My First Project Car - 300ZX

[Stewcumber]

At the age of 36 I've decided it's time for my first project car. I am not very good at making decisions because it is easier to just continue with the status quo, so I've been looking on and off for a car for a few years, but this week I finally stopped being wimpy and bought something.



Its a 1989 Nissan 300ZX - but the Z31 not Z32 that everyone likes! I feel I am being a bit ambitious having barely changed a battery by myself in the past - parts are hard to come by. I've put a big order from RockAuto for a timing belt kit, hoses, thermostat, waterpump etc that in theory are coming from the US but it's all coming on Monday so maybe they have a UK warehouse. I will get a grown up to do the timing belt, water pump, thermostat etc I think.

On Saturday (two weeks ago when I got the car) I spent an hour or so cleaning it up and giving it a more thorough inspection (I get excited and forgetful when I view cars as it happens every year or so). For a car that "doesn't have leaky t-tops" it definitely had mould in it - but I might put that down to being stored in under cover, damp, all winter. But it cleaned up OK.



After a more thorough inspection than I did when I bought I found some things I really should have noticed like the side lights not working and tail lights not working. I thought I checked the tail lights but I must not have. Also, the temperature gauge doesn't work which is a bit concerning but thermostat appears to be working as the hoses got hot and "tense" when we had it running.

Considering how rare these cars are it is very fortunate that there is a guy 25 minutes away who is breaking two, so I went and bought a seat from him.

I then spent a couple of hours taking the spare seat apart, with the plan to combine by good rails, my good back with his good base, but then I saw that his base was very corroded and decided I'd much rather have some good metal but poor leather under my butt than the other way around. So re-assembed my seat and put it back in the car. But I was otherwise impressed with myself having never really worked on a car before.



I then had a trip to Euro carparts to pick up some service items - spark plugs, oil + filter, coolant etc. The car has been sat for a while. I also bought some ramps but my Dad who now knows about the car and has got excited is giving me some stands and a jack.

Then last week I decided to fix side lights and tail lights issue. After checking fuses and bulbs, the next most likely culprit, according to forums, is the switch on the steering wheel. So I took a brave pill and tried to fit a new switch (that I got from the spare parts guy... for £100 )

With a bit of help from a neighbour who was faffing outside at the time I got the steering wheel off. It turns out my neighbour was an autoelectrician in a past life which may turn out to be very useful lol. I got the switches removed and fitted the new one and all my lights now work! I actually acheived something! It was a bit disconcerting not having my car in this state:



Two of the tyres, which are 10+ years old, won't hold air for more than a day so I have some being fitted tomorrow. I will probably get replacement wheels at somepoint.

So with that done I will stop faffing and get under the car and do an oil change and filter, and replace the coolant, at which point I can actually drive it which I have not done properly yet. The timing belt + bits are being done on the 26th June (when I go away for 2 weeks!)

I also need to get an antenna plug as the antenna is leaking (and I won't use the FM radio) and there is rust (but not too bad) in the back right corner of the car.

Assuming that all goes well I will probably see if I can get the seat repaired.

[Lincsls1]

Ooof! I'm in.
Very interesting!

[Mr Tidy]

That looks like a great project, I hope it goes well.

[Rumdoodle]

Excellent. I had a Z32 a long time ago (didn't know it as anything except a 300ZX until I read your post!). Is yours a UK market car? Must have been rare when new. I like the '70s Z cars, then they went a bit ungainly in the early '80s before ending up looking very slick in the last iteration before the Z32. White suits it very well.

[Rich135]

Good on you. Just take your time with doing the jobs, research beforehand and use youtube - it's amazing how many things have been documented already.

Lovely car to start on, very cool.

[sbk1972]

Tremendous project. I used to love these cars. Locked in :-)

[Dr Teeth and The Electric Mayhem]

This will be great! My dad was a service manager for Datsun/Nissan dealerships in the south throughout the 80s and early 90s. So my Saturday job involved washing, dusting and tidying up the showrooms when I was a young teenager. Loved the Silvia, 280zx and of course the 300zx. So I loved these from an early age.
Plus dad had a 240z as well.

Great to see one being put back on the road, good luck.

[sbk1972]

My dad had two silivas. One on a B plate, silver, auto. Next one was a F plate, black, auto. Facelift version. Tremendous cars. Not fast by today's standards but at the time impressive.

When I was older enough and started to drive I spent years I trying to find a decent siliva. I wanted a facelift black one like my dads.

300zx was an excellent car.

I just love pop up headlights.

[biggbn]

I had the later series, a 300zx twin turbo with t tops, a manual box, a Stroesek body kit in bright red with full black leather. Its was a headturner!! Took it as a swap for a mk2 VR6 converted Golf!!