3000gt advice please!!

hey guys. i'm looking at buying a 3000gt, and it'll be my first performance car. i'm not too sure about what to look for in terms of making sure it's ok to go.

it's a 1992 3000gt with about 90,000 km on the clock (that's about 56,000 miles). it's the usual 3L twin turbo, all wheel drive. it was imported from japan at some time in the past (i live in australia btw).

basically i need any and all advice you guys can give as i'm very new to the performance car side of things.

i also have a few questions...

i've been told that turbos in cars from japan usually have their intercoolers set for cooler temperatures, and can have trouble in hotter climates like australia... is that true? and if it is, what can i do about it?

also. what does 4 wheel steering mean? surely not that the back wheels turn when you steer as well? that would just be awkward, wouldn't it?

also, what should i look for to make sure this car is ok when i'm checking it out, and what are the common problems with this model etc?

thanks heaps guys

- Stu

yeah dude, the rear wheels steer at most a couple degrees in the SAME direction as the fronts, and only above i think 35mph, it gives the car a littel more understeer at speed for the sake of stabilit. Also, at any speed, there is some rear steering ability built into the rear suspension, so as the body leans, it gives the rear a tendency to, again, steer in the same direction as the fronts. as for the jap specific stuff, some of the japanese cars were more power ful, and if you have the cash you can get bigger intercoolers off a dsm or go with a front mount to take the heat better.
jim

As far as checking out the car, theres a lot of good info in the stickies. A few things you wanna check are; look underneath, see if theres any leaks coming from the transfer case. Check for smoke out of the exhaust when the car is first started. Drive it, make sure the trans. shifts from gear to gear smoothly, as the syncros are another common issue. Also, check all the toys. Active exhaust, active aero, electronic suspension. There should be no lights on in the dash exept for the suspension mode indicator (tour or sport) and possible the exhaust mode indicator (tour or nothing)

pretty sure with the All Wheel Steering when you're under 35 MPH (maybe its under 15) the rear wheels steer opposite direction of fronts for smaller turning radius.

yep, checked the gears, they shift smoothly. active aero works (that's really cool btw), the exhaust silent button works fine. no smoke coming from the exhaust that i can see... how do u check the electronic suspension? it's set on tour (from the light i can see on the dash) but where's the button to change it, and what does it do to the suspension?

thanks heaps guys

the button is to the right of the gauge cluster (maybe left since yours is right side drive i assume?) and it says ECS. you shouold see the mode indicator light change to sport. If theres no "ECS" light on, its probably working fine though, but never hutst to make sure.

As for the all wheel steer, iam not positive how it works either, but would love to know.

Yeah AWS is exactly what is sounds like, they turn a bit. The rears turn with you at a low speed, and against you at higher speeds (not sure if I have the directions correct or switched) But it helps you turn better...barely noticeable. There is a thread on it a little ways down teh page.

Read the FAQ, there is plenty in there.

You cannot set temps on intercoolers, so whoever told you that has no clue what they are talking about. It will work fine, people are running those same intercoolers in Texas.

i know im a comparative newbie, but ive researched the hell out of this car, there is no active steering below 35, its all above 35, and its the SAME direction as the front. Y ou guys are obviously confusing it with the nissian 300zx which does both same phase (with front) and opposite phase in different situations, but still only at speed. Either that or your thinking of the chevy/gmc quadsteer, which does both opp phase at low speed for turning circle, and same phase at high speed for stability. These sports cars only use it for stability, not for a tighter radius.

jim

The tour /sport suspension just changes its stiffness. tour is softer of course and sport stiffens it up for better handling.

ok, thanks heaps guys

pretty sure with the All Wheel Steering when you're under 35 MPH (maybe its under 15) the rear wheels steer opposite direction of fronts for smaller turning radius.
Nope

Yeah AWS is exactly what is sounds like, they turn a bit. The rears turn with you at a low speed, and against you at higher speeds (not sure if I have the directions correct or switched) But it helps you turn better...barely noticeable. There is a thread on it a little ways down teh page.

Nope again

i know im a comparative newbie, but ive researched the hell out of this car, there is no active steering below 35, its all above 35, and its the SAME direction as the front. Y ou guys are obviously confusing it with the nissian 300zx which does both same phase (with front) and opposite phase in different situations, but still only at speed. Either that or your thinking of the chevy/gmc quadsteer, which does both opp phase at low speed for turning circle, and same phase at high speed for stability. These sports cars only use it for stability, not for a tighter radius.

jim

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner!