Long time poster, first time Z32 owner

[Ozzie]

Hi guys,
Looks like I get to investigate another section of the forums that I never really visited!
I recently sold my R33 Skyline, and now own a Z32, 2 seat, twin turbo.

It's a project car for sure, as the previous owner had good intentions but lacked the automotive knowledge to get much of it right. (plugs hanging everywhere or simply ripped off leaving the bare wires, egr system looks like a spaghetti nightmare, body needs attention, interior pulled apart and not put back together very well, the list goes on)







Hopefully the images work. I used to use photobucket, but, you know....
Trying with imgur...

I'll be doing plenty of reading, and maybe some contributing to this section of the forums.

[itsa300zx]

Nice, looks like a swapped TT.

[Ace2cool]

Took you long enough. Lots of knowledgeable peeps here Ozzie. And you know if I ever come down under I'm gonna have to take it for a spin

[Ozzie]

Nice, looks like a swapped TT.

I believe it is swapped, which would explain the mess in the engine bay.
I have a lot of reading to do in the FSM to figure out where stuff is supposed to go, and what I can delete.

[NolimitZ32]

WELCOME to Z dark side!!! I wish I would've remembered about you when I did my stint in Oz, maybe could've talked ya into giving me a ride in the R, oh well train's left the station. Yeah so, if you have questions, ask away, looks like you've got some work ahead of you.

[DCaff300ZX]

Nice, sounds like we have a fun project to watch here.
Congrats!

[Ozzie]

Updates/build thread may take a while, because I bought a Q45 at the same time as I bought this.
The Q45 requires less work/money so I'm focusing on that first.
The 300 is a "where do I even start?" kinda thing.
I've already decided to get a new aftermarket front bar from the US, because there are more options available and unbelievably cheaper (like under US$200 for a front bar vs US$800 minimum for something available locally!)

[DCaff300ZX]

Updates/build thread may take a while, because I bought a Q45 at the same time as I bought this.
The Q45 requires less work/money so I'm focusing on that first.
The 300 is a "where do I even start?" kinda thing.
I've already decided to get a new aftermarket front bar from the US, because there are more options available and unbelievably cheaper (like under US$200 for a front bar vs US$800 minimum for something available locally!)

What do you mean by "Front bar"? The internal crash bar under the bumper cover, or the cover itself?

[RubyRed300ZX]

"The 300 is a "where do I even start?" kinda thing." ...

My suggestion would be to start with bigger exhaust tips.

[Ozzie]

Updates/build thread may take a while, because I bought a Q45 at the same time as I bought this.
The Q45 requires less work/money so I'm focusing on that first.
The 300 is a "where do I even start?" kinda thing.
I've already decided to get a new aftermarket front bar from the US, because there are more options available and unbelievably cheaper (like under US$200 for a front bar vs US$800 minimum for something available locally!)

What do you mean by "Front bar"? The internal crash bar under the bumper cover, or the cover itself?

The cover itself. The crash bar should be fine. Australian/US terminology mix up.

[Ozzie]

My suggestion would be to start with bigger exhaust tips.

Oh, lol. Yeah, will do.

[DCaff300ZX]

What do you mean by "Front bar"? The internal crash bar under the bumper cover, or the cover itself?

The cover itself. The crash bar should be fine. Australian/US terminology mix up.

Got it...so check out the jspec bumper cover, OEM fitment and quality and FAR less than USDM OEM replacements. Check our awesome vendors for them, they all carry it.

Oh, and in addition to the exhaust tips- you DO know that some stickers will add easily 5HP each? So, LOTS of stickers...

[Ozzie]

Update:
Still haven't started on the 300 yet, but had to move it today for the purpose of mowing lawns.
Heard a clunking noise when I was reversing it back to it's "home"
Sounded like a diff failure, except that didn't make sense because it hasn't driven anywhere since I got it!
A little investigation found a pile of wheel weights on the ground near the front of the car???
I moved forward a bit.... no noise.
I reversed again, with the door open.
Heard the noise on the drivers rear.
Got out and found the rear brake caliper wedged in the rear wheel, not attached to the bracket! (it had scraped the wheel weights off when moving)
After jacking the car up and doing some investigation, I found that it was only being held on by 1 bolt!
I then checked the other side, also 1 bolt.
FML, this project is getting bigger just while sitting still.
The caliper doesn't line up flush against the hub bracket either.
I'll have to see if I can push the disc on further with the hand brake off, while the car is jacked up in the air.
And I have to get some more caliper bolts, and probably new wheel studs, and check the front calipers.
Also need to find some retaining clips for the brake pad pins.

This car is looking more and more like a ground up resto every time I touch it.

[DCaff300ZX]

Update:
Still haven't started on the 300 yet, but had to move it today for the purpose of mowing lawns.
Heard a clunking noise when I was reversing it back to it's "home"
Sounded like a diff failure, except that didn't make sense because it hasn't driven anywhere since I got it!
A little investigation found a pile of wheel weights on the ground near the front of the car???
I moved forward a bit.... no noise.
I reversed again, with the door open.
Heard the noise on the drivers rear.
Got out and found the rear brake caliper wedged in the rear wheel, not attached to the bracket! (it had scraped the wheel weights off when moving)
After jacking the car up and doing some investigation, I found that it was only being held on by 1 bolt!
I then checked the other side, also 1 bolt.
FML, this project is getting bigger just while sitting still.
The caliper doesn't line up flush against the hub bracket either.
I'll have to see if I can push the disc on further with the hand brake off, while the car is jacked up in the air.
And I have to get some more caliper bolts, and probably new wheel studs, and check the front calipers.
Also need to find some retaining clips for the brake pad pins.

This car is looking more and more like a ground up resto every time I touch it.

Yikes, now that's a bummer...but unfortunately part of the Z32 game as some people will re-assemble old removed/upgraded parts back to their car when selling because they can't recoup for those costs, and will keep or sell those parts separately. The end result is an unsafe car that needs a total inspection and perhaps overhaul, and usually by surprise. I nearly fell for this when hunting mine years ago and found a midnight purple version that had me excited until another member posted the owner's page, and pics of a seriously modded car...which was not the same as the car pictured for sale. I passed on that car, expecting what you have found- a cobbled mess that would have been little better than a project parts car in reality.
Hope everything works out, just be SURE to inspect all hard-wear items and be ready to replace them.