New Z Owner

[Riptide]

Hey everyone I just wanted to say hi after a few weeks of lurking around here and reading tons of the previous threads. I just bought a 91 300ZX TT mid last month. It's almost all stock with very few mods. The only mods are the intake, down and test pipes, upgraded brakes (drilled/slotted rotors and upgraded calipers), HIKAS delete (I need to get all the lines removed from the bay), and a very simple Ash Spec tune. This is now my DD and a toy since it gets far better gas mileage than my truck.

Reading through a ton of the awesome build threads out there definitely made me want to build my car up to the level of some of yours but when I decided to put my rational brain back in my head I realized that at this time if I tried to match the level of some of you my wife would murder me (then bring me back to life just to kill me again). I've decided that the goal I have for my car is shooting for 500 base hp but I would be perfectly happy with somewhere in the 400's for rwhp. The only future mod that I'm set on right now is to add the HKS Hi power exhaust.

the car currently has a couple of issues going on with it that I want to get taken care of sooner than later. Various vacuum leaks which I've been fixing, the rear main has a small leak, the valve cover on the driver side is leaking some too, there is a weird compression issue (i'll put the compression results below), when i had the smog test done my hydrocarbons were at 4862 (granted there are no catalytic converters on this but regardless that is still through the roof high), and when I upshift from 1->2 then 2->3 it feels like I have to push the gear slightly out of the way (it doesn't grind, just feels like I have to realign the gear a little to get it in. If I shift really slowly it usually goes in really smooth with no problem).

The compression results are:
Cylinder 1: 150
Cylinder 2: 95
Cylinder 3: 135
Cylinder 4: 150
Cylinder 5: 160
Cylinder 6: 152

Sorry for such a long post. I am completely open to any and all advice or input from you all. Thanks a ton in advance!

[ThisIsSparTTa]

Either that compression test is wrong or cylinder #2 isn't going to be working for long. It's odd that its so far out. Maybe try a leakdown test on the block?

Your HFCs would be expected to be through the roof since you're not filtering them at all. A lot of people at least put on high flow cats just because they don't like the exhaust smell without them.

For your shifting issue, it wouldn't hurt to change out the transmission fluid. You don't know how old it is. Redline MT-90 should treat you well.

[Riptide]

The compression test was only a dry test so I'm going to have another dry test, a wet test, and also a leak down test performed at another shop just to make sure that I didn't get a faulty reading and to have more info about what might be going on. The car idles a little rough and kinda sounds like a subaru. It usually searched between 700-1000 rpm. I got a box of extra parts when I got the car and I just found that there are a couple of AMS underdrive pullys but from what I've read about AMS I'm not sure that I want to use those. What are some other good quality pullys that I should look into? I'm also thinking about a short shifter once I get this transmission issue figured out, are there any kits that are preferred over others in general?

The high flow cats might not be a bad idea, the exhaust smell can get a little annoying at times. We'll see how I feel when I get ready to get the new exhaust.

Redline MT-90...sounds good to me. I think that I will put that as the next thing on my to do list, thank you. My mechanical knowledge is pretty limited so please forgive any of the stupid simple questions that I might ask. I'm usually a pretty quick learner so hopefully i'll be up to speed before to long

[ThisIsSparTTa]

I'd go with UR Pulleys. Not much love for AMS knockoffs

[Ziggy1621]

welcome to Nico... and yes, skip the AMS, I've heard of balancing issues. Nice ride!!!

[Riptide]

So now that I've had a chance to drive the Z more I've decided that I don't really want to go much further than some basic mods and that a HP goal isn't really what I'm shooting for, I'm betting that I'd be lucky to ever hit 400 rwhp. I'm actually very happy with the car and absolutely love how she drives with a few minor issues (oil leak and syncros mainly) and only want to do some pretty basic mods. This won't ever be a track/race/drift car, I just want a fun DD that is a blast to take out on road trips and touring type stuff. Probably early next year I'm going to pull the engine and do a rebuild just to make sure that everything I want done is 100% taken care. I have been looking for a new clutch/flywheel set and came across a couple that I wanted some input on please. I know that a lot of people recommend the SZ 5 puck and flywheel combo (rated up to 800 RWHP) but I'm wondering if that would be overkill for my application. I also came across the JWT Clutch / Flywheel Combo (rated at 570+HP) and am wondering if this is more in the neighborhood of what would work best for me. I have searched some of the past threads and posts but I didn't find any of them that really answered this question for me.

I am also looking for a complete engine gastket kit and came across this kit. Has anyone used these kits and how is the quality?
http://www.conceptzperformance.com/Cart ... 169.131.42

Thanks in advance everyone, I appreciate the help!

[Riptide]

Anyone have any feedback on the clutch/flywheel question? Experience with the Gasket kit maybe?
http://www.conceptzperformance.com/Cart ... 169.131.42

[ThisIsSparTTa]

I have a basic Exedy clutch, works fine for 360rwhp. I used that gasket kit last summer no problems. Only complaint is nothing comes labeled, so sometimes figuring out what is what can be a little tricky. I would definitely go with that over like an eBay kit.

[Riptide]

Thanks for the feedback ThisIsSparTTa! I can see how not having any of the gaskets labeled will be a nuisance but I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out eventually lol.

I looked at the Exedy clutches but didn't really think much about them at the time. I guess I'll give them another look.

[Riptide]

does anyone know of any reasons that I shouldn't pick up a Mishimoto radiator instead of a Koyo? I'm wondering if the Koya is really worth the extra $100 since this will be a DD?

I was also looking at picking up the Mishimoto 19-Row Universal Dual Pass Oil Cooler as well... again does anyone have a reason that I should bypass them for a different one?

[Riptide]

I wanted to put this out there for input on whether or not I seem to be heading the right direction. Here is a list of the mods that I have already and a list of what I still have yet to get. Please let me know if there is anything that I should change, add, or consider.

Already have:
JWT single pop charger
Down pipes (2.5")
Test pipes (2.5")
HICAS Eliminator
Drilled/Slotted rotors
Upgraded calipers & pads
Ash Spec basic street tune
350Z Fork upgrade
ZSpeed performance solid shifter mounting kit
Z1 Premium Short Throw Shifter

Still Need:
Radiator - Mishimoto probably
Oil cooler - Stillen or Z1
UR Pulley kit W/ Belts (UD Crank and OD Water Pump)
HKS Hi-Power Cat Back Exhaust (2.5")
JWT Performance clutch / flywheel combo
98' JDM 5-Speed Manual Transmission (eventually, it's not a necessity right now but my syncros are starting to go)

[stm37s]

good luck with your build Riptide and keep us posted man, btw welcome aboard