Hey guys, I have a '95 2+2 NA. The engine currently has 224,000km on it. I am currently on my P's, and will be off next year. I have spent a good amount of money restoring my zed. The transmission has been rebuilt, things have been repainted or replaced. I love it, but it needs more power. My understanding is that an aussie delivered 95 were in short supply. I read somewhere that between '95-'96, only 36 300zx were brought in, which sounds strangely low, but the Japanese luxury sports car market was well into its downturn by then. However, contradictory to that figure, I have seen plenty of Stillen 96 models getting around, as well as convertibles. I cant imagine that number is correct. But at the same time, I'd feel a bit bad mutilating one of the last zeds to come into Aus. I have read that a TT engine swap can cost 6 grand and up. Money isn't an issue, and I can source the engine easily enough, but there's obviously fitting and reconditioning costs. I'd also be running a TT engine with an NA tranny, which from what I have read, has shorter gear ratios, so i'd have to replace that as well. Considering some of the deals on here, it may, almost definitely rather, be cheaper to buy a used TT and invest in fixing it up. If I bought a TT zed, i'd likely still keep my NA as well as I am far too attached. My questions are: Is my car that rare? Was there really only 36 bought into Aus between 95 and 96? Surely not? Engine swap vs buying a TT zed, what would you recommend?
Hmmmm... The rarity thing I can't answer.... As for the "should you swap", well that depends on a few things. Firstly, it will be cheaper to sell your NA and buy a good TT. Easy, quick and no fuss. But if you are attached to your car as I was to my old NA, then you may consider the swap. But it will be slow, annoying at times and frustrating. Take what ever figure you've worked out and double it. A rough job can be done fairly inexpensively, but do you want a rough job? No. Also, I would advise getting the TT motor rebuilt. There's no point going to all that effort, install a dud motor, only to have to rip it out again. The NA tranny will be fine with the TT motor, you may just have to modify the bell housing. But no major deal. So... 1) Sell NA, buy TT. Done. 2) Keep NA, buy TT. Two Zeds, awesome!! Win win. 3) Do TT conversion. Spend lots more money, car off road for longer while you source parts. Get frustrated and annoyed and sell Zed when job isn't completed. If it was me, I'd for option 1 or option 2. If money is no object, and you have the space, go option 2 !!
Sound advice...... Jedi has pretty well covered your options. Raising a good point concerning a TT engine rebuild. FYI: The NA has a lower diff ratio. A big mistake is becoming 'attached' to a car. Fair enough if it has some kind of family history or similar, but it's only a car. If money is not a primary concern, sell the NA & purchase the best TT you can afford.
Jedi and East Coast, you both make great, clear points. I think I know what I need to do now... The zed does have family history, but not directly related to the car. I shouldn't be so attached, but when you invest the time and money like all of us had, it's hard not to get attached a little.
The other point is what is the interior/body/suspension like in your car? If they're all really good then you will have a hard time finding a TT that's as nice and it can be just as difficult and expensive to fix all those as it is to convert to TT. If you're handy mechanically and have the equipment and space you could do the TT conversion for the price of a wrecked TT, a rebuilt engine is $8k+ no matter what car you buy it for. If your car is in average condition and you find a TT you like then selling is a good choice but I wouldn't sell an immaculate NA to buy a bucket with two turbos.
You could buy this engine: http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=331849 since it has been rebuilt & is only $2k, which is way cheaper than paying for a rebuild. Though if you do go this route I would personally go for bigger turbos, at least 2560's and bigger injectors. In regards to your diff - keep it! I have an na diff on my TT & love it! Makes for much quicker acceleration.
