GregT

All I can say is what a pig of a job to do! I am sure I have the same issue, so have disconnected all the front wired sockets, and have given up for the day trying to get to the rear of this fuse panel. You need to be a contortionist to get this deep into the footwell! Will be continuing tomorrow, but what an effing stupid place for a fuse panel! The person who did this youtube video must have been a talented to get a camera and screwdriver in this small space. Any tips anyone to help me tomorrow?

This is a good thread - I have the same problem I think, so will be doing the fix detailed above at the weekend. Had to drive home today with the left hand side of the dash not illuminated - including the speedo! Had to wait for the street lamps to tell me how fast I was going! And the air con and wipers have stopped working..

I have 1/24th scale ones mainly as 1/18th are too big for my diorama. In 1/24th I have Nissan 300zx's, Skyline R34GTR, 350Z, 350GT, Silvia, Toyota Celica, Supra, Honda Integra, NSX, Mazda MX5, RX7, Mitsubishi Evo9 and Scoobies. It has to be Jap!

Where's the best place to purchase shocks from in the UK?

What are the best shock absorbers to upgrade to on a 300zx? Any good recommendations? Thx!

Is it too late to add me and my son to the list? Greg Thay, silver 93 LWB TT man, reg K893KYG.

Managed to clean out some solder and convert them back to take the 501's. Now have working rear side markers. Woo-hoo!

I am planning to get to Haynes MM - it needs a good run!

I took off my rear side markers today, and indeed there is a bulb holder and wiring (albeit with no bulb in) on my Jap import on both sides. I tried seeing if a std 501 bulb would illuminate - no luck, but they fit in the bulb holder. So I tried an LED strip light and they lit up. So, there is power in my rear side markers - which I thought only US models had?? Confused.com.

Yes, I have now got the 300 bug. This time it is a '93 manual also in silver.

I've just come back last weekend from the S of France and I didn't see one gendarme in 2 weeks of driving! I did notice many more speed cameras around though. Mind you - they did give you warnings, so if you didn't slow down in time, then its almost like you deserved to get caught! Caen Ouistreham, St.Malo, etc and any port is a hotspot for getting "easy" money from us Brits though - what are you going to do - miss your ferry or pay your Euros?!

I'll be up for a drive if its early Sept.

I think you have to remove the side light and access a bolt that holds the front fog in place from behind it.

Any pics? :D

Thanks all for the comments. I definitely would want to use a garage/mechanic who knows Zeds and have history with this type of work. My only issue is the car will need trailering anywhere as the further away it is, the more it costs. Mind you, it is only a fraction of what I will have to spend I suppose!

So, I have decided to keep the troublesome Zed and still think the engine needs to be either rebuilt or swapped. I have found a potential replacement engine but need to understand what sort of cost we are talking about when replacing a blown engine with a replacement one. I would imagine there is quite a bit of labour involved with removing one engine and replacing it with another. Is this days and days of effort at a garage or is it fairly quick? Also, has any one any experience or knowledge of reputable people/garages who have the facilities and tools to do an engine swap in the South of England? How much do I need to budget to do this? Any help appreciated. Greg

The one in Dorset is in Gillingham and is a silver TT manual.

Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I'll PM you and arrange a date. I am away for the next two weeks anyway, so nothing will happen in this time. It would be great to have a second opinion on things though so thanks. If it is as Jimmer says, and a compression test confirms this, then it would be good to work out "what next?" also. What is normally the next step if it is piston ring land failure? A replacement engine, or is it easier to replace the broken parts? Which is cheapest I suppose the question will be!

No the dip stick has not blown out, but then it is sort of held in place by the hoses. http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii202/gregthay/20130606_201524.jpg I did notice a loose connector though - and so I pulled it up to have a look and I have no clue where it should connect to.. http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii202/gregthay/20130606_215700.jpg The oil has stopped leaking out now, I have half a cm of it in an oil tray, so before I start it again, I will be putting new oil in without fail - even if it has to go to local garage half a mile away! Thanks for all the comments, I just hope it is repairable...

Went for a nice short 10 mile drive tonight whilst it was quiet. Anyway, down a hill I gave it a few beans to 69.9mph and I hear a poof and then lots of white smoke suddenly appeared from the exhausts in the rear view mirror! So, I drive to a layby and see what is causing it and when I open the engine I see this... http://s265.photobucket.com/user/gregthay/media/20130606_201531.jpg.html So there is oil over the fuel filter, battery and on this side of the engine only. I notice white smoke from both exhausts though.. So I look underneath.. http://s265.photobucket.com/user/gregthay/media/20130606_201555.jpg.html Then ontop... http://s265.photobucket.com/user/gregthay/media/20130606_202058.jpg.html I have oil coming out of a bonnet vent! So I limp home, albeit a few miles, but steadily between 40-55 mph without issue, loss of power yes, lots of white smoke, most definitely, with the engine sounding very rattly, but still running. So have left it to cool down.. http://s265.photobucket.com/user/gregthay/media/20130606_201815.jpg.html So, what do I do now? If it is the head gasket blown, what are the best options? Note - current mileage is 140k+, and recently serviced so I would have thought it would have coped with a bit of acceleration...obviously I was wrong!

Gearbox inhibitor switch. Yes - spot on. Bloody thing! (Now I feel like a p*at!)...you live and learn as they say! Thanks all...

Also, alarm seems OK - as it should - four times beeping was door open (passenger door sometimes is not close properly (nudge to the Mrs there!). So, how to check the immobiliser? I plan to borrow a fully charged battery tomorrow to see if it makes the difference...

Yes, the immobilise could be part of it, as I cannot hear anything actually doing anything, if that makes sense. I had the gremlins sorted or so I thought!

I love the bumper - where can I get one!

So, after a good outing to Japfest last weekend, and a good run, I come to use the Zed yesterday and...nothing. Absolutely nothing. In this I mean, the Zed won't start. The alarm pings correctly, and when I put the key in to start up, I am reading 12.4v and all the gauges/instrument panel come on (including the battery light and exclamation mark as usual), but that is it when I turn the key. No sound of starter motor, fuelling, engine. Nothing, then within a second the TT comes on to count down its 30 seconds. Then the alarm kicks in as usual. I did notice also that when I tried to alarm/disalarm the alarm, it beeped at me four times on the disalarm. So, I am thinking four things and thought I would get some advice off you experts on here! 1) New battery required. 2) New starter motor required. 3) The alarm/immobiliser. 4) Something has fused. I have checked the fuses I can in the engine bay and found nothing. I trickle charged it all night to boost the battery a bit, but this has not changed anything when I tried to start it again today. Frustrating! So, any ideas anyone? Cheers, Greg