Please help, anything will be great

[Kinderstood]

Before you read any further I'm really sorry if this is the thousandth time this kind of post was put up but I'm just really worried about my car and need to know what's wrong. I purchased a 1990 300zx and about 5 miles down the road it started to not get power to the wheels, while the engine was running, it has 137k miles and I was told the timing belt had 5000 miles left on it, it had a new fuel sensor, it is also a 5 speed manual. I'm just at a loss with what could be wrong with it, the car is currently 150 miles away from me right now but I just need some ideas of what to look for or what it could be. On a side note, it was almost like fuel starvation, or no fuel in the tank. Thank you so much for your time.

[ArmedAviator]

Well, start with the basics that even you touched on.

Is there gas in the tank? Don't assume the fuel gauge is correct.

Is the fuel pressure within spec? Maybe the fuel filter is clogged or the fuel pump is dying.

Does it give power to the wheels in any gears?

Bad clutch?

[Kinderstood]

The person I got it from said the fuel gauge was correct, i had it in a parking lot and was slowly bringing the rpm's up and it suddenly died around 3000 started back up and then died on the road. I didn't have time to check everything I had to go back home for other events, I was concerned with how smoothly it went into gear, with a sort of clink sound as well. It would give good power, well at relatively low speed... Up until around 45-50 then it just seemed to not have any power to the engine not even rev with my foot to the floor

[KeedyT]

Hate to state the obvious (and everyone's made sour deals) but maybe you should go 5 miles back UP the road and say WTH is wrong w/ this thing you sold me? How the heck can they quantify that it had "5k miles left on the timing belt"? Did it run properly before you drove away?

Barring that I believe you are going to have to get your hands back on the car and start gathering data on what it's really doing and see if someone can help you pin it down better.

[rgregoryb]

Keedyt speaks words of wisdom! Go back to the seller you have been taken.

[Kinderstood]

Well unfortunately it was a Craigslist buy and I was sold with the story of everything works perfectly but will need to be fixed in time which I was fine with I have the money to fix one thing at a time when needed. Was sold as is so I was not sure if legal action was an option. But yes I was lied to about the vehicle. Seemed he prepped it to be sold and that's all

[KeedyT]

Don't feel too bad, like I said everyone's made a bad call here and there. Get your hands back on it and systematically start going through the obvious, make sure it's got gas in the tank. Make sure this isn't a dying/dead clutch (your first post sounded like it but the 2nd didn't so?) Then go to the top sticky and begin running down that list (check the ECU, plugs, fuel pressure, timing, etc...) With a little luck you can get it at least driving then start to check off what it needs. Timing belt service probably being at the top of that list.... (FWIW that being at least a bit hypocritical as I've had the parts to do mine for several weeks and keep procrastinating.... although it's only been driven several days in those few weeks).

Cars (in general) are at the same time infuriating and intoxicating, I (many?) use [the toy ones] as therapy when I want to escape into something in this ole' world I can actually fix once in a while, just have to start somewhere and begin to check off boxes to get those all important spark/fuel/air parts talking to each other right :-)

[DCaff300ZX]

Don't feel too bad, like I said everyone's made a bad call here and there. Get your hands back on it and systematically start going through the obvious, make sure it's got gas in the tank. Make sure this isn't a dying/dead clutch (your first post sounded like it but the 2nd didn't so?) Then go to the top sticky and begin running down that list (check the ECU, plugs, fuel pressure, timing, etc...) With a little luck you can get it at least driving then start to check off what it needs. Timing belt service probably being at the top of that list.... (FWIW that being at least a bit hypocritical as I've had the parts to do mine for several weeks and keep procrastinating.... although it's only been driven several days in those few weeks).

Cars (in general) are at the same time infuriating and intoxicating, I (many?) use [the toy ones] as therapy when I want to escape into something in this ole' world I can actually fix once in a while, just have to start somewhere and begin to check off boxes to get those all important spark/fuel/air parts talking to each other right :-)

GREAT response, can't agree more.
I would say off the top that you may be looking at an issue with engine controls and possibly/probably along the normal lines: corrosion issues with crappy OEM connectors (the "green crud") to sensors that are required for complete engine operation, and failure of these slowly deteriorates the engine operation until function finally ceases.
You will need to check ECU codes first and foremost and fix any and all, then look at the fuel pressure (HAS to be at the correct level), fuel sensors and components (our injectors fail often and connectors are crappy), and intake tract (vacuum issues, as well as integrity of hoses, sensors, and hardpipes). Testing those parts and sensors should let you know what is good, bad, or marginal and give you better questions to ask as well as directions to look in the fsm and our stickies.
Good luck, and ask away with any coming questions!