I bought the car October 2006. I drove 4 hours to Hamilton, ON to get this car (so 8 in total), the 2nd one I can find for sale in 1 year watching the classified after I sold my 1st 200sx. The car was bone stock, original suspensions parts (bushings, shocks, spring), even it has the original warranty, owner manual, and salesman's card who sold the car. The 1st buyer was a lady and she paid 15k for the car back in 1985.
I haggle the price over countless emails with the owner, although I still feel I paid too much for the problem it had, but I wasn't about to make my 4 hour trip to see the car fruitless; so I paid the price. Pretty meticulous guy, he has all the service papers since he owned it (2001). It has been rust proofed yearly and uses synthetic oils (I use royal purple coz I do beat the car occasionally). It's been in his family since early 90s. Mainly it was his dad's summer car and this guy used it for winter because he's a "bike" person. He got a job in Australia so he's selling the car. I'm the 4th owner. It has about 85k km on the odometer when I transfer the title.
The only big problem was worn out clutch that hasn't been addressed for a while, resulting in worn out 2nd and 3rd gear synchros (Being mainly city car in stop and go traffic just make matter worse) and leaky valve cover Gasket. I changed the al lthe fluids, clutch, belts, water pump, distributor, plugs, plugs cables, valve cover gasket, adjust the valves and timing, and I think my alternator is new too. After inspection by Nissan, they find out that the turbo/manifold is leaky. So out I go hunting for parts.
Interior was perfect, but early this summer it starts to crack and then it cracks some more. Front seats feel saggy just because it's old. Now the vinyl near the windows is cracked badly.
- Pics when I got it:
- 1st mechanical mod: Ractive tornado
- 1st visual mods: S13 steering wheel, JDM plate, racing pedal cover, and Silverstar
It survived harsh winter without block heater. I was surprised. I was worry about it all the time since it's an old car and it has no block heater. But other canadian members who lives in colder part of the country assured me it start just fine, although take awhile to get the tranny oil to an operateable condition.
- After an Ice storm:
- 2nd mechanical mod: dual MSD coils. Thanks to keith for the guide and write up
- 3rd visual mod: 5 star rota, bought from asparagus
- 2nd visual mod: wakaba sign, 4th visual mods: amber fog lights -> the cable is tucked in now.
I join a local auto club, and came out to the event when ever I can. The car is holding it's own ground, pretty good for 20 years old turbo car with blown shocks. It run about the same time compare to a "build" S13 (KA-E, header, catback, sticky tires, coilover, strut bars, gutted), although the driver is about 100 lbs heavier than me and this car is faster than some of the not so good miata driver and celica.
Autox pics:
- 1st event
- 2nd one
- 3rd one
I cleaned up the engine bay. I paid $10 for a swish bottle full of powerful solution that melts away 20+ years old grime and dirt. It called PM-23, pwerful alkali degreaser or something. It work wonderfully, I don't have to scrub or nothing. Spray it on the engine, wait 30 seconds, start the engine, have some one keeping it revved up at 2k, pressure wash the engine. It'll buck every now and then during the spray. If your engine in good condition, have faith. It'll go through it unharmed. After all the solution and grime is washed away, close the hood and let it idle for awhile to dry up things.
- 3rd mechanical mod: datsun 280zx short throw shifter (flipped bushings)and weighted titanium shift knob (more like titanium plated, coz it's a Ractive and I paid $20 new for it). It's hard to get used to the short throw, since it's harder to shift and closer to the driver seat. It does make the shifting sounds harsher.
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Next mods is T25 turbo and full turbo-back exhaust w/ magnaflow muffler.