ZFreak's RB26DETT Z32 300zx build...

GlassJAw · Mar 1, 2010

I bet you're not looking forward to pulling the engine out again..... I know it's for the right reasons that it is coming out again..... but it just looks so damn good in there!

You being the man with the Z knowledge...... what is a Z32 Fairlady 2+2 ??
After re-reading this whole thread again it has inspired me to look at one of these as a project car (pretty decently priced really Twin Turbo V6's for approx $2500 US) the one above popped up and I was left wondering what the difference was between that and the Fairlady 300ZX.

ZFreak · Mar 1, 2010

GlassJAw said:
I bet you're not looking forward to pulling the engine out again..... I know it's for the right reasons that it is coming out again..... but it just looks so damn good in there!

You being the man with the Z knowledge...... what is a Z32 Fairlady 2+2 ??
After re-reading this whole thread again it has inspired me to look at one of these as a project car (pretty decently priced really Twin Turbo V6's for approx $2500 US) the one above popped up and I was left wondering what the difference was between that and the Fairlady 300ZX.

The "Fairlady Z" is what the Z32 300zx was called in Japan. All other markets (UK, Aus, New Zealand, US and Canada) it was called the 300zx. The 2+2 means it has a rear seat (albeit not usable).

In europe, all Z32's were 2+2 and all were twin turbo. An easy way to spot a 2+2 is if the gas filler door is behind the rear wheel arch instead of in front of it. The 2+2's are only 7 inches longer but somehow they have a lot more room.

Beware about "cheap" Z32's though...especially they twin turbos... remember that these cars were close to $50,000 USD when new, but the price to maintain them never went down, so a timing belt service (called a "60k service" which is just the timing belt, oil seals, water pump, and t-stat) will run you anywhere from $1500-$2000 at the Nissan dealer. Turbo replacement is $2500 on up. (listed at 28.0 hrs for replacement...at $100/hr that's $2800 in labor alone).

Hope that helps.

EDIT>>> IT is very common for people to add the "fairlady Z" badge on the back.... I have it on mine as well. You can see it on the upper left of the rear taillights (the US driver side)

2nd edit>>> Mine was originally a 2+0 (2 seater) Non Turbo Automatic..probably the least desired. I did a 5 speed twin turbo swap to it before the RB26 swap. You can see the gas filler door is in front of the wheel arch which lets you know it is a 2+0.

The body parts are only interchangable from the front fenders forward...everything else externally is different from 2+0 to 2+2's. The US market had convertibles available in very low numbers, as well as a "slick top" version (only came in non turbo 2+0) and is VERY rare because it is the lightest model of all variations....sub 3000lb almost...good for swaps.

kn0x47 · Mar 2, 2010

nice work. so is it running now?

ZFreak · Mar 4, 2010

Not yet! I'm in the process of painting the engine bay for the next weekend or two, THEN the engine goes back in, THEN i'll be closer to firing it up.

NASOHC · Mar 4, 2010

Nice Z project! :whip_001:

ZFreak · Mar 8, 2010

The mounts are all welded up and primered for paint.

I'm in the process of making my "mock up" paint booth in the garage with drop cloth plastic and box fans. Should have some good pics in about a week or two for ya.

Plutonium Jones · Mar 12, 2010

dude...ahmagad...ahmagad dude this car just....ahmagad

btw...godgirra license plate? pretty sneaky...

ZFreak · Mar 15, 2010

I'm in the process of still painting it right now. It's been too cold (yes, it gets cold in Texas) for the paint to cure properly, so I'm just hanging on until I get a nice day that will let me paint it!!!

Soon!

RedRyder · Mar 15, 2010

Thanks for posting the info on the difference between the 2+0 and 2+2, I've always wondered that myself.

There is an off-white 300zx by where I live for sale for $4500 (I forget what year). The outside looks very nice, but the inside...extremely worn, seats look like they were never conditioned and you can see all the dirt in the folds, etc. The shifter, boot, console, steering wheel, floor carpet are all worn as well. Even though it is a manual, I swore it off. Pretty sure it's not a twin turbo, it's suppose to say that in the black area of the tails, correct?

Question for you, is the painted bottom part of the front bumper suppose to have a texture throughout, or is it suppose to be smooth like the rest of the car? There is a different finish or texture on the bottm section...and it looks bad im my opinion.

PS can't wait to see your final result.