New to me 1992 Z32 TT

[mikey1616]

Hello all. Been a Z32 fan since I was 15 and finally got my dream car a couple weeks ago. I'v been looking around this forum for awhile and wanted to share my new toy.
I'm the third owner. Last owner had it for 16 years. She has 180k kms but engine was replaced at 175k when PO froze a turbo. His Z tech recommend looking for JDM engine and doing the job cheaper. They found one that from all accounts that is pretty sound and most likely had the claimed <30k kms. I was cautious when I heard that. In the deal I also received the original motor on a stand. As time progresses this potentially be my project block. Overall she is clean and well maintained aside for some paint issues on the top half of the car, rims are marked some, leather and interior is good, some wear on the shifter and center console but all from regular use, not abused IMO. I got a pile of paperwork as this car was only touched by two Nissan dealerships and now myself and my mechanic. Long/short, felt between doing my homework and getting some history I did good.

Car is mostly stock aside from 17' OZ Racing Rims wrapped in Toyos, 245 in the front and 265 rear, Stillen short throw shifter. HMKS turbo timer, Exhaust has been redone, PO doesn't know what the first owner put on and I can't see any markings, so can't tell you what it is. I have the original cats. I also got the original Z rims in the deal.

I do have some plans but there a few years out given work and family commitments, I'm just happy I have a car I can enjoy right away and with the second engine can begin stripping it and playing at the same time.

-Mike

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Congrats, it looks very clean. Are those headlight washers on the front bumper or deer whistles?

[mikey1616]

Thanks. They're washers

[mikey1616]

What kind of man am I? Forgot to post pic of the engine....



Can't get over how wide these toyo proxes t1r's are in rear

[A Paratroopers 300zx]

Very clean car man! I noticed that you have a 90-91 non airbag steering wheel though... it's a 92? If so, that's kind of weird... that's the year they made the driver's side airbag mandatory.

[mikey1616]

^^ Thanks. I was sure it was a 92 lol....seriously though, all registration and docs say it's a 92, build date was 12/91, not that that matters. It has suede interior and the combined defrost switch. But you're right, I just found a couple pics of the other wheel, bulkier. Now the PO had no clue. Could the airbag have been removed? I suspect back in the early nineties there was still nay sayers about the actual safety of airbags.

Now what would I be looking for to tell it was removed? Not that I can check until I get it back from the shop (that's another story). Does anyone know if this was something that was being done to just have the cooler looking Z wheel?

[DCaff300ZX]

Very nice find, you did well with your research. I also would be a bit leery of the JDM swap as the issues there are oil starvation from a damaged oil pan/pickup from shipping, and whether or not the mechanic did 120K service and maybe a few other choice things like connector/sensor updates and replacements. Simply replacing the turbos in the car would not have been significantly more work than a complete swap out, although you did get less miles which is a good thing...plus having your original motor to rework is a coup, very nice!
As for the steering wheel, well, Nissan has been a bit sketchy with their updating with the car most notably with the injectors/connectors/fuel rails, and I'd suspect that the 12/91 build date is your clue to having the older style wheel. I really can't see a PO having had the sensors and such removed in order to go no-airbag, so I would guess it's just a thing to do with Nissan's actual updating of the TT where like the injectors they did the NA's first, then did the TT's...and yours just happened to be near the end of the line for the old style wheel change.