1988 300zx turbo w/T-tops for sale parts

[88zxturbo]

I have a red 1988 300zx turbo 117,000 with a blown head gasket and am looking to sell the car. The car runs - idles great, no skips - but needs major repair or you could use it for parts. Besides the head gasket, there is damage to the driver side fender, a small amount of rust on the driver side door, probably needs new struts, tires, driver side mirror cover is taped together though the side to side controls work (not up and down, however), the rear view mirror was knocked off by me when I was washing the windshield, but i have the part. Recently put in new front brakes, replaced master cylinder, slave cylinder for clutch, new oil, new coolant, new passenger side tie rod (driver's side tie rod will need to be replaced soon. Steering is tight due to varnish on the rack, but very drivable. The dirver's seat is torn and needs repair as does the roof liner. I was driving this car daily until the smoking started and have checked on repair costs, and they are too much for me to handle, so I have to let go of the best car I've ever owned.

Everything else on the car is in working condition, including the radio, casette, graphic equalizer, cruise control, all steering wheel controls, lights, excellent alternator (this car ALWAYS starts right up), lights, t-tops (no bag), power everything works except for one drivers seat control, Have original owner's manual and original sticker ($26K - this car was loaded). Also has an ancient (original equipment) car phone which still works!

The turbo is operational and as far as I can tell, perfect. Always solid response.

Great car for parts as most of them are usable. The car was not abused, but periodic maintenance to the cooling system was probably the cause of the blown gasket. Still runs great if you can deal with plumes of smoke.

Make offers on this forum or email me with questions and/or offers at [email protected]

I am located in Rochester, NY. Clean title. I am the second owner of this vehicle.

[longlivetheZ]

Damn man...sorry to hear about your troubles. Sounds like an excellent project car for anyone with some tools, a garage and a little free time.

Did you post a for sale ad on the Z31.com classifieds? Someone there will most likely pick it up pretty quick.

[88zxturbo]

How can I be 100% sure it's a blown head gasket? This all started when I added oil. Then I changed the oil and it continued. But I had the oil changed at maybe not the best place. I trusted the guy, but maybe he put in too much?

There should be a number of things I can do to check. I drained, flushed the radiator about six times and then added coolant. That seems to be OK. There is no water coming out of the exhaust - no muffler, so I can just check the pipe. It never overheated, so I'm thinking that maybe this was misdiagnosed. Could it be too much oil? O2 gauge? PVC Valve (can't even find it, though I have the part)?

Any suggestestions for tests I should run would be appreciated.

[longlivetheZ]

Do a compression test. Buy a Hayne's manual and it will detail how to do this...I can't remember exactly at the moment. This test will tell you if the gasket is blown and also WHERE the gasket is blown. It could be that there is just too much oil in it. Drain it and add 4.25 quarts...the correct amount.

This could very well NOT be the head gasket! I thought my car had a blown head gasket for a while, but I kept thinking "It's not losing any oil and it doesn't really smell like oil"...one day it occured to me...it's power steering fluid. All it was was a blown power steering line. $350 to fix, but better than a head gasket fix.

Also...a head gasket fix isn't TOO hard to do yourself if you have a Hayne's manual. I've never done it personally, but I've heard from a few different people that it's very doable in a weekend. DON'T GIVE UP ON THE Z31, MAN!!

[88zxturbo]

Thanks for the encouraging words. Not much help around here, and I sure could use some. I'll check out the Haynes manual and do that compression check. I am NOT a mechanic at all. I have trouble changing the oil. Transmission fluid, eh? Who knows? I would much rather keep this car than sell it for the roughly $400 that I know I would get. If it is a blown head gasket, I may just put the car up for the winter and start over in the spring.

For what it's worth, I changed the oil and it still smokes. Not a pretty sight. Also, it smokes more when I hit the gas. Does that give anybody a clue?

Hanging in, getting more exercise riding my 12-speed. But I will need a ride soon.

[Antiburn]

Possibly bad valve seats or guides. Its leaking oil in then causing it to smoe more while you get on the gas. Ofcourse you still have to take off the head so you mind as well to the seals while your there.

Other then a few problems for 400$ I would buy it from you in a heartbeat. Its just tobad your a little to north for me to drive it home the way it is.

[longlivetheZ]

I'd buy it too, but I already have 2 cars.

In all likelyhood, you can fix this yourself, man. Where does the smoke come from? If it's a head gasket, it will most likely come from the right or left side...if it's coming from the front or the back or something weird like that, it could be something else.

You have to think that as RPM builds, so does oil pressure...which would force more oil out any leak that there may be...so you could very well have a leak somewhere. It just comes down to finding it.

It may be something big, it may not. Don't lose hope, man!

You need any help with anything, lemme know.