The Crusty Impulse Buy — 1986 Nissan 300zx Z31 3.0l v6

dude... it was a mess. this is what happens when a crackhead does the frame replacement, oh well thats in the past and i've "repaired" the bad stuff.. so it'll live on... but on a different body eventually

 

It’s about damn time I posted an update!

I did my huge parts order and I started tearing into the car.



I removed everything I could topside in preparation to pull the engine. Remember, all the wiring has to go too because of al the rodent damage.

Here is what it looks like now without the core support, the headlight buckets, radiator and condenser. @Sperrunner was kind enough to recover the R12 into a tank for me.



This car has a LOT of vacuum lines, and a a LOT of connectors. I tried to label as much as I could based on the factory service manual.



Remember how I said there was poop... and lots of poop?

 

Soon I’ll rebuild your AC system for you

 

Yeah on that note I wasn’t kind enough to the AC fittings and bent a line. So I’m gonna have Miguel over here to fix my f-ups.

 

Coming along nicely. I have an 87 Turbo 5sp that's been in family since new. Only 70k miles but it's no longer stock
Nice to see another one. They are scarce.

 

This one has seen a lot of life, has over 200k on it. Although it was really taken care of by the last owner, the interior was spotless except for the worn out seats.

 

Engine is out!



Can you tell where the brake fluid went? Hint: Find the rust that doesn’t belong.



Here it is up on the stand.



Been working on removing all the accessories and cleaning them up in the parts washer. Just finished cleaning the block with ZEP Purple degreaser, followed by the pressure washer.

Before



After



The black splotches you see left on the engine block isn’t grease, it’s the pathetic and laughable layer of paint Nissan put on the block back in 1985. I’ll be repainting this in Silver Pearl engine enamel.

 

I remember those things.
My brother had the turbo version. Until the turbo burned up and then I think that the timing belts broke next and "junk!"

 

They're fun cars. Unfortunately the Z31 era of the Z car is pretty worthless and undesirable, most people want the 240/260z or the Z32 300ZX onwards.

 

This model probably will increase in value - it’s got so many 80’s cyberpunk cues

 

The cluster in one of the Cyberpunk 2077 cars you drive is based on the cluster in my 300zx.

 

Looking good, I've got a white '85 300zxt auto and black\blue '86 300zx na 5spd. Have a spare bedroom taking over in parts.

 

This is awesome! What a fantastic car and deal! Have you been able to show it to the old owner yet?

 

When it runs I will haha

 

A lot of progress has been made recently. I finished painting the engine bay in single stage + urethane Gloss White.

 

REDO IT. too much orange peel

 

It’s an engine bay weirdo, no one is gonna see it when the engine and all the plumbing is in there.

Go fix your truck

 

i thought we agreed on hot pink with a velvet interior.