So, I've been on here since a long while, not really contributed very much short of the occasional sarcastic remark. I used to have a lovely Z32 TT manual - wasn't much to look at, but was very nippy and extremely clean (rust wise). Cost me the grand sum of £1500 plus a few hundred on mods, back when bargains were easy to come by. Pretty sure I sold it for just over £1k.

 

Now, a few months ago I came across this one, being sold by @Pete54 from the same location as my old one, AND in the same colour. I just had to go and see it. Admittedly it needs a little care (welding) underneath and on a few locations on the body, but it's the car I wanted and it's getting harder and harder to pick up a z32 TT man for less than 4k, so at 3500 I had to go for it.

 

It runs a little rough sometimes, the standard issues (int. speedo), noisy suspension etc. but those things can be rectified and changed over time. I have a VERY specific plan for this, and it's gunna get some of the rarest, nicest and most expensive items I can get my hands on. I plan on it being a very nice Z by the end of summer, and nothing extreme engine wise, it's already fast enough for my liking. I'm keeping my lips sealed about my plans but they're set in stone.

 

I’d stick with the SMIC, it’s one less job to do and more £’s in the bank to spend on other goodies!

What a wonderful day.. fitted my HKS SS BOV's for a bit of retro goodness and for the first time since I've been home got the car ready to drive, so I let it idle for 20 minutes or so, viscous fan working a treat.....

 

 

come back and see the temp gauge NOT far off the top. Not impressed.. so I turn it off, and there's steam coming out various points of the radiator (lower down I can't see), but because it's a thick aluminium one I cant touch the bloody thing for a while.. There's water dripping out the bottom front but it's clear and cold so I assume something to do with the air-con perhaps? Also it could be running from anywhere.

I want to see the mirrors :thumbup:

 

I have a good aluminium rad if you have got problems with yours

There's water dripping out the bottom front but it's clear and cold so I assume something to do with the air-con perhaps? Also it could be running from anywhere.

 

Aircon dumps condensate near the n/s of the gearbox, radiator expansion bottle dumps n/s front bumper/wing.

Aircon dumps condensate near the n/s of the gearbox, radiator expansion bottle dumps n/s front bumper/wing.

 

 

Hmmm it might be the rad expansion bottle then that would make sense. One thing that's got me since owning the car is it's impossible to fill the raditator up. It always goes down to just below the top radiator hose level, and once you run it it burps down to 2/3 full. I've sat burping it for over 2 hours before and it wouldn't go higher.. I know already this isn't normal but any idea what a likely suspect could be?

 

Also the coolant hoses situated around the bay were all scalding hot, but the bottom hose wasn't anywhere near as hot as the top hose - which makes me think thermostat not opening but would that cause her to overheat?

 

I don't know why im trying to kid myself I have a funny feeling ill be replacing headgaskets soon, I've had a few other tell-tale signs before too, strange idle, bubbling sounds through the matrix, heater sometimes blowing hot, sometimes blowing cold and taking a good 15 miles before up to warm, it cuts out when giving her welly around 6k, pleanty condensation out the exhaust constantly.

Also the coolant hoses situated around the bay were all scalding hot, but the bottom hose wasn't anywhere near as hot as the top hose - which makes me think thermostat not opening but would that cause her to overheat?.

 

If the thermosat not opening then yes it would cause overheating as would the water pump failing. If the

lower hose is cool(er) then that points to one or other but most likely the thermostat.

 

This is is FSM diagram for the cooling circuit:

 

Edited September 16, 20187 yr by AndrewG

Much appreciated mate I'll check again - it's hard to tell because you cant touch one without feeling the other on your hand. I'll take it apart and test it in some hot water see what happens.

 

Anyhow today wasn't a complete waste, I managed to trial fit up the bumper and it looks decent - it definitely needs the twinz lower lip to finish it off (the smooth v1 one, not the seat-leon style gapped one). Still can't decide on if a FMIC would look meaner stuffed in there lol.

@Pebkau you can see the ganador's fitted thanks so much they are perfect! :)

 

Edited September 15, 20187 yr by s13silvia

Looking good mate

Have you got another picture showing how the projection of Technospeed's look in relation to the wings?

I can, but probably be better once it's lowered and alignment sorted so you can get a true representation, im pretty sure they will sit just past the arch squinting at it. 18x10 et22 rear, 18x9 et13 front

So having a bad financial time at the moment and sorely tempted to break the 300 with the coup de grace being engine slightly overheating on idle... It could be something, it could be a thermostat but I just don't have the time at the moment to take it all apart to check.

 

Now obviously in fairy land I'd love to keep it because it's gorgeous, I've spent a fortune getting the rarest parts around for it -Border FMIC, ganadors, the stunning EC-1 rear veilside spoiler being the only one in the country and being seriously desirable world-over. But knowing how few 300 owners there are willing to spend a good wedge of cash I can see it ending up being a massive loss for me breaking it :-(

 

Im just not sure what to do... I picked up an '88 Nissan Laurel and its so much the better daily driver, it's comfier, gets more attention and still looks very cool. It's ridiculously slow but that's neither here nor there for me nowadays.

Oh dear sorry to hear another set of shattered dreams, here hows this for a sale title>>

 

"Unfinished project, thousands spent "

 

Seen this happen so many times over the years, car finish expectations and wallets tend to be polar opposites.

 

Jeff

As said you said in your first post it is hard to find a decent manual TT for under 4k these days.

 

If you do decide to sell it/break it, I am sure you will re-coup most if not all of your expenditure on the parts you have amassed, and that came with the car.

 

Hope you manage to keep your dream alive!

Haha well you never know.. if something turns up I might be able to salvage something; it just put a nail in the coffin when the old slammed laurel acctually drove SO much better than the z32. It's no quicker obviously, but its just a dream ride for such a low cruiser.

 

Not to mention insurance is 100 a year with all mods declared!

So the poor girls been neglected lately..

 

just fitting up some body upgrades now, still have a LOT of sealant removal to take care of on the boot before I can affix the spoiler.. Please excuse the absolute mountain of fibreglass dust!

 

Get the hose on it :ohmy:

It's got the makings of a nice car. The Blitz wheels look great.

haha thanks guys! :) yeah - weirdly i wasn't sold on the wheels AT ALL until I put the rear spoiler on, and suddenly they look right... strange thing car asthetics

It does. I remember when I took my brand new OEM spoiler out of the box and offered it up to the tailgate, it all seemed to slot into place with the wheels. :)

 

haha thanks guys! :) yeah - weirdly i wasn't sold on the wheels AT ALL until I put the rear spoiler on, and suddenly they look right... strange thing car asthetics

 

You lol be suprized give it a good clean and you’ll have a better idea of the look

You know you’re onto something when your car looks that good filthy! [emoji41]

Still trying to work away slowly at her.. got a rear brake light perspex strip, and even though i cut everything away around the centre it just refused to sit flush in the middle and ended up cracking when the inner clips went in.. still, i've managed to 'mend' it so it's invisible.. luckily still looks the part!

Got some super thin sealant I need to rub off with remover, but overall done an alright job of installing the spoiler myself, just needs the outer bits smoothed and painted. Get her lowered, sort out the travesty that is the sills, then she'll look pretty much exactly how I want her from the outside!