New Member Pensacola, FL

[rcrews]

Hello everyone, my name is Rick and I purchased a 1987 300zx NA. I found in an Arizona shed for $700 while on a backpacking trip. I ended up buying it from a relative of the since passed single owner of the vehicle. He had meticulous maintenance records kept for the car to include the timing/head-gasket being changed in the past 10000 miles. I found a folder in the trunk with nearly 30 years of receipts/records. I had the vehicle serviced and drove the car 2000 miles to my home in Pensacola, FL.... For the first 8 hours of the trip I pulled over regularly using a laser temp gauge to constantly check the temp(dont trust old gauges). I had ZERO issues with the car the whole trip back and I intend to make this my project. I would like any feed-back from those more experienced on what I should look at modding/upgrading. I plan on doing a V8 motor swap when/if this motor goes out but honestly not looking to do that until I finish grad school. I am mostly looking to upgrade the interior/suspension. The only thing I have done thus far is have the car completely stripped/sanded/painted. Here are the pics before and after:










Paint job was done by a family friend.
Look forward to getting to know this community, I have been overseas the past 3 years and really haven't had the chance to get a real project going and have always wanted a z31! Here goes....

[BadQ45t]

Nice paint job man!!! I have to say, don't do a V8 swap. I am like the guy who you got this from (but I am still alive), an original owner from 1984. I was a young guy and was heading to graduate school and wanted a very cool car. I paid $18k for this baby and determined that I would never part with it. Feb 2nd was my cars 33rd birthday...While the want for power is always there and over the years I was very temped to do a turbo swap, leaving the car basically stock has more cache. People don;t know how cool these cars were/are but there is more appreciation for them now. So here is what i have done to mine.

1. Upgraded suspension - KYB Shocks, Eibach lowering springs. They make Bilsteins now for the car, but the KYBs are pretty darn good. If i replace my KYBs it will be with Eibach's.
2. Strut brace - best suspension upgrade you can buy, Cusco makes one and the install was easy (my mechanic didn't even charge me). I only did the front
3. Updated radio - I did a major upgrade on this in 1997 with Kenwood speakers and a powerful Alpine AMP with a bazooka tube in the rear. I replaced the head unit again in 2008 with a Alpine head unit, need to replace that unit with streaming but will get to it. Spend the real money on the speakers and power booster.
4. Tires, wheels - I am cursed with the 4 lugs, you have way more chooses. Get some nice newer 17" wheels and some sticky tires.
5. Interior - mine is stock but in perfect shape
6. Cat Back Exhaust - Many different options out there, I have a Magnaflow and it sounds awesome
7. Cold Air Intack - do an insert or get the cone
8. Swap bars front and rear - thicker ones to reduce body roll
9. Urethane bushings - they can be squeeky but getting rid of your old rubber is a must.

I am happy that i still have the trusty VG 3.0 original engine. 168k and never been rebuilt. Get it running perfect and you know it is a vintage car. When my friends that have never seen my car ride in it for the first time with the T-Tops off they are taken back to another time!!

[evildky]

Paint looks great, Love the look of black but it's so hard to live with, constantly fighting off dust, and on a sunny day it'll give you a third degree burn if you touch it!