Moving up for power?

[Rastadori]

Alright not sure if that's the tittle to go with this but this is my dilemma. Around may of 2017, I'll have roughly 7000 dollars to start something. Now, I have a 1990 Nissan 300zx 2+2. It has 212k miles on it but it has a new paint job, well its like a year old. The interior is pretty much 8/10. The question is, would it be worth it to buy a TT engine and spend that money on parts and do the swap on this car? Keep in mind this is my daily so I would spend another 2000 on a vehicle for daily and my budget would go down to 5000 for mods on this car. Or I can keep this as my daily and use the 7000 to buy a 90-95 TT 300zx 2 seater which roughly will go for 5k in decent condition and do smaller mods with the last 2k? I'm really having a hard time if i want to pick up a TT z and work from there, or get a reliable crappy daily and work with what I have. My goal is 400 HP to the wheels, and yes with this budget it wont happen but I will be building up money as I go as well.

For my background, all ive ever done mechanically is just change the CAS, fuel pump, typical service (oil, spark plugs,air filters) . So Ive never come close to like an engine swap or done timing belt or any of those bigger jobs, never screwed on with transmission, so even though I suck, im willing to be patient and learn. If you guys think its too much then its best im told and see what route to take. I love the 300zx and im willing to do whatever it takes to get 400hp in a easy way, even if that means using a diff engine. since I know the vg30dett are hard to work on

[everpresentnoob]

My thinking would be to look into a TT300zx. that way everything you need is already there. Your not running at the last minute trying to source that last piece that you forgot about in your initial parts grab for a swap. Also remember, even if your swapping the motor with a low mileage one, the cars body, trans, Diff and what not will still have 212,xxx on them... Unless you have rebuilt them or anything. But im sure you see my point.

[NolimitZ32]

Sell your car and buy a well looked after stock TT, that is your best option.

[DCaff300ZX]

Sell your car and buy a well looked after stock TT, that is your best option.

+1, if you want to do better than I did at your age, and surely MANY others.
BTW what makes the TT harder to work on is what you will be doing in reverse with your NA, dealing with two turbos and support cast so disregard that....hassle is hassle with turbos, period.
With the TT route basically you'll repeat some maintenance work you did with the NA while upgrading the TT, so really you will just be learning more as you go forward, and with a healthy 300HP working for you hopefully and which will allow you time to get used to turbos, and the way the car handles with the boost power...and which will again be different when you hit 400 HP.