Stryker14

Ran across a Craigslist ad here in Houston for a '93 300zx Convertible (manual trans) that the po and a buddy had pulled the engine on to replace all the seals. The buddy deployed and the po moved to a new house and needed the garage space. He wanted 3k. I went to look at it hoping it was in good shape other than the engine being pulled.

The car was pretty rough. Engine completely in pieces. 180k miles. supposably everything on the car worked (we will see). Front bumper cracked and needs replacing, tons of paint chips, but no dents and no rust. Top is brand new, seats ok, but carpet needs replacing and interior is tired, exhaust shot, windshield needs replacing. Stock wheels in perfect condition, tires at half life. I obviously don't know the status of the engine or suspension.

I've always liked these cars and I have been looking for something sporty. I almost walked away but ended up getting the car for $1300. Well crap, did I really just buy a car that will need a ton of money to get in great shape? Yes I did. Now what?

I'm just going to use this car as a fun 3rd car for date night with the wife.
180k N/A engine. Do I just put seals/timing belt/vacuum hoses in and put the engine back together (assuming I can figure that out) and run it until it drops? I'd like to have something quicker than a 7s 0-60. (less than 6s is plenty for me) Can I get a N/A car to be fairly quick for reasonable money?

Hoping to gain some knowledge from this forum. Thanks!

Ted

Stryker14

Couple of questions:

Since the engine is out, what should I DEFINITELY do, the "while I'm there" stuff.


So far I've got:

1. Timing belt
2. every seal I can think of
3. Vacuum and water hoses
4. Clutch

Should I go ahead and bore the engine since it is out? I don't know compression numbers since the engine is in pieces.
New Bearings? Rings? Valves?
Any transmission stuff? Remember 180k on the car.

Thanks for any help!

Ted from Houston Texas

PredatorZ

I'm assuming the CHTS(cylinder head temp sensor/switch) is in a similar location under the cam covers (z31 VG30DE), easiest to get to when you have it taken apart. They can go bad and its a fairly inexpensive part. When you do a timing belt change, it is customary to also change out the tension-er and tension-er bolt, and water pump, and the seals behind the cam gears, and the cam gear plates, and sometimes new gears too. Not sure what you replaced, I know Courtesy Nissan has a few kits with most everything. There is a small water hose inside the timing belt cover, get that too.

PredatorZ

If you bore over you will need new pistons, no replacement for displacement, so they say. If you don't, then just hone it out, re-ring the pistons, new bearings, have the heads serviced, new valve job and seats and you will pretty much have a new motor, you could go new cams too, send yours in for cores and get some stage 2 or 3 cams, get headers, port and polish you intakes. Go megasquit, bigger injectors.

Stryker14

What about a tt swap. I've heard it is a bear to do, but once installed the car is awesome. If I spend a $1000 on a n/a rebuild, I'm probably a third of the way to a tt. Opinions are appreciated.

Thanks

Ted