to swap to the turbo crossmember or engine mounts

Of course there's tons you can do with the car, quite a few of us have been producing everything from cosmetic to suspension to engine bits that weren't available even 5yrs ago...

What are your goals?

600 parts car with no title sounds like a deal (you don't need a title if you're only using it for parts, and keep in mind the bare shell is worth around 300 in scrap metal), they are getting harder to find. Maybe you can sell the body kit to pay for part of it (I'm no fan of body kits)

FWIWI dig the fx16 rocking the enkie 92's

Given the state of that car and your desire to have a turbo car the wise move is to sell that off and buy a turbo and start off with that one. The issue with the older Z's like this is 99% of them are in horrible condition and parts are getting really hard to find. Interior parts are near zero available and other parts getting tougher and tougher to find.

I would think twice about the 600 cracked head car if you really want to mod your current ride to a turbo. There are a bunch of structural parts you need to buy/find to do the turbo conversion. You pick that car clean of those parts (do a search and find a turbo conversion site out there) and still get $300 back in scrape....or re-start a research and find a turbo car.

Thanks for the advices. I not going to buy the parts car because I am unsure if the car is stolen. The owner was Hispanic and very fobbish. He wasn't sure what happened to the title saying it was his dads and the dad passed away, then he tried to sell it to a picknpull yard and they didn't want it, and all the stuff he said just seemed a little fishy.

That log type turbo manifold on the left side sounds like a good idea, so I am going to have one fabricated at a friends company.

Those are NOT 50th AE seats. They're regular 86NA leather seats.

What aren't working with the headlights? Not at all? Or not rising?

Looks like a decent project... Surprisingly, I actually don't hate the kit on that car (once it's painted to match).

Welcome aboard!

p.s. Zbum and evildky (see above) are probably the two most knowledgeable Z31 guys on the planet... so, yeah, you're in the right place.

If you have the ability to fab stuff by all means do it. You should look around for another parts car, it isn't only that part you need. Call the pick and pulls too and see what parts you can find.

NeilAnblowme wrote:Original gold paint with the 50th anniversary leather seats and a f***ed up 3/4 working digital dash( the fuel meter is showing blank).

Original fuel gauge is notorious for reading empty even with a full tank of gas. The unit was redesigned a while back and the new unit is much more reliable.

NeilAnblowme wrote:The female computer voice (Bitchin' Betty I believe) was annoying so I pulled and disconnected it.

You should really figure out what's wrong and fix it. She's only vocal when there's a problem.

NeilAnblowme wrote:The car starts but idles rough and has a giant rusty hole in the muffler and is misfiring.

Well... It's been sitting a while, right? Tune-up and new gas.

NeilAnblowme wrote:The headlights are not working correctly because the previous owner had rewired it to bypass the headlight pop-up motor.

If the previous owner wasn't an idiot, all he did was unplug the connector under the steering wheel.

http://z31.com/mods/cosmetic/ondown.shtml

NeilAnblowme wrote:I needed a car to mod so that I do not touch my Daily Driver, so this is going be my project car. I'm planning on doing an NA2T Conversion with no catalytic converter or muffler (f*** CA Smog) and do not know whether I should just buy the stock turbo manifold and parts for my car or do some more research and build a brand new turbo setup.

You're going to have to buy the stock turbo manifold (only need the left side), because I think all of the other manifold makers dropped out of the game.

NeilAnblowme wrote:So far, in my city, it is difficult finding a whole turbo'd parts car to purchase for cheap from a local junk yard or just from people. And finding turbo parts separately was a little pricey and tough. I did find a whole 1986 300zx turbo car for sale that wasn't running and had a cracked head and bashed interior that was an hour away from town, but the idiot wanted $600 for it and he did not even have a title.

I would have passed as well at that price. But if you could have gottten it for $400 or less, that would have been worth it.

So I finally got my hands on some turbos bits for an na2t build. Then I got a vg33e engine out of a 99 Nissan Quest. Pulled it apart and now I'm about to have it milled. This is gonna be a car that I'm going to drive a couple times a year and have sitting in my garage to stare it, so I'm going to have the engine built. The vg33 block is 3.3l and I have read that the max overbore is up to 3.8l. Is there any company anyone can recommend for pistons that will fit that size overbore? I've read vk56 pistons can work. I was going to try vh45 pistons but that won't get me to 3.8l.
pulled apart and ready to start building


& I pulled the pistons out of the vg33 and they were stamped hks on the face, am I tripping out or does that stamp mean something else

Custom forged pistons aren't terribly expensive, Ross, arias, wisco, all the piston manufacturers will make custom forged pistons for not mush more than an off the shelf set.

Those are not stock pistons. I never heard of HKS making pistons before now, I wouldn't buy them based on the "quality" of their exhaust, but they came in your engine so might as well use them.

http://www.hks-power.co.jp/en/product/e ... index.html

They don't make a VG33 piston, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're VK56 pistons in a bored VG block.

Just for the record, I love those headlight covers. And I usually hate headlight covers.

If you decide you aren't feeling that rear wing, I'll be glad to take it off your hands.

Also, JUN I believe makes a stroker kit for the VG33.

Just remember, if you attempt to go 3.8L on bore size alone, be aware that there haven't been any fully documented successes. Typically there's enough meat but from what I understand the block integrity becomes compromised. I am hoping all the best for you though and am eager for you to succeed!

Thanks, I just had the block and head dropped off to my machinist. My plan was just to simply swap parts from the vg30 to the vg33 block but my dad wanted me to just "go big or go home." So we're gonna see how far we can bore it without ruining reliability. Maybe sleeves is the way to go..I'll drop updates w/ pics on this build. I'll leave the body work the way it is right now until the engine is done; probably gonna keep the kit and paint the whole car black.

I'd think it would look very classic in the original gold, but that's just me.... Your car, your decisions, lol.

The block is milled and ready to be put together. I'm just waiting on finishing the heads. I had ordered some 270 duration cams to put into it from Schneidercams through thezstore and had received 290 duration cams. I guess it's a sign to go big or go home. Now I'm waiting on new valve springs and retainers.

Finally got my block back from my machinist

And some New pistons

Got the Heads redone w/ new valve springs and retainers to match the camshafts

New camshafts


painted the valve covers for fun


I got some spare Vg30e and Vg33e parts if anyone needs some..
Now I gotta put it together; Would anyone recommend using a Haynes, Chilton or Factory Service Manual?

FSM. Only FSM. Several sources available online.

Got the engine together...



Now I need to order some bits here and there. And then work on the intake.
I have a stock t3 turbo with the elbow and manifold but I think I might just go with this aftermarket route and get a ball bearing turbo instead

I'm having a little issue with the oil relief valve. I just got my new one and it doesn't fit flush in to the hole. Am I supposed to lube it and beat it in there?
vg33
vg30 oil filter relieve valve

I've been busy fixing my daily driver..but I finally had time to get some work done on the vg33 engine.

Bought a new custom manifold and installed it.
Thanks to Shopneue.com. Next up is some uprated fuel injectors, maybe just 500cc, and then work on the intake manifold.

Subbed! Would love to see the completed build!

Hadn't updated in a long while. I've been busy with work and school and bills bills bills. I bought a truck by accident and had to get it painted.


I had to move the engine to the hoist to install the flywheel and clutch

South bend clutch kit installed..

Transverse mounted engine? Oops Lol

Fits like a glove

Got some injectors to install now before I do some plumming and other wiring. Then afterwards, NIStune!

Decided to cut and weld the plastic on the license plate mount inward on the front bumper to give it a flush look while I was waiting for parts..

Love those manifolds.

Wow, wish I had this type of mechanical talent, we're all looking forward to seeing the final build

Can you please post an update?