Just bought a 1993 Z32 for 900 bucks :)

[entrapm3nt]

Hi im new here. Ive always loved 240sx. but i was trolling craigslist today and i ended up picking up this 1993 2+2 Z32 300zx. Sadly its a automatic. But oh well. its a good project. It has 160k miles. The guy said the alarm was stuck but i reset it. Now after i tow it home it has a gas leak. pretty sure this is a common issue with these cars. the hose gets smaller when its cold and leaks. Anyways its still not running im not sure exactly what it is. The guy said it might just be a battery. He seemed like a very honest person and had many nice cars. He just wanted it out of his drive way. I was first one to call him and get it. Hopefully everything works out and it doesn't cost too much to fix. i have plenty of money just still hoping it cost less then 1k to fix everything. he said it had a intake leak and needed a cam adjustment. I dont know a whole lot about these cars but i like it so far. gonna take it to NSP in spartanburg sc soon. The body and interior are about 8/10 over all it was a good deal imo. even the shell should be worth more then 900.

what you guys think? thanks for your time

[H1tman]

Welcome!

What's the issue? Cranking but not start? Clicking?

You'll want to start by setting your tps to .45v, set timing, buy a battery maybe, clean ALL connectors( especially battery terminals)

[300ZXttZMAN]

Welcome to NICO!

Post some pics.
how-to-post-pictures-using-photobucket-t521110.html

Tighten up your fuel lines. Here is a good video to watch by Cory Smith.
http://youtu.be/KGZjNv-zqSQ

Then when you get a chance do a compression test and let us know the results.

[t.mcginley.jr]

Welcome!

and do this:

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan ... ostic.html

[BlackWidowZ]

Welcome to the club. I've done the whole winter maint as far as the gaslines, Its pretty easy just theres about 3 or so clamps that you need to loosen and re-posistion. I can tell that it was never done on my car every single one was loose.

Just be careful when your taking the throttle cover i accidentally dropped a bolt and I had to fish it out with a magnet.

[entrapm3nt]

Thanks for all the quick replys! Ill try to answer most of you. And for everyone else, thanks for the helpful links.

Welcome!

What's the issue? Cranking but not start? Clicking?

You'll want to start by setting your tps to .45v, set timing, buy a battery maybe, clean ALL connectors( especially battery terminals)

Its cracking but not starting. At the moment it has a battery that is wayy too big in it. Maybe could be a issue but idk. Idk tps to .45v means :*( im a noob. I do know a little about cars tho. As for the timing. it looks like the timing has been redone. (see pic) The car looks as if the wires going to the battery are also new. As if they had a issue with them. Will def clean connectors

[entrapm3nt]

Welcome to NICO!

Post some pics.
how-to-post-pictures-using-photobucket-t521110.html

Tighten up your fuel lines. Here is a good video to watch by Cory Smith.
http://youtu.be/KGZjNv-zqSQ

Then when you get a chance do a compression test and let us know the results.

Here are some pics. As for the compression test, I do not have any tools. they all got stolen recently bad timing for a project. But i got extra cash to spend. Hopefully i dont get screwed on labor.




passenger and back seat are nearly perfect

not bad for $900 bones + tow fee

[300ZXttZMAN]

Doesn't look bad for a project car. Honestly though before you start investing money you should compression test it.

[Ace2cool]

Yep, as everyone else has said, get a tester on it before you drop a dime into it. That way, you know whether you're gonna need a full rebuild or just a couple replacement parts.

[BlackWidowZ]

not bad at all for 900. It looks like a good project car. Its all there and assuming no accident.

[entrapm3nt]

Doesn't look bad for a project car. Honestly though before you start investing money you should compression test it.

Ok ill buy a tester. So i its not good across the board what do i do? How do i know its worth fixing. I know very little about these cars. I kinda wanted to keep it. Could always swap it or something. It automatic anyways.

Thanks again for your time

[entrapm3nt]

By the way im not really looking to go for power at the moment. Just want a reliable daily. (i know these cars have problems) But I need something with better gas mileage i drive a old dodge truck at the moment it drinks gas like mad. prob around 8-12 mpg. I think the 300zx is like 16-24 mpg. still double then what my truck gets. If i have to i will swap it. But thats last resort. I have the funds tho.

[BlackWidowZ]

ya even if your just going to be doing body work, and interior resto, + maint on the engine you have now. You want to make sure the motor is good. Also be aware these cars need to have the timing belts changed every 60k miles. Along with water pumps, seals, other belts etc. The maint kits are around $500 It cost around $1500 to have a shop do the work. You dont want that belt to snap...then you will be doing a swap.

I'm not intentionally trying to scare you Its just this vehicle Is expensive to maintain unless you are doing the work yourself and its still expensive and labor intensive.

Thats why we are saying make sure the compression is good and you want to make sure that maint has been done and when it was done and if its due ya need to do it.

I am going to go out on a limb now and say I'm fairly certain your Z needs the 120k maint which includes the timing belt, I know this because if it had been done it wouldn't of sold for 900 it would of been more like 2k. And chances are the owner was trying to get rid of it to avoid doing it.

[entrapm3nt]

ya even if your just going to be doing body work, and interior resto, + maint on the engine you have now. You want to make sure the motor is good. Also be aware these cars need to have the timing belts changed every 60k miles. Along with water pumps, seals, other belts etc. The maint kits are around $500 It cost around $1500 to have a shop do the work. You dont want that belt to snap...then you will be doing a swap.

I'm not intentionally trying to scare you Its just this vehicle Is expensive to maintain unless you are doing the work yourself and its still expensive and labor intensive.

Thats why we are saying make sure the compression is good and you want to make sure that maint has been done and when it was done and if its due ya need to do it.

I am going to go out on a limb now and say I'm fairly certain your Z needs the 120k maint which includes the timing belt, I know this because if it had been done it wouldn't of sold for 900 it would of been more like 2k. And chances are the owner was trying to get rid of it to avoid doing it.

Thanks for your honestly. I think i can afford it. even if im not doing the work myself. If you look at the last picture it seems as if the timing has been redone recently. the cover for the timing belt looks basicly brand new. correct me if im wrong. im still a noob.

[BlackWidowZ]

It probably has been done before, what it the current milage? But just because its clean could just mean engine degreaser was sprayed on the engine to clean it up for sale.

[entrapm3nt]

engine itself does not look that clean. it has 160k miles. automatic ; /. the guy that owned it said his wife drove it. and he bought her a brand new mustang. the guy i bought it from was wearing a suit and had 3 brand new cars and a 800 hp monte carlo next to his swimming pool. Pretty odd if you ask me. Not sure why it was so cheap. Like they say, you get what you pay for.

[BlackWidowZ]

Ya you know thats somthing I would ask whoever sold you the car if it had the 120k maint done. Your going to need a new timing belt at 180k if it was done if nothing else maybe the whole 120 k if they didnt change the water pump and other stuff but just the belt at 120 So defiantly look into that.

You also may be able to get a carfax report and It could possibly have a record and say on there if it was done especially if it was done by the dealer... and it will say at what mileage it was done. I would get a carfax and proceed from there. If you don't see anything on the carfax like that I would get it done, If the person who sold it to you doesn't know or wont tell you .