na z32 converted to tt - bad idea?

[vinnye191]

hi friends, let me start by saying im not new to this scene just the forums. i used to have a 91 twin turbo but at the time i had just graduated highschool and a snapped waterpump spelled the demise of my poor Z. 2 years later im getting desperate and planning to get back into a z. now i'll admit i should settle for a cheap na but i want my twin turbo back and though theres a couple twin turbos worth buying that i will probably end up spending the extra cash on,i wanted opinions on this http://maine.craigslist.org/cto/5628849655.html
i know cheaping out with our cars is a big no no but does this really seem all that bad or am i just being too optomistic?

[rmlamp]

People do TT swaps/conversions all the time. As long as everything was done properly you should have no problems. Just do your homework and really take a look at the car. If anything looks amiss, bail.

[vinnye191]

iall my uncles have done the swap but this car im interested in is a "conversion" meaning they boosted an na engine with mostly stock tt parts

[rmlamp]

He used the NA block and put new internals in it. The VG30DE and VG30DETT use the same block, there are plenty of threads on here that walk you through the differences of the NA vs TT engine. I would ask him the specifics on the internals. What rods is he running, what pistons and what is the compression ratio? My initial plan for my NA was to build the NA motor and turbo it. It's really not that risky. Again, you're talking major engine work being done to the car and without knowing who did it and how it was done, you always run the risk of it being done incorrectly which could cause major problems later. So, the risk is not in, "can an NA block be converted to a TT", it's did the the owner go about doing this conversion correctly, with quality parts and workmanship.

[vinnye191]

i was really just trying to see if anybody with actual first hand experience with converted na's could tell me how stable theres was/is? and i assume he just put na internals in but ill need to ask him if theyre upgraded or just stock na spec parts.

[rmlamp]

I can pretty much guarantee that the are not stock internals. The NA has high compression pistons and cannot handle boost. We can sit here and speculate all day what the guy did to the car but that's not going to help you. Talk to the guy and ask what the details are. If the car has been completely gone through and the internals have been replaced with lower compression pistons then it'll be fine. People convert NA's all day. If it has stock NA internals it's going to blow up. Figure out what the internals are and go from there.

[DCaff300ZX]

Along the lines of your worries about cheaping out on a Z32 and how finicky they can be, my own advise would be to pass on a "converted" NA and go for a true TT swap, or best of all if you want TT then get a TT.
Generally all Z32's need some maintenance and small upgrades to meet our standards, standards that may or may not be a big deal to the PO but should be your main concern if you want ANY Z32 to last long for you.
Any time you buy a specialty car for specialty purposes (fun and some performance) you are best off having a complete plan that includes finding a car that fits your available expenses for the foreseeable future, and allows you to keep it in good running form and not become a problem.
Too many risks from a PO's ill-advised work (in this case- boosting an NA is a bad idea IMO under any circumstances unless you REALLY KNOW what you are doing) or any known issues WILL make owning a Z32 a PITA, and reduce your fun time and bank account.
Good Luck!

[vinnye191]

thanks guys, im going to check it out today but he said the previous owner had all the work done and he doesnt know so i think im going to lean towards the nice original tt ive been watching at a dealer. the original tt is a red 94 with 91k but they want $15k for it! however i got them to agree on $13k and its loaded with well over $3k in Z1 and Specialty Z goodies that the dealer doesnt know about

[vinnye191]

i looked over the car today and it actually impressed me. i loved it even more than the red twin turbo i looked at a couple weeks ago and it rode wicked nice. now theres definitely that voice in the back of my head saying no but i could take it for half the price of the other one and i liked it a lot more than the original tt too.. i know i already have everybody here's opinion but i think im going to take it and pray for the best

[vinnye191]

unless somebody can give me a concrete reason to avoid it***

[nissanfreak12]

Other than "its someone else's project", I would say take a chance. Just have money in reserve just in case. Where did the engine come from? Was it a JDM, did he do all the necessary changes?

There are a lot of things that can go wrong, but even with a stock TT could have the same issues. I had a swapped TT, I did the work myself, but it was a very reliable car. I didn't beat on it though. Ultimately you are going to make the final decision and it is going to be your car. Even if we find every reason to say don't get it, more than likely you will get it.

Personally, I would listen to the voice in the back of your head. They are normally right.

[vinnye191]

yea im leaning towards the original tt now. a brand new engine that was built wrong is deffinitely a bigger problem than paying twice as much for one that came like that from the factory. the blue ones beautiful and half the price but the pretty/cheap ones usually cost the most in the long run

[Ikon_1911]

The dealer will take $11k ..! Show them a check or cash and say, "this is all I have and either your going to sell me your car or Not!" DON'T NEGOTIATE anymore..! Say thanks And walk out if not...

I guarantee you they'll call you back but don't budge unless they meet your price!

[vinnye191]

oh trust me buddy im brutal with negotiations, unless i want something more than someone else wants to get rid of it, theres typically no deal unless they're losing or barely breaking even. unfortunately my saab 9000(it was free and it was still a bad deal) got totalled a week ago which set me back enough to settle for an na.. for now;)