New 95 J30 owner

[oasis]

Just bought a 95 J30, very clean , 83k miles for 6k. Seems like a very nice car, rides well and has good pickup from standstill, guess the 24 valves help there. I wanted a 98 GS400 but they are going for over 20k so this J30 seemed a good deal and more in my price range right now.

Anyway, getting to my point, where is the best place to buy goodies for her, you know , floor mats etc. Is this THE place to ask questions and learn more about this car? Anything I have to keep an eye on particularly with this car like timing belt etc?Are there any mods that can be done like installing a performance chip?

TIA

[BIONICQ45]

Congrats on your purchase Oasis!! You'd do better to post this in the Infiniti General section for more responces. There are several J30 owners here who will be a great resource to you.

Perhaps a mod will move this thread to Infiniti General for you.

[oasis]

ok mod, move me away

[Mayhem_J30]

moved

First off, welcome to the club! That 95 you got will easily get you to the 200K mark. It'll just need some TLC to 'guarantee' it'll get there.For the timing belt i'm not even going to start because there's SOO much info on timing belts here. Just do a search for 'j30 timing belt' and voila. Take the time to read all the threads you can as they will be both educational and sobering.

There is an ECU (chip) upgrade available and you just sneaked in with it with the 95. There weren't anymore after that year, at least from JWT. Jim Wolf Technology can remap your ECU for you for around $500. It's an honest gain and one of the better performance upgrades for the dollar. It's also safer and easier.

You can get your parts like floor mats from one of NICO's sponsors,,,Infiniti Parts. That would be the best and cheapest way to go. Promise.

[jEzTeR]

hello! glad you found us here at Nico.The j30 is an awesome car.I think you will be very happy with your new perchase.I dont know any of the answers to your questions,but if no one else answers them soon then try the search button at the top right of the screne.I do know that good mods ar muffler/air intake/wheels/suspension.Good luck!;)

[VimyJ]

And if you want some fun reading find the "Infiniti Speeding Stories" thread.

[VimyJ]

Priority One: Get a transmission service done ASAP. Pan drop, filter change to the improved design and synthetic ATF.

The transmission can be the weak link in these cars. Same transmission as the 300zx na but the J weighs 4-500 lbs more so there is more stress on it. It is a good unit but prevention is the key.

Timing belt on a 95 is good to 105K but when it's time is up there are other maintenance matters that should be performed while you're at it.

Great car and, if your experience is anything like mine, you'll appreciate it more and more the longer you own it.

[oasis]

Ok, I'm assuming I ask for the new and improved filter when I order one and infiniti parts will know what I'm talking about, guess it's worth it to buy their ATF fluid too? We have a dealer here in Jacksonville Fl too where I can get parts, it kills me walking into a dealer though.

One little thing I've noticed is when going over a bump the rear view mirror drops, I guess the spring/adjuster that holds it in place needs replacing.

Major question I forgot to ask is IF the timing belt fails does it bend valves like some VW's and the Porsche 944?

Infiniti parts, JWT here I come.

Thanks again, helpful, friendly bunch on here.

[jEzTeR]

Priority One: Get a transmission service done ASAP. Pan drop, filter change to the improved design and synthetic ATF.

The transmission can be the weak link in these cars. Same transmission as the 300zx na but the J weighs 4-500 lbs more so there is more stress on it. It is a good unit but prevention is the key.

I read an artical some time back about the Auto transmission in the 91-96 300zx.It stated that this was the best mady automatic transmission ever.I think it was printed in 1999?The added weight of the j30 seems like it would add lots of stress to the transmition.

[diamondj30]

you can also swap gears for higher ratio helps get around much easier and less shifting.hey q45 teck,can you maybe explain in your own special way if changing gears can some how help the transmission.maybe cooling i dont now,im asking,thanks.ecu and gears,done,and full maintanace.

[VimyJ]

Ok, I'm assuming I ask for the new and improved filter when I order one and infiniti parts will know what I'm talking about, guess it's worth it to buy their ATF fluid too? We have a dealer here in Jacksonville Fl too where I can get parts, it kills me walking into a dealer though.

OEM fluid is good but almost without exception all who have changed over to Mobile One Synthetic ATF are very pleased with the results. Also, very important, we have a great relationship with a couple of enlightened dealerships who give us great prices on parts. Only the improved filter is available now.

One little thing I've noticed is when going over a bump the rear view mirror drops, I guess the spring/adjuster that holds it in place needs replacing.

My mirror sometimes buzzes on certain road surfaces but it does stay put, fortunately.

Major question I forgot to ask is IF the timing belt fails does it bend valves like some VW's and the Porsche 944?

Infiniti parts, JWT here I come.

Thanks again, helpful, friendly bunch on here.

The VG30DE is an interference motor. Break the belt and the engine is toast. You still have over 20K miles to go before the OEM recommended change and I have heard of people going way over that. Do a search on timing belts and you will see the other things that need to be done at that time as well.

Struts are very expensive and a the mini service manual that came with your car is worth its weight in gold. If you don't have it you can find them on Ebay from time to time.

[Eswift]

The added weight of the j30 seems like it would add lots of stress to the transmition.

the transmissions are not identical between the 300zx and the J30. Overall stress in each application should be approximately the same.

[oasis]

Ok I spoke to a guy over the phone today at Infinitpartsusa.com in Arizona to purchase this upgraded transmission filter. He said there is no such thing, the original one is a metal mesh type of device, where all you can do is take it out, clean it and put it back in.

He recommended just having the system completely flushed and having new synthetic oil put in the system, a good flush and new oil should do the trick he says. Now I'm confused, what do I do?

After hearing the T-belt does bend valves when breaking I think I'll play it safe and change that out at 90k too, can't hurt right?

[maxnix]

Ok I spoke to a guy over the phone today at Infinitpartsusa.com in Arizona to purchase this upgraded transmission filter. He said there is no such thing, the original one is a metal mesh type of device, where all you can do is take it out, clean it and put it back in.

You most definitely replace the screen and never reuse it. Don't know if the screen specification ever changed or not.

I bet it wasn't Joe with whom you spoke.

[greg_atlanta]

After hearing the T-belt does bend valves when breaking I think I'll play it safe and change that out at 90k too, can't hurt right?

Not a bad idea. Good to change water pump at same time to avoid repeat labor when the water pump fails.

You'll find the car is very responsive to preventative maintenance... keeps getting better the more things you fix.

Be sure and change brake fluid, power steering fluid, and rear differential fluid too. Also might be a good idea to drain and refill the freon to filter out any dirt or moisture, helps the A/C system last longer (but there's always a chance there will be a slight leak that needs to be fix... if the tech is picky).

[VimyJ]

Ok I spoke to a guy over the phone today at Infinitpartsusa.com in Arizona to purchase this upgraded transmission filter. He said there is no such thing, the original one is a metal mesh type of device, where all you can do is take it out, clean it and put it back in.

He recommended just having the system completely flushed and having new synthetic oil put in the system, a good flush and new oil should do the trick he says. Now I'm confused, what do I do?

After hearing the T-belt does bend valves when breaking I think I'll play it safe and change that out at 90k too, can't hurt right?

There absolutely is a new improved design filter. I'm running it in my car presently. The new one has a greater filtering capacity and is now the only one available for the J. They wouldn't know old from new because they only stock the new one. Additionally, by pulling the pan you can see how much metal has gathered around the magnet and get a rough idea how your transmission is holding out. There are stories of them failing after 40K and lasting well over 150K and more.

You are plenty safe to wait until 105K for the timing belt. 95 (and perhaps 94) and later had the new kevlar belts. I had mine done at 93K because I had also developed a leak in the by-pass hose so while I was there... This will also allow you to get throughly familiar with the car by pouring over the archived posts. Water pump; cam seal; thermostat; upper, lower and by pass hoses; drive belts are all done at timing belt time.

I'm pretty sure the 300zx automatic and the J30 share the identical transmission. The engine is also the same. This is an advantage in that you can go to Nissan dealers for parts if you must but the best thing is that there are a lot of independent shops that know the VG30DE very well and don't charge dealer rates. The dealer wants to sell cars so they always make repairs very expensive. The independents want to keep the cars on the road so they are more reasonably priced. There was a thread that appeared here recently where one of our brothers was going to get rid of his J because of the horror story the dealer laid on him. The story has a very happy surprise ending to it. Anyone remember the title of that thread?

[madmax88]

hay dude . i just got mine 3 weeks ago 93 130000km black on black its in great shape so gona do some cool work to it hope i can get 300hp n/a then nos . have fun eh. oh nice car man!

[VimyJ]

hay dude . i just got mine 3 weeks ago 93 130000km black on black its in great shape so gona do some cool work to it hope i can get 300hp n/a then nos . have fun eh. oh nice car man!

Max, you have to go check out some 300zx sites to get an idea of what power you can or cannot get out of your J. The engine is already pretty well maxed out from the factory. Some of the guys here are trying some stuff and I can't wait to hear from them. This engine design is well over a decade old and still matches up exceedingly well to brand new cars with the same displacement engines. Furthermore, these engines don't fail and are bullet proof with routine quality maintenance. I love my J, too, eh? Fanfockingtastic car.

[Eswift]

so true. robust cast iron block, under-piston oil squirters, this engine is well over-engineered.

Without a forced induction or nitrous injection system though, 300hp is not possible. well, theoretically it is, if you changed most of the internals and put maybe 5k of work into it. that money would be much better spent on forced induction. you could always go the nitrous route, but nitrous implies you want to race someone or some thing. or your after a number. The J30 isnt designed to fit that criterion. truth be told, this engine can handle nitrous very well.

[Mayhem_J30]

so true. robust cast iron block, under-piston oil squirters, this engine is well over-engineered.

Without a forced induction or nitrous injection system though, 300hp is not possible. well, theoretically it is, if you changed most of the internals and put maybe 5k of work into it. that money would be much better spent on forced induction. you could always go the nitrous route, but nitrous implies you want to race someone or some thing. or your after a number. The J30 isnt designed to fit that criterion. truth be told, this engine can handle nitrous very well.

I think those oil squirters were only on the TT models.

[madmax88]

ok how about stoker and bore it out & SHAVE THE HEADS DUDES eh old time hp works here in the great white north !!

[Mayhem_J30]

there is a stoker kit from SGP Racing. I believe it has a 3.3 bore. Expect to spend a couple G's just for the parts. Labor would be VERY intensive and would be no means be a DIY job. Probably another 2K+ in labor.

[Eswift]

I think those oil squirters were only on the TT models.

i thought so too, but they both have em. the TT ones are aimed a bit different.

[madmax88]

how much hp will i get from a stoker kit from SGP Racing?

[madmax88]

is the vg30dett stoker kit for the J30?