Had my 300zx for almost two years now and thought maybe I should share how I got my car and the progress I've made. In early February in 2010; I was planning on purchasing my first car. I had my eyes set on a Skyline R33. Ever since I was very young it was my favourite car. It's what I had always wanted and I had finally saved up 2/3rds of it. I was then going to loan the rest. I had a friend over and was on carsales., I had found a few nice skylines. However I didn't ever go see one. I thought I'd look at what else was available; I then had a look through wrxs, evos, supras, 180s and 200s. I then noticed 300zx in the drop down list. I had no idea what a 300zx was. there was a few TT's for around $7g, all of them were autos and the body kits looked ridiculous (I now know one of them had a veilside). Then noticed a Gunmetal Grey 2+2 Non-Turbo Manual for $7.5g. The car looked immaculate for 20 years old, and had almost no modifications, 120000kms on the clock, all paperwork for the last 4 years included. Current owner was a early thirties female marketer (2nd owner). I called and within 15 minutes I was there. I had a quick look over the car, other than the rust pocket on the bottom rear of the back window, the clock not working, RHS windshield cowling was in pieces and a dodgy left HID it looked and functioned stunningly. A couple of weeks later I closed the deal, set up insurance and brought my new 300zx home. The previous owner had chucked back in the original globes for the headlights. It felt amazing, no car I had ever been in felt like this, it felt solid, rigid, could feel the pull, very little road noise and air noise as well. After a week of driving, my car stopped working. I've never had a car before, so I was like WTF! My dad came home, he had a look and got out his multimeter, the battery was dead (was a super cheap auto one too). So I went to a auto-electrician, had a good quality battery put in and realised at the time the 3rd brake light bulbs were gone so they fixed that too. Few weeks later, audio went dead. Had a look at the amp, both the fuse near the battery and the fuse to the amp had blown. Replaced both fuses (one near the battery replaced with a switch fuse) and went on with life. Couple of weeks later all the electrics failed again. Battery was fine this time. Found out the cables weren't tightened properly when they hooked up my new battery. Couple of days later the audio stops working again. This time I look up the manual for the amp, it doesn't state what fuse to use. I looked up all your other brands of amp and looked at the fuse rating for this power amp. Every single amp I looked up said 20a fuse, and the one that it had came with was a 10a. Replaced this, haven't had a problem since. Everything was good again, or so I thought. Went around a round about on the way to work and spun the car. As frightening as it was, I knew the tyres must have been shit. Then on the way to my girlfriends house, I was on a steep hill at traffic lights in the wet, waiting for the turn arrow, the car got no traction and almost rolled backwards into another car when the light went green. I went to Bob Janes and got some Pirelli P7s. The car had no problems now in the wet. I then started replacing parts... First all new cowling for under the window and a T top bar. New bonnet stoppers, 99 spec gearknob, screws missing in the car. globes in the dash and pods, replaced left handside pod and the fascia for the aircon controls (was loose and made slight clicking noise when on the freeway from vibrations, when I got around to taking it off, found where the screw goes in had completely broken off). Ordered some cheap 6000k HIDs from the internet, $70 posted (still working now ). Then the yellow parkers were annoying to look at, ordered in some LED replacements in 6000k. The rust had begun to bubble and grow on near the rear window and the rear spoiler had the starting effects of warping. It was time for it to go. Ordered new seals for the rear window, 3rd brake light strip, complete molding kit (including Kuruma Z door and 1/4 glass molding). Went around to a few different paint shops, everyone had insurance work from the hail storm so didn't have time to deal with repainting and repairing. Found a small shop in Osborne Park, said $1000 for painting the whole hatch, taking the rust out, getting the rear window seals installed and the 3rd brake light installed. Was very happy with end result, but on certain lights the panel looked just a couple of % off colour wise. So I went back and had him repaint the roof panels, targas and A pillars the same colour, set me back another $300. Christmas came around and had to think about spending my money on my family. So over the next couple of months into the very start of 2011 I didn't spend much time with fixing my car up. A customer at my work scratched my drivers door getting out of their car. I was going to fix it, but I want to paint the bottom half of my car the identical colour to the top, so I've put that on hold. In the early part of 2011 TwinZ rear bumper group buy comes up. I chuck my name in for one. I then install one of the molds from the molding kit. took me 2 hours to do a front windshield one (I obviously don't understand the concept of how to do things ). At this point I was angry, so just took it to PZP and had tom install them, couple of hours later, car came out with all other than the Kuruma Z parts installed (waiting for repaint before I go ahead with this). During a service find out one of the shocks is leaking. Short of money from the TwinZ group buy, I buy the cheapest coilovers I could (megan racing 16 way adjustables). $600. Everyone told me against it except for my a friend who used tiens in drifting and wanted to see what megan racing were like. Lack of cash and time found me ordering the megan racing coilovers. Since I am only using my car on the road, getting high end coilovers wasn't a necessity at this point in time. After installed, car felt a lot stiffer and cornered phonemically better, I was expecting it to be terrible as everyone told me they were shit. At this point I'm going to keep using them until one breaks and then upgrade them to a good brand of coilovers. Another group buy comes around, this time for leather interior. I go ahead and purchase a full leather kit excluding the front seats. At this point I was still planned on getting OEM Recaros from the US brand new however financially painful it would be. Leather arrives and at this point I decide I'm moving out of home, over the following 5-6 months I had no money to spend on my car, everything was going towards finding a comfortable couch, a new sound system, a new computer, cutlery, microwave, dining chairs, a rug (this house is unbelievably cold during winter), and many of the essentials that I took for granted whilst living at my parents. I then give a go at install some of the leather, the boots go in without a hitch, first 3 panels of leather installed on the panels below the console lid, looks great... then I do the console lid... bad idea. I stuff up the corners, had to end up folding them over, yes they do this with leather sometimes, but mine was terrible, looked tacky to me, and the leather was so thick at the back end of the console lid it has now started scrapping the other 3 bits of leather I did right. So going to now get a professional to fix my mistakes and finish the rest of the interior. I also jump into the group buy for the LED lighting. I've installed most of it now, but still have a couple to go, and one of the LEDs a few days ago died on me, luckily I have a spare from the cruise control spot, but I do plan on installing cruise control down the track, so this is a little annoying. (Please note they are actually red) At this point I am now starting to think about an engine swap, going Twin Turbo, I want to see my rear bumper on though and I want the paint perfect. I get quoted for bottom half of my car being painted with the panels being taken off, and the new seals and molds being installed as well as all car park dents being removed and/or filled, the installation of my TwinZ bumper and 99 Spec front bumper (when I get around to ordering it). $4g, the painter recommended I come back after I get the engine swapped in case the paint gets scratched or a panel is accidentally dented. I decide if I want to go TT, I will need to upgrade the brakes, which means I will need to upgrade the wheels. I Want the 17" 350Z S1 touring wheels. Unfortunately at the time there were none for sale of reasonable quality. I end up buying 18" 350Z S2 touring wheels, not the look I was after but will fit the brakes I have planned under and much nicer than stock 300zx. Couple of weeks ago ordered TT mishimoto radiator, fan, shroud, NA>TT Lower support bracket, new radiator bushings, CZP TT radiator top bracket (Have to drill holes to get it in, as NA ones are in different spots), and of course the Aus/US spec Targa Top garnishes I've been asking about in this thread: http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316031 The new cooling system is going in a couple of weeks, then saving for 370Z sports brake package. Here is a few other pics of my car: I will update as I do more now
Hey nice post. Good to see your finaly out of the closet. Thats a very nice looking car with tasteful mods.
-_- I have no idea how, I was lucky enough I worked out photo posting on this forum, 3 months ago didn't know how to do that.
I guess I'll also put up my plans of what I know I'm going do be doing: *370Z Akebono Sports Model Brakes (w/stainless steel brake lines and slotted rotors) *OEM targa key locks *OEM Bose Audio including Sony 10 CD stacker (if I can hunt one down or afford a new one from nissan -_-) *OEM 99 front bumper *OEM sideskirts (from nissan US) *TwinZ rear bumper (already have) *Repaint (bottom half, as top half is already done) *Rebuild power folding mirrors (currently work most of the time, already have new glass inserts) *370Z rear view mirror with homelink, auto dim and compass *350Z pedals (already have, installed clutch and brake; accelerator is not in yet) *OEM cruise control (only $1500 for all new parts, considering as I won't have to worry about parts failing from wear and tear) *Leather replacing all tweed (except front seats, already have) *Recaro SR3 front seats and recaro OEM rails (red, black or OEM if I can afford it) *Rebuilt TT engine, looking for 400 rwhp. *1998 model gearbox (order from the US) *White 300kmh speedo (have already, just need TT cluster and have resistor installed, will also need the speedo recalibrated even after installing as it's off by about 3% (comparing with my GPS), may have a speeding ticket on the way from yesterday -_-) *May buy 1999 model rear spoiler, undecided. *New exhaust *Underside of car repainted *Suspension completely overhauled, new bushings, new coilovers, sway bars, and everything else possible. If anyone knows of any other OEM extras I could want, please let me know.
OEM stackers occasionally come up on yahoo for under $200 purchase price. The OEM head unit is pretty lacking in function, so better to install a later model head unit. Should be able to track down the wiring diagram modification to convert the audio output into a stereo port, so it can be interfaced with a later model head units Auxiliary input. Converted mine to bluetooth as the wired input was for ipod. Other OEM extras would be altia set, navan stuff, ski racks and some cooler/tool box that mounts in the compartment behind the seats of a 2+0 (never seen 1 for sale however)
Haha, the ski racks look ridiculous, if they were still available though I'd probably buy it for the novelty, might be useful for a bike or something in Perth. Altia set does look good though, thanks. On other notes how reliable are the cd stackers, because the more I look into it, the more people seem to ditch them, any newer oem cd stackers anyone recommends (350z, murano, xtrail maybe)? Would they be easier to wire up to a new deck?
both of my stackers work fine. Read the issues are more with the head unit (Clarion if memory serves). They're an old setup, but the OEM factor outweighs functionality. Probably better to use an Ipod or USB memory stick input if you are looking for options other than OEM.
Very cool, I don't think I've seen that combination of 350Z wheels on a Z32 yet and it looks real good! I think they'd compliment the car a lot more if it had an inch or so worth of 'drop' to eliminate most of that wheel arch tyre gap. Otherwise, great buy and good luck with the build/money pit.
Sounds like a plan, was actually going to do this today, but can't find my C spanner for my coilovers. So I'm out of luck at the moment haha.
I am considering selling my car. Going to post some photos I took a couple of weeks ago. I am not sure I am selling yet, but currently deliberating. I will however be staying with the forum if I do sell; because my reasons will be for buying a 370Z. First off here some night photography with my 300ZX and my mate's evo. http://perthimports.com/blog/gunmetal_duo/ Here is some pictures I took for changing insurance company a few weeks ago. Sorry for high res, still don't know how to deal with that. Other info undisclosed before. The car has been in Australia for roughly 9 years, between 3 owners. First owner (no information). Previous owner (Early 30s female marketing manager - found her card in the car a week after buying) purchasing with 80,000kms 4 years prior to me, I purchased at 120,000kms. Now has done 147,000kms. Paperwork for up-to the last 6 years is on hand, including 100,000kms service and at roughly 125,000kms a carbon clean of the engine (so it runs close to new). Engine serviced every 5000-7000k. Always garaged, always run on 98RON, non-smoker car, always parked as far away from other vehicles in parking lot as possible. If I decide to sell, would be selling with the remainder of the leather kit from group buy (including back seats, excluding front seats, planned on buying Recaros so never wanted leather fronts), brand new seals for door and quarter panels, 350Z accelerator pedal to match 350Z brake and clutch pedals (just haven't got around to changing it over), remaining LEDs from LED group buy and most working bulbs if you are not a fan of red LEDs (bought all new pod bulbs from nissan a year and a half ago) and if wanted I have a pioneer sub and box that I removed from the car when I bought it. There is a couple of things not so good. Drivers side door has a scratch in the paint from a car park. Passenger side skirt near rear wheel is a dent as visible in photos. Boot trim has some scratches from amplifier moving around the boot (planned on getting covered in leather and amplifier removed). Tweeters have been crushed a couple of times closing door on them. Bubbling on driver side vinyl and lifted dash, clock works, but sometimes decides not to light up, pressing a button makes it wake up. I am guessing I will be able to fetch $9g for the condition it is in.
It looks more and more like I will be selling up. Was permanently promoted today so will be discussing with my parents the best financially feasible way for me to buy a 370Z. After I have this under wrap will be posting for sale up for $9000 Firm. After the car has sold, available separately will be Mishimoto radiator (new), Mishimoto electric fan (new), NA to TT lower radiator bracket (new) (with either 2 or 4 brand new lower radiator bushings), TT CZP top radiator bracket (new), my spare radio surround fascia (to memory it's in perfect condition, was going to use it to make a 2DIN slot for a good GPS/DVD player), original casette player, original intake box thing, and I'm sure I have some other stuff lying around. Will let you know more, when I know more.
Ohh and I'm paying License and Registration for a year next week. So will come with a full year of License and Registration.
