Hi All,

 

Just trying to get some info on 300ZX Z 32. Currently own a Celica GT-Four, not planning to get rid, but merely add to the collection when I can muster up some spare cash.

 

I am mainly interested in the twin turbo with an auto box. I'm aiming to purchase a cheap one by the end of next year and restore it to a a serviceable condition, so it can survive a thrashing on a track and a spot of drifting. I already have a solid relationship with my local Jap specialist garage. All I really need are tips, pointers and maybe some up to date buyers guides.

 

My main questions:

 

• What are the major issues to look out for?
  
• How cheap can I go before I'll be buying a pup?
  
• Are there any specialist parts suppliers/breakers I should know about?
  
• Is the standard diff LSD?
  
• Is there an after-market "paddle shift" gear box available?
  
• Are they easy to daily?
  
• predictions on when they will start to appreciate?
  

 

 

Loads of questions, but I would be grateful if I get any of them answered.

 

Cheers BCR

Hi there and welcome. Il try to answer your questions as honestly as possible.

 

The biggest issue with them is age. At 25 years old in some cases tin worm has had its way, particularly the targa equipped ones(the vast majority) as the drain for this comes through the sill. The rear quarter is the most common site of rust. Lack of maintenance and bodging are an issue as well. Most mechanical issues are age/abuse related.

 

Prices have risen in recent years. Whilst there are bargains out there I'd aim to pay at least 3.5k for a half decent car and closer to five for a very well looked after clean model. What was available for 1k a few years back is now about 2k, be careful of cars in this price bracket. Unless you know why it's for sale so cheap then walk away. Repairs can be costly.

 

 

There are a few parts suppliers and breakers around, you will find those on eBay and through the club mainly. Google will reveal that the U.S. Is the majour supplier for parts. Traders can be found in the traders section of the forum including MJP for parts and Powerzed for service, mechanical etc. Both are extremely helpful and friendly.

 

The standard diff is indeed a viscous LSD, R230 in the twin turbo and the widely used R200 in the non turbo.

 

I have seen a sequential shifter mod for the autobox but I can't comment on its ability. My choice esp with your intentions would be a manual box. The autobox is a nice drive, with age not on its side and an earned reputation for not being as strong as the manual box, reliability under stress isn't as good as it could be. Also who wants to drift an auto?

 

Daily driving wise. Parts aren't common, it's an older and more complex vehicle so the stress of it must be fixed by money for work can get a little tiresome. Non turbo cars make a better daily imo due to there less stressed and simpler history. There are a few guys on here that use them daily but I wouldn't want to do it myself (again).

 

They are already appreciating, around 5% annually over the last few years I'd say. However I wouldn't buy one as an investment yet, prices are simply returning to what they should have been for a car of calibre pre financial crash.

 

If your serious about one and one to make a daily/drifter out of it there's plenty of homework to do. Is terms of drifting, the steering lock needs increasing. The four wheel steering known as hicas can make life annoying esp when worn. The VG engine suffers the same fate the RB does, oil starvation under extreme cornering, they don't however eat the oil pump slowly.

Definitely not the first person to "upgrade" from a Celica - there's a few on here, myself included, who've done so. :thumbup1:

Welcome BRC :thumbup:

Greetings! I used to live in Portsmouth, well Southsea just after I came out of Uni. Quite fond of it down there actually.

 

Good luck with the hunt! Can I ask why you're interested in an auto for drifting and track days? I could see the point in having one for 1/4 mile runs, but not really for track action. They're not the quickest shifting box in the world.

 

I believe HKS do or rather 'did' a paddle shift race box for the Z32, I can't remember much else, you might want to contact AndrewG, as he'd know. The cost was astronomical though.

I used to have a GT4, it was great fun, but nothing compared to a ZX.

 

I used a NA as my daily drive and have just bought a TT to do up and then have as a weekend car. As a daily car, its great fun and driving to and from work is no longer a chore. Mine drinks quite a bit of petrol, but I only do 12 miles per day. Looking after the cars is critical. You cant treat it like a Corsa and buy the cheapest serivce parts. Its worth spending the extra money (even the ultra special £1.34/litre go juice...) on parts. I keep both of mine in a garage to minimise contact with the wet and regular check for any issues. Treat a ZX like your grandmother, care for it, look after it and expect the unexpected...

I actually live in Southsea now, also ex student.

 

I used to have a GT4, it was great fun, but nothing compared to a ZX.

 

I used a NA as my daily drive and have just bought a TT to do up and then have as a weekend car. As a daily car, its great fun and driving to and from work is no longer a chore. Mine drinks quite a bit of petrol, but I only do 12 miles per day. Looking after the cars is critical. You cant treat it like a Corsa and buy the cheapest serivce parts. Its worth spending the extra money (even the ultra special £1.34/litre go juice...) on parts. I keep both of mine in a garage to minimise contact with the wet and regular check for any issues. Treat a ZX like your grandmother, care for it, look after it and expect the unexpected...

 

 

Oh dear well, the GT-four is a bit like that already, I was hoping Nissan had built less of a prima donna, than Toyota. I can see it being an equal money pit TBH. I had hoped they would be up for some more abuse than GT-Fours. Problem I have with the Four is I have spent loads of time and cash restoring it, and now I'm reluctant to thrash it or even mod it too much as it could affect it's value. I was planning to escape the OEM/value trap with a ZX and go to town on it.

 

As for the auto box, I figured it may reduce driver error as I learn to drift and potentially save me from lunching clutches on luanches. Also the challenge of designing and fabricating a paddle interface is just a little bit alluring. It's early day, but I narrowed down a massive list and have come to the conclusion I need one of these cars in my life.

The issue with the auto-box is, despite it's adequacies, they disengage on rundown (quite an old design). I just think for what you need the car for, the autobox is very limiting even if you do make up a paddle shift systems. A manual box is the way to go if you are drifting and tracking it. Get a good competition clutch (and to be honest, they're not too bad on cost) and you'll be fine. Stock clutches are fine until you start a abusing them, even on increased power.

 

In terms of values - general market has increased slowly - not so much in auto and/or NA models. Good quality TT manual examples are commanding a higher premium than they were. You'll invest far more in maintenance and parts than you ever will in the appreciation value though. They did reach the bottom of their depreciation curve some 5-7 years ago.

Edited October 15, 201510 yr by Funkysi

In answer to some of your other questions

 

• What are the major issues to look out for? Rust (wheel arches, floor pan, front suspension turrets, inner rear arches, front cross member, chassis rails and sills - main issue now) - smokey turbos, worn pistons and tired suspension, especially bushings and joints.

• How cheap can I go before I'll be buying a pup? - that really is a can o' worms. I've seen utter sheds advertised at crazy money, yet seen clean honest stock cars for what I'd consider as peanuts. That's a hard one to quantify. A very clean manual TT can be had between £4k-£6k.

• Are there any specialist parts suppliers/breakers I should know about? Not so much in the UK, generally most people go via Z1 Motorsports, Concept Z, Speciality Z all in the US. We have UK suppliers of OEM parts - MJP is a good one. There's also Driftworks if you're wanting to go minimalist and track orientated on the suspension arms etc. In terms of engine builds, servicing and all other engineering related work, PowerZed in Bristol are certainly top notch. Jim's been maintaining my car since I bought it over 10 years ago and he built the engine and is responsible for the vast majority of high HP builds in recent years.

• Is the standard diff LSD? Yes, but a Quaife differential is also available and makes a huge difference on higher HP cars. In the US earlier this year, I drove a 650whp Z without a Quaife and a 900whp 200mph Z32 with a Quaife (one after another) and the 900hp Z, despite the difference in power delivery could handle it so much better. I highly rate the Quaife differential on the Z32.

Edited October 15, 201510 yr by Funkysi

Thanks for all the feedback guys, really impressed and certainly gonna help with the search, might give my self a little longer, as it sounds like I'll need a good pot of cash to get one up and running for track use.

 

Will probably avoid an autobox now and go manual as obviously I overestimated how strong the standard box is. Quite happy with manual. A lot of solid advice already :-)

Will continue to do some research and look around the foums for builds and inspiration.

 

Thanks for the welcome, looking forward to having that first key turn moment in a Z one day!

Also, the manual trans is more rare so is more expensive, just something to bear in mind.

Definitely not the first person to "upgrade" from a Celica - there's a few on here, myself included, who've done so. :thumbup1:

 

Haha good to see you on here I follow your re-trimming exploits on FB. Always really impressed by your work, although I think you need one of those automated diamond stitching sowing machines as it seems like a lot of grief doing it just by manually operated machine. I was lucky enough to get a tour round Aston and couldn't get over how many automated sowing machines they had just turning out metres of diamond stitched leathers.

 

...But I digress.... I still love my GT- Four though, to use a dog metaphor, it's like a loyal little terrier, but I also want big ferocious rottweiler to add to the mix.

Hi and welcome BRC....:thumbup: