http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-300ZX-Nismo-twin-turbo-/311316889062?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item487beebde6

 

Hi Folks

 

The car I was after has popped up again and I'm wondering if I could ask you for some help and advice on it please.

The car looks great in the pictures but has come back on an HPI check as declared "Cat D Vehicle Damaged" in 1998.

It does shout off the page at me (mainly saying "buy me buy me")

I just wondered what the consensus of opinion is as to how much it is worth.

 

And also if anyone knows the car any further info would be great.

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated and exchanged for beers at a subsequent when I finally buy one.

 

Many Thanks in advance.

Any help will be greatly appreciated and exchanged for beers at a subsequent meets when I finally buy one.

 

Sausage fingers typing!

I don't believe there was ever an official Nismo version of the Z32, so that alone would worry me (as a potential buyer)!

 

I could be wrong, but I've never ever heard of one before...

It's got some ill-fitting seat covers (or just a poor retrim) and some really bizarre pipework under the bonnet too!

 

The seller makes a big deal of the 4 pot and 2 pot calipers, which are 100% standard across the Z32 range.

 

It might be worth closer investigation, but the advert suggests (to me, at least) that the person writing it doesn't know very much about the car....

There was no Nismo 300zx. Its a damaged Z that has been fixed with a body kit fitted so I would walk away mate.

Thanks for the quick reply guys.

it is like pulling teeth to get spec info from them. you are bang on the nose with them not really knowing what is going in with it.

The story is he is selling for his mates missus (he died in a bike crash) I did meet her briefly and to be fair I believe that happened.

From them over the course of several phone calls I got the following (their words not mine!)

 

block has been re sleeved has low compression pistons and replacement rings

performance cams

uprated turbos

heads skimmed

uprated gearbox

quick shifter

625 hp at the flywheel

 

I can see the obvious with wheels body kit exhaust etc.

 

I knew there was no Nismo 300zx (although some people pretty much make them themselves by throwing huge amounts of money at them)

 

I guess I am being a bit blinded by the massive horsepower on offer and ignoring the fact it might be a fiery ball of death.

 

:laugh:

Has the seller stated that there's a dyno printout of it making that power? Or are they just saying it was dyno'd once upon a time and that's what it made?

 

Josh Lake on here has just had his car dyno'd at 621bhp and there's A LOT of mods and work gone into his engine! There's no mention of bigger injectors on that car's list (unlike Josh's) and I think the stock ones are only really good below 500bhp.

 

625 on stock injectors... erm.....

 

Personally, I'd be wanting to see every scrap of paperwork. I'd also ask if they know about it's Cat D classification ;)

Apparently the £15 worth of receipts is for upgrades so it is possible I reckon, but you are right a massive pouring over of receipts is required.

Apparently the car made 550 at the rear wheels as it sits the guy I spoke to said he couldn't remember the flywheel figure but said it was either 625 or 675.

working the figures forward it has to be 625 or there is something properly amiss.

I'm with you there is no way that it would make that on stock injectors.

I believe the rule of thumb is 1whp per cc so standard would give it around 370 at the wheels just over 400 at the flywheel.

It has to have 555's as a minimum to get that.

The problem is as I said they really don't know enough about the car.

I spoke to a guy who has worked on it, but I don't think he's the one that did the engine mods.

Not sure if they knew about the Cat D but got an email where they told me Cat D was stolen recovered - well it can be! but it can also be a write off through damage.

 

ah well

 

if life was easy we'd all be doing it - oh hang on!

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

£15K worth of receipts must learn to type or proof read lol

This was the other one I liked the look of

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/nissan/%c2%a32950-ono-nissan-300zx-twin-turbo-targa-top-one-off-show-car-kit-car-56-000-miles-10-month-mot/1108795723

 

HPI clear and that would leave some in the pot for toys.

 

Difficult to tell if anything other than cosmetics have been done under the bonnet from the picture though.

 

I WILL OWN A ZED!! (one day soon)

Its hard to appraise them from pics you will have to drive them and a close inspection for damage and rust. Or throw caution to the wind and go for it but thats not the best option lol

I have a feeling the red one might involve a whitening of the knuckles!

 

I am leaning more towards grey but I clearly live at the wrong end of the country lol

 

What could possibly go wrong?

I wouldn't run a mile from them tbh. I think it's good advice to go and check them out properly, especially with the cat D situation... But to be honest, some insurers just can't be bothered to fix the smallest of damage so declare car beyond economical repair etc. So could have just needed a front wing and bumper or something.

 

As mondo said, the vac piping looks odd in the first one too, but I've seen a hell of a lot worse. Probably been a garage doing something and put them round the front rather than the back or the engine.

 

My real concern would be the low compression. Does it still have that issue? If so then I wouldn't bother with it personally

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Where is it you live?

Hi Bird

 

I'm in East Anglia near Bury St Edmunds.

They said it had a misfire that has now been sorted, but no mention of compression problems.

I guess as always the key is reading the receipts and driving it. I was hoping when it popped up that someone like Zedworld had been involved in it at some stage.

I have about £6k to spend and they have come down to that, but that seems to be top money for a 300zx with a clean history.

 

Just not sure which way to jump really, buy something that's been done but has a history or something clean and start with the spanners.

 

As you said it could have been Cat D'ed for very little.

It was in 98 so I guess as standard it would have been worth maybe 10 grand then. It doesn't take a lot to rack up a £4000 bill when you include labour so on that (back of a fag packet logic) it may not have had much wrong with it.

It was the last guy who had it who did all the mods.

 

Who knows I talk myself in and out of it on an hourly basis lol.

I've been having a bit more of a read on this. I sTill think it's possibly a good car, but I'm not sure I believe the dyno figures and stuff though. As has been pointed out, takes a decent amount of money to get good, safe power out of these. I'd be interested to see if it had bigger turbos, injectors, pipe work and so on. For the £7.5k it was up for though, you may be able to find a better gem. The good thing is that the add suggests the bodywork is good which is always a major plus but the rear sills on these seem to go quite easily so be sure to try and check that with it having skirts on.

Update on the turbo situation on the Red one.

It has Garrett T28 turbos

and I quote and air filter like a dustbin lid

Lol. Would take more than an air filter, turbos and an exhaust lol. Do they have evidence of the power levels?

The devil is in the detail!

Just because a NISMO decal is on the rear end, doesn't make it a NISMO Z32, which the other boy's are correct in saying, never existed.

Personally, I would steer clear of that car.

You have done the right thing asking about it here before parting with your cash.

If you are really keen on it, the next thing to do would be to see if you can get a forum member to inspect the car with you.

There is an inspection check sheet available that is invaluable when looking at used Z32's, make sure you print it out & take it with you.

If the engine is sound & producing the claimed horsepower, it will spin the wheels in all four gears, so once again, it would be beneficial to have someone with you that is familiar with these cars.

There are plenty of Z32's available, some have been very well looked after, some are pieces of crap.

Buyer Beware!

Many thanks to everyone who has posted.

Really helpful and decent comments.

If there is anybody near Leicester who fancies earning a pub lunch in exchange for helping me check it out please let me know.

Many thanks to everyone who has posted.

Really helpful and decent comments.

If there is anybody near Leicester who fancies earning a pub lunch in exchange for helping me check it out please let me know.

 

Bring it over to the dyno :)

I also have a very nice Zed for sale soon that can be specced to requirement, with a freshly-built engine by Jimmer/PowerZed (once he gets back from his hols) :cool3:

Well I've made an offer subject to it being what it seems!

So fingers crossed and thanks to everyone for their helpful comments.

Noz if I get it I will be calling you in the morning hoping for a coffee and a smile in the afternoon.

I mean what could possibly go wrong?

Apart from the expensive kick in the wallet or the travelling through the pearly gates backwards on fire at 200mph!

:thumbup:

Well I've made an offer subject to it being what it seems!

So fingers crossed and thanks to everyone for their helpful comments.

Noz if I get it I will be calling you in the morning hoping for a coffee and a smile in the afternoon.

I mean what could possibly go wrong?

Apart from the expensive kick in the wallet or the travelling through the pearly gates backwards on fire at 200mph!

:thumbup:

 

You pay champagne money for a glass of urine....

 

Seriously though, if you want it fully checking over prior to purchase, let me know. Full diagnostic including AFR. If he's agreeable to bring it over to Leicester prior to a sale, can give it a more thorough going over :)

Edited April 15, 201510 yr by Noz

Hi Mondo

if its good and if I get it I think I might requesting your services on that interior

:biggrin:

Thank you Noz I really appreciate it.

You are so close it makes me wonder if you have had any dealings with the car previously K112 UCU

 

I think my local pub might be selling urine at those prices!

Well I've made an offer subject to it being what it seems!

So fingers crossed and thanks to everyone for their helpful comments.

Noz if I get it I will be calling you in the morning hoping for a coffee and a smile in the afternoon.

I mean what could possibly go wrong?

Apart from the expensive kick in the wallet or the travelling through the pearly gates backwards on fire at 200mph!

:thumbup:

 

Good luck matey. :thumbup:

Just keep a level head, there are many dogs out there. I viewed a few all incorrectly described, wasted a lot of time and fuel!

Hopefully this one is as you want it.