I was searching for about 6 months before I found this Z32 for sale. Doesn’t have any written history with it but it was imported around 2004 as shown registered in January 2005. It’s only had 3 previous keepers.

It’s LWB, Twin Turbo, manual targa too currently showing 93,000 miles roughly but apparently the first 70k is actually KM and the last 20k in miles so approximately 63k miles although I can’t verify this.

The previous owner to me had the car about 3 years and had the sills and arches replaced due to rust and then had it resprayed in a Mercedes Black. It was originally black anyway. The car has some Brembo brakes off an Evo 8 on the front and a large wing on the back.

Interior is standard grey velour and is in really good condition, has a few interior pieces that have cracked but everything works! Has a double din radio installed with car play which is cool but the fascia is a single din that’s been ‘modified’ for it to fit. I’ll need to get a proper double din one at some point.

Engine is stock, although it has a Mishimoto radiator and an open cam cover so has obviously had some work done at some point. Also has some aftermarket HID’s I believe.

The wheels are Axe, I don’t know the model, but are 18” and 8.5j all round.

It has a very light oil leak but runs and drives really nicely, no crunching in the gearbox and pulls nicely.

Initial Plans

As I don’t have any history with it, it’s going to Jimmer for a full service, new belts, new gearbox oil, diff oil, filters, the works. If anything else needs doing then I’ll loook at that. Probably a rear main seal too but I’ll wait and see what Jimmer says. That’s happening at the beginning of May.

I’m having the brakes changed to R33 Skyline callipers as the current setup means it’s hard to find new wheels to fit.

On to wheels, I’m choosing a new set soon to replace the current ones as they are in poor condition!

Im planning on ordering a new wing and some other bits from Z1 and will get them fitted by a bodyshop.

I’ve got a set of 99 rear lights and centre panel read to be installed, bought from Z Centre, which will look great. Just need to get round to fitting them.

Depending on how much money I’ve got left I’m planning on taking it to get the underside stripped back, rust treated and under sealed to give it some protection.

 

 

The long term plans for the car are about keeping it relatively stock with a few nice upgrades, OEM+ If you like. I’d like to redo the interior with Alcantara.

I might look at upping the power in the future as well but probably no more than 400bhp as I want to keep this as a nice cruiser for weekends and to take to some shows.

It’ll live in my garage and probably be mainly a summer car!

You are going the right way with it for sure and when done you will have a great Z. 

Depending on the way those brakes are put together you may find the R33 create very little extra clearance. Quite a few are based around using the 350z disc which is essentially the same set up as the R33 just with a larger mounting bolt and iirc about 10mm of offset. 

Ok so first major change done, new wheels!

Work Emotion GT5 in Titan Ash Bronze. 18x9 all round, ET38. 

Fitted the new Michelin Pilot Sport 5’s. 245/40/18’s, they only just fit, very close to the upper suspension arm at the front but not running so I’m happy! 

I’m considering some 10mm (or such) spacers just to try and fill the arches out but think I’m risking some fitment issues with that so may just leave well alone!

Also bought some nice Matt black centre caps and I have some black lugs to go on too just to finish it off.

Looks so much better! Did you stick with the Evo brembos in the end then?

Yes mate. I had it planned to change them but the wheels clear the callipers nicely so think I’ll keep them. Will need to be repainted over winter though

Do you have the missing front mud flaps?

No I don’t, only the rears. Are this flaps aftermarket or stock?

The rears are oem factory mate you just need the fronts now.

Thanks mate I’ll look in to those!

The Zed is currently with Jimmer having a belt service and new gearbox oil and diff oil too. There are a couple of little bits I’ve asked him to look to do with the idle, and I think it’s having a new main rear seal too. It currently has an open cam cover which I’m replacing with the standard one to give it more protection from stones and stuff!

I can’t wait to get it back and drive it again! Getting properly addicted to this car.

Next on the to do list when it’s back will be the new rear lights and centre piece and a few bits of interior trim I’ve got lined up.

She’s back! And safely tucked away in the garage for a few days.

Thanks to Jimmer, did a 60k service for me, plus new rear main seal, sump seal and some other bits and pieces.

The new belt cover went on and the undertray was replaced and so some nice protection back on to cover the exposed belts. Think it looks a whole lot better now but definitely needs detailing.

The good news is the engine is healthy and tight, very little in the way of leakage and feels smooth as you like!

More good news in that the clutch is nearly new and someone has recently skimmed the flywheel too, happy days there!

He also said that although the underside has been let down in the last few years by being sat outside, there are signs still there that has been a very well looked after car in the past. She needs some TLC in rust prevention which I will look at doing when funds allow.

Sadly I picked the one day of torrential rain to pick it up and drive 2 hours back home. Had to take it easy sadly but I’m happy it’s all healthy for some summer drive outs and car shows.

Taking it down to Goodwood Festival of Speed for the weekend which will be nice to do, here’s to some good weather!

Edited May 22, 20222 yr by Howl

Today I was able to replace the light switch pod mount as it was broken and the pod itself was loose and flapping around. No it’s nice and solid for turning on the lights

I was also able to fit the 99 rear lights and centre panel I bought from Z Centre.

Really easy job, 14 nuts to undo, cleaned all the manky old mastic off with some white spirit (looks like some old gasket was still on there and it had been mastic’d around! Bit of a bodge) but that’s all gone and the kit even comes with a roll of mastic ready to simply unroll on to the back of the lens and then 14 more nuts to do up. It’s very much plug and play.

I took care not to do them up too tight as don’t want them to crack but they fit flush and take years off the car.

On 28/05/2022 at 16:46, Howl said:

Today I was able to replace the light switch pod mount as it was broken and the pod itself was loose and flapping around. No it’s nice and solid for turning on the lights

I was also able to fit the 99 rear lights and centre panel I bought from Z Centre.

Really easy job, 14 nuts to undo, cleaned all the manky old mastic off with some white spirit (looks like some old gasket was still on there and it had been mastic’d around! Bit of a bodge) but that’s all gone and the kit even comes with a roll of mastic ready to simply unroll on to the back of the lens and then 14 more nuts to do up. It’s very much plug and play.

I took care not to do them up too tight as don’t want them to crack but they fit flush and take years off the car.

Wow buddy huge difference on the lights mine came with them on so never got to appreciate before and after but yeah great improvement and with the wheels ? keep it up ?

Thanks mate! I think it changes the look so much, and it’s so easy to do as well.

Got rid of the flakey metal gearknob (never fun on a hot sunny day!) and replaced it with a ‘Nismo’ gear knob.

New spoiler arrived, getting some quotes together to get it fitted. Will suit the car better than the big wing I think.

The lines on the car really suit a low key spoiler I think.

That knob makes a huge improvement. It's not a Nismo knob though. It's a 99 spec one. Was standard on the late cars. Nismo ones are metal. 

You'll be able to flog that wing quite easily. There was someone on one of the FaceAche groups last week looking for a high wing. 

1 hour ago, Lexx said:

There was someone on one of the FaceAche groups last week looking for a high wing. 

?.

Knob is fifty trillion times better.

On 03/06/2022 at 09:49, Lexx said:

That knob makes a huge improvement. It's not a Nismo knob though. It's a 99 spec one. Was standard on the late cars. Nismo ones are metal. 

You'll be able to flog that wing quite easily. There was someone on one of the FaceAche groups last week looking for a high wing. 

Yeah I put Nismo in brackets, that’s what Z1 sell it as though.

Yeah I’ve already spoken to that bloke and will offer it to him when it’s off the car

On 03/06/2022 at 09:49, Lexx said:

That knob makes a huge improvement. It's not a Nismo knob though. It's a 99 spec one. Was standard on the late cars. Nismo ones are metal. 

You'll be able to flog that wing quite easily. There was someone on one of the FaceAche groups last week looking for a high wing. 

Yeah I put Nismo in brackets, that’s what Z1 sell it as though.

Yeah I’ve already spoken to that bloke and will offer it to him when it’s off the car

Got her back from the bodyshop today. I had the old Bomex rear wing removed, some welding done on the boot lid (rear wiper hole closed up) and had a new Twinz Design Wing 3 installed.

The wing I took off was not really my style, also blocked the view out the back pretty comprehensively, and I believe the new one compliments the lines of the Zed much more.

Turns out the boot had 9 layers of paint on it!!

I used TP Smart Repairs in Aylesbury as they have a good reputation and Tommy did a fantastic job. It looks excellent, is like an OEM+ look and will be much easier to clean

Much better! Looking forward to seeing the car in the metal.

Nice clean lines ?

That looks tonnes better!

Do like those wheels too, look great with the shiny black paintwork

Very nice, just need some front spats now ?.

Looks great ? 

It’s been a while since I last did anything to the Zed. Have used it a lot over summer and it’s been brilliant.

Managed to get some time at a mates house to do some bits now the kids are at school again.

nothing major this time but I removed the old air box and filters (which looked a bit worse for wear) and installed a K&N cone filter in its place. The air box weighed way more than I expected! Relatively easy, although getting the bolts out of the air box mounts under the bumper was tricky. And then my mate knocked about 7 bolts down in to the engine bay which we recovered with a magnet! Life saver!

Also, put the stickers on the Works wheels, looks better I think, also fitted the clips to the boot lid for the parcel shelf and a microphone to the stereo so I can actually call people now!

I’ve also got my hands on a Mongoose catback exhaust to replace the Japspeed one. I much prefer the quad pipe look and I’ve heard they sound really nice too!

It was ok when I got it, had some yellow overspray and was dull but looked in good Nick.

Not installed it yet as I need to get a gasket and some new hangers but it has had a good clean up with some light abrasive scourer and some metal polish and has come out amazingly well! Almost too nice to use ?