Hi the club,

I am 16 and i recently purchased a 300zx and it will be my restoration project for a couple of years.

The car is 1990 automatic Twin Turbo targa top.

 

Good things:

- It only has 46,000 miles on the clock (74,000 km)

- I think it has barely 1000 miles on the automatic gearbox only recently replaced.

- It has MOT and drives well, gear changes are really smooth.

- coilovers with lowered suspension and a kakimoto titanium exhaust

- (apparently) really rare JDM from and back bumpers but missing the side skirts in the set (if someone could identify the bumpers that would be great so i could find the skirts for it

- aftermarket ECU (not sure what make)

- It has an aftermarket air filter

 

Bad points:

- When driving you can hear an air leak and the car will not boost properly. (the previous owner said that the oil pressure and boost gauge work when they wont to but i have never seen the dial move, boost pressure stays at just over 0 psi and wont move. he said that it has a defi gauge controller but has no gauges connected so i am guessing that the oil pressure and boost gauges have been cut and re-routed to the defi). There is a possibility that it will still boost but it is not noticeable enough as the acceleration is very linear.

 

Questions:

1. Does any one know of any good z specialist in/around London. I heard Z centre in Bristol is the place to go to, but its not really worth the trip at this stage.

2. Does anyone have an electronic boost controller they could sell which might fix the cars boosting problem. i have a blitz sequential boost controller but i am missing the solenoid and i have no idea if it works or not.

3. It has been recommended I replace the cam belt as I don't know if it has ever been replaced. Is there anything additional i should be thinking of replacing at the same time and where i should go. (I will get the boost looked at if I do not fix it)

4. Are all z32 turbos really quiet? i plan on upgrading to bailey dual dump valves which will help performance but also give the iconic turbo pressure release sound. should i hear the turbos spinning at high rpms or at lease a whu-tu-tu-tu when slamming the throttle shut or do i have to upgrade to really expensive turbos for that to work?

 

Now for the parts:

I heard somebody on the forum had a pair of rear speaker grills, could i get in contact with someone that does, Thanks.

Also if anybody is breaking a car does anyone have an engine cover as i do not have one. (the 'Nissan v6 3000' metal plate thing)

Finally does someone have a drivers side targa wind deflector, a little plastic bar that rises when you take the targas on it. my brother snapped it off (don't worry, i dealt with him).

 

Thanks and hi everyone, I'm Ali

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Oh, and the video of the bumpers and tour is:

for some reason it put it as an image

Welcome mate.

Welcome to the club Ali. It's worth getting a boost leak checker which you pump up with a compressor and listen for leaks. You've probably got several which can really affect things. Turbos on standard Zeds are almost silent, one thing I love about my modified one is the noisy spools :) haha

And I can help you with the speaker covers, throttle cover and wind deflector.

Thanks mate

Oh and also just for the reference the car was sold by Pekabu on the forum.

FunkySi's gonna burst a blood vessel when he reads the bit saying "i plan on upgrading to bailey dual dump valves which will help performance"

 

5... 4... 3... :lol:

 

Welcome aboard!

:D i saw them on someone elses z and i heard they help with not releasing too much pressure when the throttle is shut so the boost stays on.

Dump valves are a complete and utter waste of money. They add zero and are actually detrimental to the car's natural fueling cycle. I'd rather remove my turbos than fit dump valves.....which make your car sound like it has air brakes from an articulated lorry.

 

Not one single car manufacturer the world over fits atmospheric dump valves to their cars, they're just a waste of time and a bit of a joke, even more so on an automatic!! :lol:

 

Personally I absolutely detest the things.

 

Welcome to the forum and good luck with the project!! :)

Dump valves are a complete and utter waste of money. They add zero and are actually detrimental to the car's natural fueling cycle. I'd rather remove my turbos than fit dump valves.....which make your car sound like it has air brakes from an articulated lorry.

 

Not one single car manufacturer the world over fits atmospheric dump valves to their cars, they're just a waste of time and a bit of a joke, even more so on an automatic!! :lol:

 

Personally I absolutely detest the things.

 

Welcome to the forum and good luck with the project!! :)

 

Right. On. Cue! :thumbup:

 

:lol:

Welcome, your gonna have plenty of time to work on that before your allowed to drive it! Have you looked at insurance, I'd be surprised if they don't just laugh. Sorry if that sounds like I'm being a dick but seriously a 1 litre fiesta is gonna cost you 2-2.5k to insure in your first year. The insurance will be daylight robbery till your 21. What are your plans restoration wise?

 

The kit is an impul kit and yes it's pretty rare. There are similar skirts that are easier to find that you could use to complete the kit. What's going on with the interior of the passenger door, it's red. Has the door been switched at some point?

 

That gurgling noise you can hear is your AIV most likely full of water. Get those deleted. Your oil pressure does appear to work for a few seconds then dies. Probably requires a new sender, nice easy job.

 

Please don't free rev your car like that esp on a cold engine, it won't thank you for it.

Hi Stephan, yeah insurance for a 1 litre golf is about 5k for the first year and about 2.5 so ill probably be an additional driver on the beaut panda sitting there :P. When I'm about 20 is when I will drive it properly, might go to a few meets before then like my dad might take me to japfest 2016 if the car is up to it. Regarding the red door, the owner before the previous owner had it smashed into and the ignition ripped out. Pekabu who I bought it from replaced the door and spray canned the outside black to make it fit in, and replaced the ignition and locks with titanium key ones. The project is for the first year going to be mainly repairs and getting the car mint, after that all the mods will come in. Is anyone against me painting the car white and getting jdm spec clear tail lights?

Dump valves are a complete and utter waste of money. They add zero and are actually detrimental to the car's natural fueling cycle. I'd rather remove my turbos than fit dump valves.....which make your car sound like it has air brakes from an articulated lorry.

 

Not one single car manufacturer the world over fits atmospheric dump valves to their cars, they're just a waste of time and a bit of a joke, even more so on an automatic!! :lol:

 

He's right you know on that one!

 

 

Oh, and welcome to the Club and good luck with your project Ali.

Thanks Andy.

 

Does anyone know of a reliable garage in/around london to get work done to it such as cambelt change etc.

 

Also can someone direct me to some south east meets?

Welcome to the club Alistair :thumbup1:

Damn I miss this car and the exhaust note already

Really nice guy and he will make this car one of the best I'm sure

Please help where you can guys enormous respect to a 16 year old who saved up for a Zed

Hey! Awesome car, I wanted to buy this, really had a soft spot for it! Martin told me about you earlier, big respect for saving up!

 

the body kit is extremely rare and valuable, I suggest you not sell those! they are Impul, old school nismo tuners back in the day.

 

I'd check the car over for codes, easiest way is to do this - bear in mind it is on the driver side, this video shows a left hand drive car, so it will be on the right hand side just under the steering wheel and near the pedals

 

 

 

My old man recently got a 300zx, which is now a joint project because I was in the position to buy one (martins) until the BMW gave me some financial setbacks, so he turned up with a zed to my apartment, totally shocked to see it.

 

 

You can buy cheapo gauges on ebay, some called dragon gauges for just over a tenner to check your boost and pressure levels, I went ahead and bought some prosport gauges to check my boost, surprisingly it was quite healthy after a few amendments. Mine was also very linear as you described when we test it against my bmw (and was miserable, couldn't keep up whatsoever) however Prior to receiving the Zed I was already collecting bits for the car, I've done extensive research and over the last few days we did the following with the parts I collected:

 

engine oil change

transmission oil change

a lot of vacuum hoses changed to silicon parts (a few of them were cracked)

some fuel hoses changed (stunk of fuel in the engine)

fuel filter changed

oil filter changed

spark plugs changed

coolant drained and replaced (I advise water wetter for coolant)

series 2 PTU and harness (thank you Ian for the harness saved me splicing everything)

throttle position sensor changed

2 temperature sensors changed

installed the boost gauge, just running around 10psi, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe stock are around 9psi? Initially I upped it to 1 bar (14psi) but it was way too aggressive without the necessary mods i.e ECU, bigger injectors and electronic boost controller.

I also have a manual boost controller to see if the turbos were actually working, because how linear it felt after changing the plugs to some NGK ones and solved most of the misfiring issues, the controller is now set to the lowest setting.

 

Now shes running really well, doesnt smell rich anymore and much much faster than my BMW now!

 

As for sound mine isnt quite I dont think, I can hear slight woosh over the exhaust when it's boosting and letting off the throttle

 

The car feels like a different machine now, so much that it's pretty much wrecked my clutch..

 

Typical advisories and priority are to get the timing belt, pulleys, tensioner and water pump replaced, which is the next big job for me to do on our car.

 

Reputable near london I would suggest powerzed at bristol, the guy is known as jimmer.

Welcome to the club, there's plenty of advice on here to help you get your car where you want it.

Remember though its YOUR CAR if you want dump valves on it then fit them, there's plenty of members on here that have them fitted, maybe they aren't everyone's cup of tea but If everyone's car was the same life and car shows would be very boring.

I personally have Baileys fitted to one of my cars, they don't go off every time I press the loud pedal so don't sound too chavy they only go off when I give it some beans.

I agree they have zero performance benefit from my experience but they do make you smile when they go off.

So good luck with your car and put your own mark on it whatever that is.

Welcome to the club, there's plenty of advice on here to help you get your car where you want it.

Remember though its YOUR CAR if you want dump valves on it then fit them, there's plenty of members on here that have them fitted, maybe they aren't everyone's cup of tea but If everyone's car was the same life and car shows would be very boring.

I personally have Baileys fitted to one of my cars, they don't go off every time I press the loud pedal so don't sound too chavy they only go off when I give it some beans.

I agree they have zero performance benefit from my experience but they do make you smile when they go off.

So good luck with your car and put your own mark on it whatever that is.

 

 

 

Dude, he has an auto. Putting dump valves on an auto is like trying to have sex with a football, they just won't do anything. :lol:

Dude, he has an auto. Putting dump valves on an auto is like trying to have sex with a football, they just won't do anything. :lol:

 

There speaks the voice of experience...? :blink:

Dude, he has an auto. Putting dump valves on an auto is like trying to have sex with a football, they just won't do anything. :lol:

 

I have dump valves on mine and mines an auto....... Personally, I like them. They don't go off all the time when driving steady but do put a smile on my face when I'm giving it some beans as Ian said.

 

Whether I'd have fitted them if the car didn't come with them.... probably not, but I won't be taking them off in the near future:)

GRUMPYSI more like :wheelchair: I know where you are coming from Si but hey ho each to there own

[ATTACH=CONFIG]91273[/ATTACH]

 

There is a picture similar to this I want to post but it is not suitable for these forums.

Mine came with AbFlug dumpvalves and it cut out at every other roundabout/set of lights/give way. I have seen cars run alright with them, but they can be damaging due to the way the AFM system works.

 

Mine has stock auto turbos, BDE "Goose honk killer" refurbed stock recircs.

 

It sounds like a group B rally car...

 

Exageration, but it sounds ace.

 

Oh and welcome to the club mate :thumbup1:

Mine came with AbFlug dumpvalves and it cut out at every other roundabout/set of lights/give way. I have seen cars run alright with them, but they can be damaging due to the way the AFM system works.

 

Mine has stock auto turbos, BDE "Goose honk killer" refurbed stock recircs.

 

It sounds like a group B rally car...

 

Exageration, but it sounds ace.

 

Oh and welcome to the club mate :thumbup1:

 

:bow:

Dude, he has an auto. Putting dump valves on an auto is like trying to have sex with a football, they just won't do anything. [emoji38]

Pretty sure you can still back off the throttle in an auto, just saying. ;)

 

I quite like the sound of them, but on AFM equipped cars they do normally cause problems, so I wouldn't. My car came with some fitted, they're coming off.