Z31: User Friendly?

[SRP | Lucian]

Okay, thanks Delerious. I'll just look to find a Z31T. One final question, what price range should they be in? Just so I don't get ripped off.

I'm looking for a Manual Transmission Z31T that's in good condition.

Thanks.

[DeleriousZ]

well i'm paying 3400 for mine, that's got 156000 km on it and it's a 5 spd in great condition.. leather, ac, all that jazz

that's canadian tho

[SRP | Lucian]

So around $3,000 USD. Okay, thanks guys!

[k3smostwanted]

Originally Posted by SRP | Lucian

So around $3,000 USD. Okay, thanks guys!

yeah i wouldnt pay more than $3500 for a good conditioned Z31T unless it was the special edition Shiro...then i might shell out a few extra hundred bucks just because it will definitely be a collectors piece.

Originally Posted by DeleriousZ

all that jazz

ahh...i knew it would grow on ya!!!

[longlivetheZ]

Originally Posted by k3smostwanted

very reliable...probably the most reliable Z built in my opinion. i bought an 86 300zx a few months back that i was going to use for a daily driver car. well the car had been sitting for 2 1/2 years...with 160k miles on it or so, everything original...even the plugs i think (it was passed down through a family to all the new 16 year old drivers in the family). anyways, i replaced the fuel pump because the old nasty gas in the tank corroded it really bad that it would not operate correctly. after i replaced the fuel pump, it started right up without a hesitation and has started everytime since and ran excellent. well there is my little story for you...

anyways, these motors even in turbo form will last 250k if well maintained...

Yea...my first car was an '86 300ZX 2+2 with a 5-speed trans. Ran great till I sold it (which I regret to this day)....and I was by NO STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION kind to this car...I drove it like a damn race car from the day I got it. I was only 16 when I got it...you can imagine, I'm sure. Most cars would have died after a few months, I'm sure. Only problem I had was with the alternator...changed it a few times (not hard) and (finally) put a new battery in it...never had another problem with it. The battery was messing the alternator up.

The second one I had was an '86 Turbo 5-speed that I bought last June...for $800. I thought that either the guy didn't know what he had, it didn't run right or it was a rusted out peesashit. Ran great, looked good, gave the dude the cash. Loved it. Was out being stupid one night and ran into a curb...bent the frame...basically totalled it. That's the engine from it you see in my sig...but it's in about 29834687216734972873647017234 pieces now. This is just further proof that you can find these cars in great condition (running condition and cosmetic condition...which is a bit harder to find) for a VERY affordable price. I sold the trans recently for $175 and I know I could get at least $625 for the engine...this would make me break even and I don't even have the whole car any more.

The Z31 I have now (yes, my third) is an '88 2-seater with a 5-speed trans I bought last Feb...it's in pristine condition inside and near perfect condition outside...and it's paid off already...needless to say again...you can find these cars in great shape for little money.

NONE of these cars have given me any great troubles (worst thing was the alternator on the first one...if you have to change the alternator, put on a maxima alternator...higher output...90 amp instead of 60 or whatever the stock one has) and you won't have to worry about it again. I personally LOVE the Z31. I'd like a Z32TT, but they're pricier and more complicated and I got used to being Z31 thrifty. I can find them easily and I'm familiar with them...why change? The VG30E(T) will run for EASILY 250K, K3...I've heard of them with 300,000 on them and more. Talked to one guy that had one of the old maximas, which also had the VG30 in it, (it was used in the old maximas and some old pickup trucks) and they managed to get over 500,000 miles out of it. Nissan sent them a $5,000 check towards the purchase of a new Maxima...that's some mileage.

If you get one and need anything parts-wise or have any questions about it, e-mail me...I can probably help you out. Get a Z31, man...they're great.

--Brent
Long Live the Z

[k3smostwanted]

Originally Posted by longlivetheZ

Yea...my first car was an '86 300ZX 2+2 with a 5-speed trans. Ran great till I sold it (which I regret to this day)....and I was by NO STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION kind to this car...I drove it like a damn race car from the day I got it. I was only 16 when I got it...you can imagine, I'm sure. Most cars would have died after a few months, I'm sure. Only problem I had was with the alternator...changed it a few times (not hard) and (finally) put a new battery in it...never had another problem with it. The battery was messing the alternator up.

The second one I had was an '86 Turbo 5-speed that I bought last June...for $800. I thought that either the guy didn't know what he had, it didn't run right or it was a rusted out peesashit. Ran great, looked good, gave the dude the cash. Loved it. Was out being stupid one night and ran into a curb...bent the frame...basically totalled it. That's the engine from it you see in my sig...but it's in about 29834687216734972873647017234 pieces now. This is just further proof that you can find these cars in great condition (running condition and cosmetic condition...which is a bit harder to find) for a VERY affordable price. I sold the trans recently for $175 and I know I could get at least $625 for the engine...this would make me break even and I don't even have the whole car any more.

The Z31 I have now (yes, my third) is an '88 2-seater with a 5-speed trans I bought last Feb...it's in pristine condition inside and near perfect condition outside...and it's paid off already...needless to say again...you can find these cars in great shape for little money.

NONE of these cars have given me any great troubles (worst thing was the alternator on the first one...if you have to change the alternator, put on a maxima alternator...higher output...90 amp instead of 60 or whatever the stock one has) and you won't have to worry about it again. I personally LOVE the Z31. I'd like a Z32TT, but they're pricier and more complicated and I got used to being Z31 thrifty. I can find them easily and I'm familiar with them...why change? The VG30E(T) will run for EASILY 250K, K3...I've heard of them with 300,000 on them and more. Talked to one guy that had one of the old maximas, which also had the VG30 in it, (it was used in the old maximas and some old pickup trucks) and they managed to get over 500,000 miles out of it. Nissan sent them a $5,000 check towards the purchase of a new Maxima...that's some mileage.

If you get one and need anything parts-wise or have any questions about it, e-mail me...I can probably help you out. Get a Z31, man...they're great.

--Brent
Long Live the Z

great info Brent...yeah i meant 250k+ miles. these motors are very reliable and well built. i dont know if they just dont know when to quit or the new VG was one hell of a motor, proabbly a little of both.

anyways, yes i again make the statement that these are probably the most reliable Z car in the Z family and thats including the brand new 350Z...my buddies 350Z has been in the shop for more problems than my Z31 and Z32 combined...and he has owned it less time than my Z32 and only a few months longer than my Z31. i laugh at him because he gets mad and says things that makes it seem like he hates the older Z's but i know deep down inside he loves my Z32 atleast.


anyways, get a Z31T...you wont be dissappointed.

[longlivetheZ]

Well...just as with any car that's more or less brand new, there's gunna be some issues. The "first run" of new Zs weren't really the most reliable things in the world, I don't think, but I expected this. They're not bad, but they're not great either. They're only getting better.

Another example of this is the new Scion line...they're all completely brand new and I think it shows a little as well. Not bad cars...actually I really like the Tc's...but I know they're not too high on the new car dependability list. Read the list somewhere a while back and the new Scions weren't too high on it.

[stephenp]

id definitly say that i love both my 300s the na and the turbo they are both sorta snappy stock and with an exhaust, intake, removal of mechanicle fan, the ac unit, and a good cleaning the na could take the turbo (in its stock form) then you do those upgradesd top the turbo and up the boost to 8 psi and its fast do a little weight reduction(remove spare tire and the rear carpeting asd pad) and she is one snappy little bitch
i was able to keep up with a turbo civic with all types of mods and he jumped my by like a 1\2 a second off the line and it was still dead evemn and they had all sorts of tricks and gagets so yopu shouldnt be disatisfied and i had no problems untiol exceeding 8 psi in favor of 12.5 for a good few minutes thats when everything when wrong lol
and that was 12.5 on stock injection system and ecu im wiklling to do almost anything for power lol
good luck and i hope your car turns out to be the car of your dreams
whatever yuo pick

[longlivetheZ]

Originally Posted by stephenp

...im wiklling to do almost anything for power lol

That's stupid, man. Don't kill your engine...be smart about it.

If you find a turbo in good condition, you can find them very cheap. Say you find a turbo in good shape for 2G...this is very easy to do...put about $700 into it in mods (K&N cone filter, 3" exhaust with gutted cat and a boost controller...get a manual ball and spring boost controller and this could be done with even less than $700) and you could easily be running with 350Zs to 60...you should be able to run in the mid 5s to 60. This would put you in 350Z-land for less than $3000...including the price of the car and everything. I love the Z31T.

Do not take the stock turbo past 12 psi...especially without an intercooler. The stock turbo's efficiency drops so much past that point that you're just producing more heat than anything else.

[k3smostwanted]

Originally Posted by longlivetheZ

Well...just as with any car that's more or less brand new, there's gunna be some issues. The "first run" of new Zs weren't really the most reliable things in the world, I don't think, but I expected this. They're not bad, but they're not great either. They're only getting better.

Another example of this is the new Scion line...they're all completely brand new and I think it shows a little as well. Not bad cars...actually I really like the Tc's...but I know they're not too high on the new car dependability list. Read the list somewhere a while back and the new Scions weren't too high on it.

ahh...but it is a 2004 and nissan was supposed to fix all the new car problems. maybe the problem is that now-a-days, manufacturers arent making everything as strong as possible. i understand that a new car is gonna hvae problems that will be fixed later and be under recall as the 90 Z32's were...but some of these problems are just poor manfacturing. and thats not just nissan, thats all car companies.

[longlivetheZ]

I haven't heard anything about the 350Zs recently so i believe that most of the problems have been fixed...just like I knew they would.

[masood]

i have 350z and z31 now. i had z32 twin turbo before the 350z.
the best was the z32. fun to drive, faster, and you feel that your controlling the car.
about the z31: it's fun to drive, but it has 2 big problems
1- manifolds
2- electical problems. other than that nothing. the car is fun to drive, and it kicks asses.
My car has Jet chip, spearco intercooler, HKS exhaust system, HKS blow off valve, Apexi Boost controler, K&N filter, changed the fan to electric.
man: the 1995 mustang cobra was smilling the smoke from the HKS exhaust all the H.way.

lowered w/ intrax lowering springs, 350z 17 inch wheels, and fiber carbon hood are not in the picture below. i'll get new pictures soon.

[longlivetheZ]

Damn nice Z31, man. That sounds about right...intake, exhaust and boost controller will make them quite fast...and you went a little beyond...sure you're pushing the sub 5.0 sec - 60 barrier.

And to anyone that says the SOHC, non-variable cam, "peeny-weeny" 3.0L, single turbo, non-intercooled Z31 doesn't have the potential to be EXTREMELY fast, shut up...:

http://www.dragtimes.com/Nissan-300ZX-Timeslip-365.html

I'm not sure what you're talking about when you say "manifolds", though. The only thing I can think of is that you're referring to how restrictive they are. I recently removed mine from the engine I'm rebuilding and they didn't seem all that great. I wish they made headers for the turbo.

[k3smostwanted]

Originally Posted by longlivetheZ

I wish they made headers for the turbo.

i think escort makes a set...

[SRP | Lucian]

Thanks. I would get a Z32 but the upgrades for them are just so expensive. In stock form though, do you think it could keep up with other cars?