possible trade is iffy?

[z32loverboy]

Well, i saw this: http://clarksville.craigslist.org/cto/3355079287.html and thought I'd at least ask about it. It has a "Knock" on the top end only when he revs it, it's not present at idle. From what I can tell he's interested in a straight trade with is odd cause mines a n/a but he said he has three and is just downsizing. what do y'all think this "knock" could be? i figured lifter/valve or warn cam lobe, but I'm not a professional mechanic. Basically, would it be worth it? He said I'd have to trailer it home because it runs but he wouldn't want me driving it..

[nissanfreak12]

There was a guy on here not that long ago that ha an odd knock, he posted a vid and it definitely had lifter tick, but when he revved it up quick it had a completely different "knock". I believe he ended up finding out the tensioner for the timing belt had failed, causing the belt to slap the covers because it was so loose. It didn't jump that I know of, he was lucky.

Have you seen the car in person? Has it sat for a long period of time? Has it sat at all? If there is knock at the top end, it is not a rod knock. If the knock is fast, its not a rod knock. Rod knocks are half the speed of the valves if that means anything for you. If the knock is only present after about 2500 rpms, it probably the VTC or cam gears. That spring usually gets weak with age.

How is the shape compared to yours? Can you afford the insurance for being a convertable?

[nissanfreak12]

Looking at the ad, a few things jump out at me,

Salvage title-Why?
Megan manifolds-Tube manifolds tend to break/crack, personally I think cause our cars don't have a flex pipe, so all the strain go on the manifolds, weakest point.
JDM Engine-May be ok cause he said he has driven it for 30k+, but still something to look at.

[t.mcginley.jr]

Just for reference, this is rod knock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU1LIwwivQU

And this is slight lifter tick (it can get louder if its worse)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct5lxUzS1xo

[RubyRed300ZX]

Beware: It has a knock and the last "mod" he lists is a "New z1 oil pressure sensor."

[z32loverboy]

Nissanfreak: I haven't seen it in person yet, I was planning on it Sunday. He said it's sat for a few weeks because he was scared to drive it and he has other Z's to drive. From what he's saying its in the head. The insurance wouldn't be a problem. My z is in really good condition and from the pics he's sent me his is in basically the same. The interior is actually a little better.
The salvage title is because it was in a front end wreak before he swapped it to TT, he's supposedly fixed everything when he swapped it.
The knock does worry me, though cam stuff isn't very hard to deal with if that is the actual problem with it.. Though it is a Z and who knows what else is "wrong" with it..

t.mcginley: thanks for the links, I've been in a car when it's motor blew and got a rod knock and I've heard lifter ticks. Though it's been awhile. I'm pretty wary of this but I've always wanted a TT, but I'm not sure about inheriting someone else's problem.

Rubyred: what's wrong with the Z1 oil pressure sensor? Are you thinking it may have been oil starved at some point?

Thanks guys, this is good stuff. I'm just torn between what I could do with it and weather it's worth it to deal with this..

[t.mcginley.jr]

Rubyred: what's wrong with the Z1 oil pressure sensor? Are you thinking it may have been oil starved at some point?

No idea what he's getting at with that, the stock oil pressure sensor craps out over the years and gives weird readings at the gauge. I replaced mine while the engine was out with a Bosch one, no biggie.

If you could run some marvel mystery oil in it for a 100 miles or so and then drain/refill the oil, I would do that but its not your car. If that didn't take care of the lifter tick then I would so no way don't do it. With age the lifters just tick from oil buildup, not a huge problem. I would be more leary about the rest of the swap, like the condition of the turbos

[nissanfreak12]

If you could run some marvel mystery oil in it for a 100 miles or so and then drain/refill the oil, I would do that but its not your car. If that didn't take care of the lifter tick then I would so no way don't do it. With age the lifters just tick from oil buildup, not a huge problem. I would be more leary about the rest of the swap, like the condition of the turbos

Exactly what Mr McGinley said. I had horrible lifter tick when I swapped my engine. I used 1 quart of ATF in the oil, ran it for 10-15 min to warm up, revved it up and held at 3k for intervals of 15 seconds. Tick was gone and engine runs beautifully. Do not drive with the ATF if you decide to do this.

I tried Marvel in other engines with good results, but got the best results with ATF. My old rotary engine love MMO.

The rest of the swap, yes, I would be concerned. Go look at it, drive it, if he lets you. If he doesn't, walk away, if its a tick coming from the head, more than likely lifters. It will not hurt the engine to drive like that just don't red line it or honestly go above 4k. Take someone with you that knows their way around cars or even this car.

[z32loverboy]

yeah, thats what i figured. i'm taking a buddy who graduated from mechanics school with me to look at it. Supposedly there's someone coming saturday to look at it but idk if he's just trying to get me to get it for sure or not.

He replaced the turbos like 2k miles ago so he says and sent me pics of the turbos. he just said he'd be scared for me to drive it with only a lifter tick so it kinda makes me wonder what it actually is.. im 95% its a lifter tick from what he's telling me, which my z has a slight one.

[z32loverboy]

well dude bailed on meeting tonight after i had already drove halfway to meet him, which was like a hour. 100 mile round trip just to half way. A "church meal" somehow came up unannounced after a week of agreeing with the time/day. So, now I'm fairly sure it wasn't worth my time anyway. Who knows, my mind my change but for now I'm fairly sure i don't feel like dealing with this guy.

[RobbieDobbie29]

Man..........Honestly, It was probably for your own good bro. That car looks like it's gonna need some work and the salvage title bit makes me think WALK AWAY.

[Exia]

I am in agreement, in my opinion you know what you have, take it and make yours better. At least you know what you will have in yours and wont be guessing what is what..

Being a salvage title hurts a car no matter how rare or highly sought after it is, he is asking 4k for a car with possible catastrophic engine failure, to much in my book, especially when a friend of mine just bought a 92 TT with 120k for 5400..

[300ZXttZMAN]

well dude bailed on meeting tonight after i had already drove halfway to meet him, which was like a hour. 100 mile round trip just to half way. A "church meal" somehow came up unannounced after a week of agreeing with the time/day. So, now I'm fairly sure it wasn't worth my time anyway. Who knows, my mind my change but for now I'm fairly sure i don't feel like dealing with this guy.

Consider it a blessing.

[z32loverboy]

Yeah, that's what I'm counting it as. I'll probably see it in a few weeks with a blown engine. I think I'll just keep it in good condition till I get my truck done then sell it and get me a twin turbo.

[RobbieDobbie29]

Thats what you need to do. Atleast if it came with factory twin turbos......it was born to be bad......

[z32loverboy]

yeah, I just really don't want to deal with removing hicas and changing out the gears in the diff. along with whatever problems it already has. Thats why I'd want a swapped one, but their all jdm swaps and I also don't want a JDM engine. I'll get it eventually.