What would you do in my situation...!! Help Please... PICS..

[GsXtC21]

Well some of you may know i have a 98 gsx eclipse in pretty good condition, has all basic bolt ons w/ stock turbo.. Only downside to my car as of now is that my clutch is slipping and will certainly need replacement soon. Well some guy offered to trade me his 300zx twin turbo pushing about 400hp in good condition...
Quote from him about his car

"I just really want a AWD car. I have never owned a GSX. I have owned all kinds of car's and this is my 3rd Z. I have a lot of money invested in this car. The Ac works but needs a recharge. The only problem I am having with the car now is that it needs new BOV's. I was driving the car and one came lose and fell off. And the other got damaged. Thats not really a major problem BOV's are pretty cheap and I will also include a rare set of HKS Y-pipes so you can do Dual SSQV's.
I have replaced a lot of part's. Car has a new Timing belt, Water pump, All belt's, Coil pack's, Fuel pressure regalator, Fuel Pump, New hose's, EGR delete (in progress), New OEM Fan clutch and Fan, Kinda newesh Clutch and flywheel, Oil filter/Fuel Filer and oil change, New OEM EFI Engine Harness (cost me 500 bucks), New CAS and TPS, New knock sensor and knock sensor sub harness. I did all this when my car hit 115k miles. The car now has 120k.

Its a Black on Black 400+hp 300zx Twin Turbo.

Steven Millin Tuned Racing ECU (Jim WOLF), Stillen Side Mount Intercooler's (Big upgrade) HKS hi power exhaust, HKS h-pipe and test pipe, HKS hard pipes, Stillen pop charger intake, Stillen short throw shifter, stillen x-drilled rotors, metal matrix pads, stainless lines, super blue dot 4 fluid, Z1 Aluminum sub frame bushings, ACT 6 puck clutch, fidanza flywheel, Hicus eliminator kit, Topspeed rear strut bar, Z1 aluminum drive shaft, sport touring still functional and tight, Fairlady Z Clear Tail lights, Carbon dash kit, auto meter shift light, auto meter: oil temp, water temp, air fuel, and boost guages, greddy turbo timer, Custom Audio system in rear with custom cut cab (Looks very clean!); 2 12in kicker subs, rockford amps, pioneer deck, visor screen, viper alarm. I am sure I am forgetting a few thing's."

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And heres my car...

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Also he's willing to do a straight trade with getting temporary bov's to get the car to me...

So let me know, what would you do if you were in my shoes..? I know obviously its up to me in the end but im a total noob when it comes to 300zx's and would like some insight from those who possibly have experience with both dsm's and 300zx's...

Thanks in advance...

 

[joe sobo]

its your call. i love both the dsm and i love the 90-9? 300zs'. dollar for dollar, the z is worh alot more than the dsm. but if it were me, it still would have to be in perfect running condition to make the trade. that means he must put good bovs' on it. also , make sure it is not a scam

 

[fstfcs]

If it's legit i say do it.

 

[GsXtC21]

Yes its not a scam, ive actually met the guy before and have seen the car in person about 6 months ago but at that time wasn't really interested in the car... Now he's willing to meet up for me to check the car out and the same for him to make sure everything checks out... Is there anything with z's to look for in particular other than the normal stuff.. For instance, are the notorious for anything i should be aware about..?

Generally speaking, are 300zx's a headache when it comes to reliability and what about working on the motor...? Is it a pain in the butt..?

 

[agarc023]

Z's are pretty sweet, just know that its gonna be a pain if you ever want to do any engine work on the car. My buddy has a NA Z and his engine bay is packed, I have a hard time imagining a TT engine bay,

but like Joe Sobo said it ultimately your call

 

[fran_drivertsi]

Hard call. Make sure that the Z has everything okay with the motor and tranny. Look for sounds like knocking or ticking, make sure tranny shifts with no grinds. If it does, indeed, have 400whp... You will be able to feel it when it pushes you in the seat. I really doubt it though. He doesn't even have a wideband. Given the fact that it could be tuned in the shop, but still.

Overall, I would say go for it, since 300ZX is definitely more of a bad ass car and it is rare. Worth quite a bit too. Just be careful, because there is no free cheese.

 

[tkelly27]

After seeing the cubic dollars required to make hp with a 300zx, and how cramped the engine bay is, and all the little things that can go wrong, I wouldn't trade. I also don't like the way they look. Out of the 7 (4tt 3na) I've been around in the last year and a half, I've seen 2 scrapped, and none of them run for more than 15 minutes while their owners pour every last dime into them.

Look behind the intake plenum and think about reconnecting all those hoses. Try to find the turbos! To replace the PS lines the engine must be lifted, the AC system is even worse (or was it vice versa?). Spark plugs are $75 a set. There are 6 different charge pipes (only 3 are remotely easy to get to), 2 intercoolers, and 2 throttle bodies to get air leaks from.
http://derek.delconte.org/z/images/engine_bay.jpg
ugh, gross, plus, it's a nissan.

If you want a new car, trade for it running and driving, and don't settle for any "you just need to..." or "this is a temporary fix..." because it will become a money pit like you can't believe. God forbid something goes wrong and you get the bug to make more power while you're pulling it apart.

 

[GooeyGus]

Definitely make sure it's running well and driving well.

If it were me, I would do it.

BUT... I am a sucker for 300Z TT's. I've just always wanted one.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

They are more of a bi*** to work on than a DSM, but it almost sounds too good to be true.
I just got done reading a thread on here about a guy who traded down fron an AWD Talon to an Eclipse GST because he didn't want to fix the one he had... The GST was supposed to be all good and ready to drive. Long story short, when he got the GST home and shut it off, it wouldn't start again.

Make sure you check it out! If you don't know anything about them, take it to someone who does.

 

[GsXtC21]

Yeah thats what i kinda figured due to the small engine bay and it being v6.... Well i certainly do want to at least check the car out but its still up in the air.. who knows..!!

 

[Jed_Atreides]

My roommate's mechanic, and he dislike working on 300ZX due the way the engine bay is. My other roommate owns a Eclipse, and he enjoys working on Eclipse but hates how it keeps breaking down. 400+HP on a 300ZX usually doesn't equal reliability.

300ZX engine bay is a bi*** to work on, but will turn more heads than a Eclipse (personal experience). I want one, but my projects kept me poor enough.

If I were you, I'd still do it. I just love Nissan.

 

[motomattxxx]

Is there something you like about the hideous cheap plastic 80's era interior? Are you guys kidding? If its such a nice and rare car then why do you think he wants rid of it REALLY? Why would'nt he just sell his rare car for all kinds of money and buy a dsm? Those cars are hideous, underperforming heaps. Yeah there's a reason you don't see many of them, because they did'nt sell many and the ones that did get sold are gone now. Go to your local junk yard sometime, its like a Nissan petting zoo.

 

[Talon50]

if you like working on your own car, dont do it. I had one before i got my dsm and working on the motor was awful. if you shine a light on the top of the motor, no light comes out the bottom. the first step to replacing the alternator is pulling the motor.... there is absolutely no room to work on it. it makes things difficult to mod/ repair. you'll kick yourself when winter rolls around too.

 

[Rob10_99]

Yeah that trade sucks, you honestly don't ever want to have anything go wrong under the hood of one of those.
Just remember how often you see one on the road vs a 1g/2g, there's good reasons behind that.

 

[scotyu]

Yeah, one of the prodominant reasons there are more is cost... dsm's are cheap. They break all the time just like a modded nissan could. Parts may be more expensive on a nissan, but you get what you pay for. I would do it, and if you think your not happy then sell it. It's worth more and you can have a new project. Just tell him you would want it ready to drive i.e. fix the BOV, especially if they are cheap. Good luck bro!

 

[DWR-DSM]

I wouldnt make the trade, I would just stick with what you got.

 

[Bluefire16]

Tuff call, i have seen 2 really nice tt z's and i love em. If the car seems to run fine and drive fine, why not. I have a friend with one thats not turbo but even then the engine bay is super small. Just be ready for a PITA if things start to go wrong. I have been told by my friend that things often due...but then again same thing with a DSM right?

 

[outcastgsx]

I love my dsm too, but I would pick up the 300zx tt. I cant belive some people would say that a z with 400 hp would have reliabilaty issue. A z with stock intercoolers,injectors,fuel pump,bov turbos with bpu's and JWT or sz ecu and 18 to 20 psi on race fuel with 18-20 timing advance will make at least 350-380 at the wheels!. I know cause my buddy has one, he ran 12.6 at 112 at fontana ca with street drag radials with a 1.9 sixty foot. All interior and a/c ect in the car.
I personaly wouldnt trade my 94 gsx but I would love to have rwd car and the z would be it. Oh and the car is a 90 with 120k. Smooth as heck too.

 

[GsXtC21]

Yeah i know its a tough decision, i appreciate the honest responses but the general census currently seems even haha, Yeah but on a real note, thats what im worried about.. I love working on my own car but i dont want it to be a PITA all the time and it seems like this car would be a pain if anything goes wrong....

And really, pull the motor for an alternator change..?

 

[agarc023]

And really, pull the motor for an alternator change..?

Wouldn't doubt it...

 

[xtr3me]

I would do it in a hear beat! You could buy it. Enjoy it for a wile then sell it to get your dream DSM. But thats just me. I've always wanted a TT z.

 

[95eclipser]

iv always liked 300zx tt, but while all cars we mod can become money pits, the dsm would prob be less of one as you went to make big power.. honestly your choice, but i would stick with your dsm

glwe Drew

 

[thewraith]

From a pure dollar perspective- it's a no brainer. Do the trade, but make sure it's really the bov's that have the issue and not the engine/turbo/tranny.

 

[habitatguy187]

If the car is fast enough for you as it sits then you hopefully won't have to work on it much. Sounds like the guy really took care of it and it looks very nice too, looks like he took pride in it.

I'd do a compression test first, and if it checks out, then I'd trade. If you end up not liking the car down the road just sell it and buy something else.

 

[reno23]

If a 300zx is what you really want and will be happy with, then do it, but if you just want a change of pace by driving around a different car, then don't. Your DSM is really nice and you have hard work put into it that i'm sure you are proud of. Like mentioned above, it's really your call.