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

Hey guys I am new here and am going to be inspecting a near 100% OEM '92 JDM Z32 this weekend.

So I am here to ask for some advice for what areas I should have a good look at when I am inspecting the vehicle. It will hopefully be my first and not last zed. Hope to stick around with you guys as you all seem to be an alright bunch haha

Anyway into the details

Year: 1992
Body (2+0/2+2): 2+0 Targa Top
Colour: Aztec Red
Engine (Turbo/NA): NA
Transmission (MT/AT): MT
Interior (Cloth/Leather): Cloth
Odometer: 120,000

Price: Making an offer

Immediately apparent areas for repair: - Weather Seals (haven't caused any damage yet but the rubber has fully deteriorated and I intend to replace them)
- Windscreen Cowl (deteriorated and has become very discoloured and brittle)
- Door and Window Seals (Again haven't caused any issues yet but the car has sat idle for nearly 8 years, a preventative measure)
- Foam Lip Bumper (the elements haven't been kind and it must go in favour of a infill and third brake light assembly)
- Hoses (so many hoses, they all appear fine but again the car has sat idle for too long so out with the old rubber and silicon in with the new.
- Tires (don't know yet but I suspect they may be cracked and damaged even though pressure was kept up to them so the car never sat on rims/belly, plus they are just old)
- Break Pads (again I have no trust for unused rubber)
- Battery (the one that is in there is long gone and thankfully was pulled so it never had a chance to corrode things and damage stuff)
- Other assorted rubbers, wipers and so on
- RHS Wing Mirror (broken in a storm when a branch from a gum was sent flying and it thankfully missed everything else)

History: Imported in 2000, Compliance done in May 2000 and been with the same owner since then. Half its life in aus it has sat idle, unfortunately out in the elements.
The owner stopped driving it because a brush went in the alternator so it would no longer run and charge. His commitments also changed meaning he needed to use his 4WD for work and the 300zx wasn't necessary so its rego lapsed in 2009.

Shortly before he stopped using it, he had the clutch replaced. Interior is pretty much perfect and clean as he kept everything covered up, so even the leather boots are free of cracks. It is fairly well optioned not just from being a JDM model.
Original shagpile fairlady mats, rear boot cover, full set of tools and spare tire, full electric interior inc seats, windows, mirrors, AC and so on. unfortunately some ants did find a way in through the window by climbing up through the door seal but water didn't follow them.

Paint is definitely going to need to be done at some point but that can wait a little while I will work on the interior and engine/ride first. Plus having all the different levels of weathered paint and the full JDM OEM exterior will make it a little less desirable to thieves.

This Weekend: The guy that owns it hasn't put the car up for sale but seems happy enough to sell it to someone that'll care for it and actually use it again. He wants me to have a look at it, get my mechanic to give it a once over so that we can make sure it still runs.

Then I need to get back to him with a list of repairs, that I will give to him in two parts. First the get it running and roadworthy again, so it can get on the road and be registered once more. Secondly get to him with the cost of cosmetically fixing it up, new weather stripping ans seals, the infill and third brake, respraying it and so on. I won't forget to include the different duties, fees and rego costs to get it in my name. At the moment I am thinking of starting an offer at around $3k but there is still lots to learn about this zed and its condition.

Anyway my mechanic will get to have a look at it, will get it ticking over again and do compression tests, make sure all cylinders fire, spark plugs injectors etc. While he is doing that, with the permission of the owner I will be using my trusty trim tools and be checking for rust both inside and out.

Pics: The sorry state it has been left in...











Thanks to anyone that made it through all that text haha

Been doing plenty of research and will definitely be looking to the Z32 wiki buyer's guide but any input is welcome and hope to see you all around the forums.

Stoner

 

I wouldn't touch it with a 20ft pole mate, looks a bit crappy

 

You may change you tune once you see past the outside of it, forgot to take pics while I was inside it and under the hood. Will have more pictures soon and what my mechanic finds too.
May have a good layer of spider-webs, moss and dirt but the body is straight under that. Just hoping it still mechanically good.

 

How did you arrive at a figure of $3,000.00 for this car?
Have you checked the already driveable & registered cars for sale on this forum?
Perhaps you haven't priced some of the items you are intending to replace, you may get a surprise, not necessarily a pleasant one.
Is the mechanic you are taking with you converse with Z32's?

 

Hi Stonerboy Welcome to the forum.
As East_Coast_Z has said, hope you mechanic "knows" Z32's
These cars have their own idiosyncrasies.
He's also right, if this car is unregistered, and you are bringing it back to NSW you'll need an engineering certificate before blue slip and there is $1000 straight up.
Greenslip $500+.
Registration another $500+
That's $5000 and not taking into account any repairs that may be needed.
Also a RWC from Vic means nothing in NSW.

Are you planning on doing all the mechanical work yourself for the restoration?
These cars have a bad habit of, removes six things to get at the component you want to replace.
That is all very costly labour.

I know these cars are a love at first sight kinda thing, but Please do your homework and look at the costing's of getting a car from interstate into NSW.

 

yep this is a $1-2k zed because that's all it's worth in parts.

talk about being lazy, it's half a day's work to change the alternator even for most amature backyard mechanic. to not change it and leave it for that long is a joke really because now everything else is ruined.

 

I don't think you are going to get a cheap Z with that car - I think it would be cheaper to buy a Z already in good condition.
Why do you need to buy that particular Z? I think it would be cheaper to keep your 3K and save up more money to add to it so you can start out buying a decent Z.

Still if you have money to burn:

I like window (and real) shopping at CZP and Z1 so to help you along I have compiled a list of expenses for some of your items.

All items below are US dollars of course and don't include postage (not cheap).

- Windscreen Cowl (deteriorated and has become very discoloured and brittle)

CZP $152.50 + postage - RHD Windscreen Cowl

- Door and Window Seals

CZP $125.22 + postage- Nissan OEM 300ZX Weatherstrip - Door RH (Passenger)
CZP $125.22 + postage- Nissan OEM 300ZX Weatherstrip - Door LH (Driver)
CZP $329.60 + postage- Nissan OEM 300ZX Rear Hatch Window Molding Kit
CZP $366.76 + postage- 2 x Nissan OEM 300ZX Rear Quarter Window (cant buy rubber seperately)
CZP $224.18 + postage- Nissan OEM 300ZX Weatherstrip - A-Pillar/T-top LH(Driver)
CZP $224.18 + postage- Nissan OEM 300ZX Weatherstrip - A-Pillar/T-top RH(Passenger)

- RHS Wing Mirror (broken in a storm when a branch from a gum was sent flying and it thankfully missed everything else)

CZP $314.89 + postage - Nissan OEM 300ZX Mirror Assy RH 90-96 Z32 w/ Heater

If it were me buying a car thats been sitting there 8 years I'd also change the cam belt and basically doing all the things UAS do in a major service namely:

- Systems Check, reset memory, check all sensors and check for any fault codes.
- Injection clean.
- New Iridium Spark Plugs.
- Compression test.
- Water Pump. (FTO Water Pump is an addition $510 with extra labour required.)
- New Tensioner & Idler.
- Cam belt.
- Drive belts.
- 300ZX new silicon hoses either side of water pump.
- Check cam and crank seals for leaks.

UAS charge $1400 for this but your mechanic may well be cheaper (but does he know Z2s though?).
Actually I'd recommend Andrew at ASR Automtives, just using UAS because they have a price up.

- Tires (don't know yet but I suspect they may be cracked and damaged even though pressure was kept up to them so the car never sat on rims/belly, plus they are just old)

I agree new tyres are a must. Personally I would thoroughly recommend getting Goodyear F1 Asymetric 2.

In Australia they'll charge $500 per tyre and claim thats on special but you'll pick 4 tyres up in that cars size from here
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...wall=Blackwall&partnum=245YR7F1A2XL&tab=Sizes

for about $412 + postage (that's $412 for 4 tyres not 1 tyre - you'll just get the 1 tyre for that in Aus).

- Break Pads (again I have no trust for unused rubber)

For break pads (good for road - not track - and don't chew rotors up) I recommend - Project MU NS Brake Pads - available at UAS for

Front $187
Rear $177

All the above I have done and a lot more (excpet my tyres are 265/35R18) so not recommending anything I haven't tried myself.

In my case I bought a bomb of a TT Z32 for 10.5K, spent 20 K on the above and on mods (not really necessary I'll admit) actually by now its closer to 30K judging by my credit card debt
and it still looks like a bomb (still has faded paint, hail damage, front bar needs respray) but its getting there.

But good luck if you can save another Z from the scrap heap.

 

@East Coast Z - Pricing items has been pretty much all I have been doing for a few weeks now, a lot of stuff I want to replace are things that'll happen down the road, the car will easily become a money pit and I understand that. $3k was a figure I came to because the pluses to me are new clutch, low Ks, manual, straight, clean interior, near all oem, accessories and options all still there, single aid owner (40s then 50s now), supposedly well serviced when it was being used.
The definate negs are it hasn't been used in a long time, rubbers will be gone, other unknowns and paint. I am hoping for the diamond in the rough but if it doesn't go well on the weekend I will move on but currently after initial inspection and talking to the owner it should be ok.

@gmbrezzo - not sure were you got the NSW from. My mechanic while not a Nissan specialist does know the engine well enough and lives one street from me. Work will be done over time with me helping him and learning from him. I will head to a specialist for servicing in the end though.
On compliance it was done by Graham Docker and Associates and was only ever registered in VIC and I don't believe there should be issue but I am calling up vice roads this week to get confirmation on all the charges they'll set me up for to put this thing on the road. Again not sure where you got the NSW bit from.

@Ryzan - Your worries about the paint and repairs come from the fact its all different materials. The urethane of bumpers the metal of the body the foam of the spoiler and the plastic? Of the mirrors are all different materials and naturally will weather slightly differently. The original strip around the car is still there. In painted over and equally worn. Will definitely get more and better pics

@MikeZ32 - yes it is pretty lazy but it happens. Well it looks like I'll be bringing down how much o offer but I'll be consulting everyone again once its known what needs to be serviced/replaced.

Thanks all for you honesty

 

@AAU54U - Thems the parts I've been looking at. In terms of tires, brakes and realignment etc I have an uncle working at a tire joint. The respray would happen last is when the car will be resealed and weatherstripped with a nice big buy from CZP. Thankfully have another uncle that has been in car spray painting and detailing most his life, got out recently because of his lungs. However he is happy enough to help out, use contacts secure a booth and so on.
Still tossing up what to do mechanic wise. Will start with my mechanic but will move on as I start replacing things with performance parts. Although I am afraid Andrew is a little far away, I am in South East Melb, so if anyone knows anyone out here that really knows these cars.

 

My apology I miss read the NSW. things are a lot easier in Vic.
Good luck with it. We're here if you need us.

 

It helps if you've got people in the business.

Owning a Z is not rational in any case (except as drug to feed your addiction) - sane people don't restore Zs - so far be it from me then to discourage a fellow Z restorer.

 

First post and title mention that it is NA which I need as I have a year of Ps left.

Drivers side photo is a shit photo the paint does actually match. Will be getting a hold of receipts on the weekend.

I am currently trying to reserve too much judgement until its inspected mechanically.

 

The front bar is from a TT which raises the question, why was it replaced? Because of a past hit or for aesthetics?

 

have to agree

I bought mine before I found this forum and paid 3.5K which I thought was a great buy unreg etc. it now owes me 6.5k still needs paint but I am not going to do any more its just a daily I will never get my money back on this z. so I just enjoy what I have.

Ryzan it's a NA says in his intro.

 

If you need help with parts pm me.

 

I will be sure to ask, accident possibly, maybe gutter scrapes, aesthetics, could of been done before it was imported. I honestly thought it was a difference in the aus and jap markets, however I'll be sure to ask. Its fitment appeared perfect when I was looking last.

 

to be blunt, that car is "wreck spec"

it needs way to much spent on it just looking at the pictures to make it a viable project.

if i were you, id keep looking for a better z, but its your cash....

 

I wouldn't go near it unless it was half the price you're offering. I bought my first zed ('89 aus spec) for $2000 in alright shape and I had to spend about $500 fixing a few small issues.

It is true you could get a known running zed in average condition for $3000. For example my current zeds for sale, which is almost identical to the one you're looking at. '91 NA 2+0 but auto and gun metal grey. It's got 111000 kms and is in awesome condition for $4200.

Point is that there's nothing about this zed that stands out from the rest for the same price range, except that it doesn't run haha.

But really it's your choice in the end, just saying that you could get something possibly better for the same price.