Inspecting and making an offer - '92 JDM Z32 NA (NEWB NEEDS HELP PLEASE)

You would be amazed what Meguiars "Ultimate Compound" can do for that paint with a little electric buffer.

 

Then....

......he'd have a shiny no goer! :rofl:

 

Sitting on damp ground under a tree.

Would hate to see what the engine internals are like.

I'd find something better. :zlove:

 

I've seen them and they cosmetically look perfect which surprised me. Only took pics of vin and compliance plate when I was in there though :/

 

Really?

You have seen the engine internals?

 

X-Ray vision, don't you have it?

 

Car has been opened up for me but I only bothered to grab pics of the plates. The engine was free from any leaks of fluids the rad was still full and completely rust free, oil was golden and when it was still being used you could see it was been looked after. One clean engine bay minus a small amount of dust and a surface layer of oxidisation on alloy parts of the engine and that dusts off no pitting or anything.

 

Dont listen to these haters. Just go ahead. Offer what you think its worth and have fun.

 

What he said. I would also add when making an offer consider the points made about the cost of these things. I will also suggest allowing for new suspension bushes and components. 8 yrs of sitting won't do them any favours either - now adjust your offer as you feel necessary and have some fun

 

Well the best thing is no offer has been made at this point. When I asked what he would be interested in to part with it he kind of laughed and asked why I wanted such an old car.
Then said to come back to him with what it will cost in repairs and make sure it can actually run again and then make an offer of what I think is fair.

So the next little while will be pricing and getting quotes. Bushes will definitely go on the list hopefully the stock suspension will be alright for a while because I don't want to go cheap when I upgrade that along with tires too. However tires will be one to start with because in the end I would like comfort and silence. Granted from what I've been reading the powertrix looks like a good option and us very affordable.

 

Hi stonerboy , I got a 1990 na auto sliktop for $800 + paid rego and the guys fine, have spent near $14000 fixing it just have the box and pannel and paint to do, it is up to you if you want to spend $$$ to fix it, just get it for a good price or it is not worth doing, thats my 2 cents good luck mate

 

I personally would not pay 3k for this.
I bought mine running for $1000.(89 Jap-spec NA).

Got it registered + manual Conversion + nicer Wheels+ coilovers For 4k max all up (including car cost) ..

In saying that, Id offer him around $1000-$1500 MAX (as its manual) And see where that takes you.
If the guy thinks its worth much more, it might just be easier to walk away and look for a better one.

 

I would be questioning why a car that has been unused for that long has golden oil in the motor and clean coolant. Sounds like it has been changed in case a buyer checks it. I could be wrong but experience tells me that just is not right.
Good Luck
Dave

 

Its owned by the caretaker where I work and ive seen the car there for so long now. His reasons for not using it were were he was working, needed his 4WD and there is no way of taking a car like the zed. So it was being used little up to the point where the alt went and he stopped using it.
Now he didn't just go and change the fluids before I saw the car because he was never advertising it for sale, hadn't even considered selling. I just went up to him after work one day and asked if I he would be interested in selling. That's when he went and opened the car up for me and started talking to me, not an easy task as he's got rather broken English.

I know where you're coming from I have had my share of dodgy when it comes to cars and I almost want to kill my old mechanic. Thankfully haven't been near that short cutting liar in years now.

 

Unless you can drive it and do a compression test, I wouldn't bother.
Otherwise, buy it and have the money aside to fix everything. If you don't, buy something from this forum that is proven and that you can actually drive.

If you are looking for a project car - then hey, like a few above have said - buy and have fun.

 

That's why I am going with the mechanic. He'll giving it a good look over and be running a few tests with compression test right up there. Got the money aside for repairing it and want a project. However want one that's more cosmetic than major mechanical.

 

Alright so finally got around to having a good look at the car tonight. Due to fun with hospitals and the Christmas period things got delayed but have now finally progressed forward.

So after looking at the car the short answer is the car is in great mechanical condition.

Long story however is as follows...
The interior is pretty much immaculate I would give it a 9.5 out of 10 as soon as it gets a nice clean to remove the dust and ants that had fun in there. The instrument cluster looks like its never been touched by human hands with no ware to be seen there is the most minimal of cracks on the steering wheel which is crazy considering its 21 years old. The boots around the gear stick and handbrake are in good much free of cracks. In fact went through with the Aus300zx.com Mechanical Checklist and everything go a tick. Nothing is lifting, all panels meet there is no wear on anything drivers seat included. Most things have been under cloth. Only the door handle and glove box handle have faded to grey.

The interior comes complete with OEM Fairlady Z shagpile mats in good condition, targa sun shades and storage bags, the Garcia tie downs, rear carpet, rear hatch luggage cover, spare wheel and kit and everything is bone dry no water has made its way in at all.

So interior great onto the exterior. All panels are straight there is a few tiny dings that are very small repair that won't even damage the paint that is mostly ruined by sap that should hopefully clean up okay with a cut and polish. The only rust to be found any ware was on the rear hatch as surface rust around where the foam lip spoiler has rotted so it will need a little panel work and I plan to give the car a Brazilian.
The rims a free of gutter rash the car doesn't appear to know what gutter rash is. The front bumper doesn't appear to have ever seen a gutter either. All the lights are free of cracking and all of them work 100%. Windscreen cowl is screwed but underneath is rust free.

With the battery in and after ensuring fuel lines weren't gummed up we got the engine tuning over. Turned it over six times and nope nothing. Put on a little gas after waiting a few seconds and trying again third crank and boom we have ignition and its absolutely purring, idling comfortably at 1k even with stale fuel in the tank.

Let it keep idling and listen to all cylinders, no knocking and all going good the engine is still going along not dropping or gaining revs at all, a bearing can be heard that needs a little grease but otherwise we have it going and going really well.
Let it go for some time to warm up, the fans turning over well, water pump is working things are keeping cool, oil pressure was perfect from the get go.
Get the car jacked up and look at other things all four wheels turn nicely the hand break has been left off so it never sealed itself to the discs, LSD is good, bushes are good, rotors are good, calipers are good suspension is good but the shocks need new dust boots haha. One muffler will need hopefully a small bit of welding on a spot of rust.

Back to the testing engine and so on, give it some revving and listen to sounds, another thing to note, not a single bit of smoke is blowing at all. All the gears engage properly the car drives and power steering still works perfectly.
Then we finger time to get the air con on, probrly won't work but may as well see if we need a regards, new condenser whatever and then the best thing happens, I set it to 21 and two seconds later a little puff of dust and icy air is coming out and my mechanic is cuasing in disbelief and amazement this car is very mechanically sound.
In fact with a good, clean tire shine and new drivers mirror it would pass a roadworthy.

However we won't do that we will give it a proper major service and get the timing belt out of there before I am up for thousands if it goes and trays to take everything with it. All fluids drained and replaced and go from their with a 120k service (131ks done on dodo) engine pull and major service before it starts been used.

Now some final info the owner imported in 2000 and always had it serviced at the same place. To top it off its entire service history and all receipts of work are able to be obtained.

From this point all that's left is to go back to the owner and start of with an offer of $1500. He himself has gotten a quote for a restoration of $5000 a few years ago but doing a lot of the work myself in connunction with my mechanic and other family friends in the business (tire joint and painters mainly) I'll be able to get this back up for less.

 

Also guys bare with me, above post was from my phone and is riddled with spelling mistakes and autocorrects.

Stoner