steve s

ah man, brings back memories.. those were some nice sports cars.. saw an rx7 in japan a while ago...very very nice. supra, nsx, 3000gt vr4 (have u guys seen the same setup in that lancer? lancer vr4), 300zx, rx7...sweet

talk about quality. is it just me or do all 300zx side skirts have bubbled paint?

EKaru

The 300ZX received many awards including Motor Trend “Import Car of the Year;”... Motor Trend also names it, “One of the Top Ten Performance Cars”... Automobile All-Star 1990-94; Automobile “Design of the Year." It was on the Car & Driver 10 Best list six years straight - every year it was made. Road & Track names the 300-ZX Turbo “One of the Ten Best Cars in the World”........

• 1990 - In response, the fourth-generation Z -- the dramatic 1990 300-ZX -- takes on tighter proportions and a much more aggressive stance. The all-new DOHC 3.0 liter engine offers increased output of 222 horsepower for the normally-aspirated model, and an incredible 300 horsepower for the 300-ZX Turbo. The 1990 300-ZX Turbo is named Motor Trend’s “Import Car of the Year”. Motor Trend also names it, “One of the Top Ten Performance Cars”. Automobile Magazine honors the 300-ZX/300-ZX Turbo as its “Design of the Year”, and names the 300-ZX Turbo to its “All Stars” list. Road & Track names the 300-ZX Turbo “One of the Ten Best Cars in the World”. Car and Driver names the 300-ZX Turbo “One of the Ten Best Cars”. American Z-car sales reach the one million sales mark in the 1990 model year, making it the all-time best selling sports car.

• 1991 - The 300-ZX Turbo is named to Car and Driver’s “Ten Best” list, and is once again one of Automobile Magazine’s “All-Stars”.

• 1992 - For the third straight year, Car and Driver names the 300-ZX Turbo one of its “Ten Best”, and Automobile Magazine names it to its “All-Stars” list.

• 1993 - For the fourth straight year, the 300-ZX Turbo is named a Car and Driver “Ten Best”, and one of Automobile Magazine’s “All-Stars”.

• 1994 - A race-modified Z wins both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours at Sebring. It goes on to win the GTS Class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, making it the only car ever to accomplish such a record within the same year. And for the fifth straight year, the 300-ZX Turbo is named to the “Ten Best” and “All Stars” lists by Car and Driver and Automobile Magazine, respectively.

• 1995 - 1995 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Z. It also brings another award from Car and Driver, as the publication names the 300-ZX Turbo to its “Ten Best” list for the sixth straight year. Nissan, working with Steve Millen Sports Cars, produces a limited edition 25th Anniversary 300-ZX Twin Turbo, the SMZ. According to Nissan, in recent years, the 300-ZX/300-ZX Twin Turbo has outsold the Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra, and Acura NSX combined.

• 1996 - Regrettably, 1996 signifies the final production year of the Z-Car. Nissan will sell the the 300-ZX in 1996, despite 1994 sales of just over 6,000 units, and 1995 sales reported to be even fewer. In 1998, especially with the opening of the Nissan “Z-Stores”, rumors abound about a “next generation” Z-Car.

JasonC32amg

The '93 interior panels had issues, the other years were good to go. I've had a couple fo 3rd gens and they are reliable if you are aware of thier quirks and do the reliability mods. There is also a fuel supplement that keeps the rotor seals happy I don't think I've ever driven a car that was more fun

EKaru

I've read in a long term update that the RX8 was burning off oil and they routinely had to add some between oil changes.. They said that this was normal for rotary powered cars, so I'm guessing the RX7 did the same especially having dual sequential turbochargers... Just out of curiosity, what's the advantage of sequential turbocharging... The Supra and RX7 had sequential turbo set-up whereas the 300ZX and 3000GT did not (both turbos spooled at the same time)... Maybe it helps with lag issues, but the two small T-25 garret turbos in the Z hardly had any lag at all...
Eric...

5150_C32

C&D did a long term test on an RX-7 (not sure what year 40K) and it was falling apart. They really hammered the car on the way it did not hold up well.

I liked the car, but could not fit in it comfortably (6'3" 230lbs).


With the Supra and the RX-7, the sequential turbos were used at different rpm ranges. The second turbo would come on above a certain rpm range to help smooth out the power delivery and keep turbo lag down. Seemed to work well in both cars, they ran very fast track times stock for the early to mid 90's.

As you see tho, most people that want BIG power on the Supra went to an aftermarket single turbo unit.

oggle

I think the bubble paint was done on purpose, to prevent rock chips. I still remember them on mine.

ZHOUND

Funny you mention the Z. Take a look in my garage. :-) My first love.



Then take a look at this:

http://www.socalzcrew.com/modules.ph...view_album.php

FLSL55

That car was the owner of TPS in West Palm.

It has 700whp with race gas.

Vader13

I got in it with a nice modded Supra.
I was pulling up to the red light and gunned it at green, he saw it and jumped foward. then we were neck and neck for days, I finally pulled on him at around 120.....

13benz

Hi Jason,
I used to own two mr2's (an 84 and a 91 turbo both red) and have driven a supra or two. they are nice cars. I own a 87 Toy 4x4, and a 84 land crusier. The truck doesn't owe anyone. its got almost 300000. Japanese vehicles are good in some ways and bad in others. I have driven a lot of low dollar sports cars. just to poor to afford that black diablo vt in my dreams yet.. If you are considering buying one for the weekend. Go test drive a ss or any z28camaro or a ram air ta that costs about the same amount of $. I love mine. 84 with some mods, but more cheap horses are there to be had, chevys are like that. they hang low to the road, and don't ask... they demand respect at a light. ive put more than one clown with stickers and an adjustable wing in the rear veiw mirror, but most people just give you the nod when they can hear your car lope.
Hope it rocks no matter what you decide. later.

vraa

When you say 'they can hear your car lope', that's the noise where it sounds like the resonance is lopsided right?

Anyone picture a sin wave?

Am I on the right track?

AWDman

'they can hear your car lope'

i think this traditionally referred to the sound of a motor with high lift , long duration cams. the idle is irregular. not sure if yu could translate that to a sine wave but if you could the frequency would be irregular.

FrankW

love the Supra and the Fairlady 300Z, too bad it's hard to find good conditioned Z and all the Supras are way overpriced due to demand.

13benz

Hi again all.
AWDman is right. high lift, long duration cam. Can be an easy, cheap mod with good gains in horsepower. esp in a small block chevy. headers help the rumble an power gains too. just don't go too big and break your valve springs .. you trade vacum signal and a smooth idle for power gains in higher revs. Old school. here's a link to an mp3, his idle sounds just a tiny little bit low to me, and computer speakers ain't the real deal but you will get the jist. http://thirdgen.org/newdesign/sounds/nagga/nagga.mp3

I liked the 300 zx too.
later.

JasonC32amg

True true...if all I wanted was speed then a used low option ls1 z28 with h/c would be a fun car. Everytime I get an American muscle car I've been let down by the vehicle dynamics...except for my z06

13benz

Z06's are wicked cool. Ive drove a few older vettes but never owned one. looked to buy a few different c4's but always ended up talking myself out of it. too many junk cars now i tell myself. Supras are nice cars and toyota has a rep for cars that go and go for a reason. I tore the motor down in my toy pickup at 250000 it was starting to smoke a little so i decided to rebuild it. all it needed was rings and a new timing chain tensioner. i had a valve job done on the head for peace of mind but everything was still within spec for stock bearings and pistons. in fact there was barley any ridge at all on the top of the cylinders after 1/4 million miles. insane. My MR2 turbo was fast, but you don't forget there is nothing in front of you at 130+. Just thought i would throw the z28 out there for an alternative. i realy like the handling. Interior peices are a little cheap feeling, esp since i got the benz.. but i think that about most cars now. in my book it's still the best bang for the buck sports car. If i could afford it hopped up vette would be killer. Good luck with the car Whatever you Get.
later.

AWDman

cams can be amazing. i was toying with fixing my nx2000 for track work until it sold it in favour of the s2000. the sr20 motor could gain 30+ HP on top end with the most agressive of the jim wolf technogy cams, upgraded valve springs/retainers, suporting ecu, air flow upgrades.....if i decide to mod my 3000gt i will get upgraded spring and ecu so i spin to 8300 rpm.

my neighbour just picked up a 300zx twin turbo, 1990 i think. car crazy retiree......he swops out cars often....fully covers the new purchases in the back yard so his crabby wife has no clue! i'll test drive it later in spring.


i test drove the mr2 turbo when in 1st came out, tried to buy a aquamarine t topped car but deal fell through. went and bought an eagle talon tsi awd instead- still like that car. it's the most comfortable car i've ever had in term of driving position. sold it after 3 yrs but bought another 1991 tsi awd in 1997 and drove it till it seized at 120,000 (my fault- i put restore in the engine). if i can find an awd 1992-1994 auto that would be a nice commuter.

13benz

AWDman, you got one of my best buddy's dream ride. the VR4 spyder is sick. The talons are neat cars too. ****pit like a fighter jet. the one i drove was front wheel drive and the base model, handling was great for a front wheel drive car though. A lot like the integra i was driving at the time. Easy on gas and quick around the corners. Iv'e driven a 300zx a few times, but not the turbo. A bud of mine's had a combat kit and was mettalic purple. Nice cars, and the variable power sterring is cool. i had it up to about 120 on a midnight run with the t tops out in the middle of nowhere.

AWDman

..yeah i like my spyder. most folks don't even know what it is. ...and u're right on re the talon's "****pit" the instruments/dash tilted towards driver and tranny tunnel wrapped around the side....neat. the s2000 is like that as well.

it's amazing that the 4g63 lives on in the lancer. i remember it was one of the 1st balance shafted 4 pots back in 1991. smoooth.