My car has been down for almost three weeks with a coolant leak. I haven't been able to locate just where the coolant is leaking from. I just reanted a pressure tester. So, when I get re-motivated I will have to once an forall figuire out just where the damn leak is. I sure as hell hope it's not an external seal. That would blow big time.

I have been toying with the idea of selling the damn thing and buying a newer, more hassle free car. I am not keen on the idea of having car payments again. but I have been eyeing these used cars, G35 coupe, 350z, C5 Z06, S4, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I love my FD. I just hate it when I have to deprive my wife of her car G35x to get to work or when I stuck having to borrow a ****-*** 1991 Corolla Wagon(nothing says beater more than this POS).

Ok, I just had to vent.

 

Hehe, it can be tough. I just had a turbo coolant hose burst on me yesterday - fortunately, I had a spare part that was able to get the car on the road again (ordered a new hose this morning to go back and do the job right).

It's just the problem of owning an older car, especially a high-performance car.

Dale

 

z06 pwns

 

At the risk of starting a flame war, have you thought of dropping a LSx in there? Jimlab is working on an engine cradle. The only thing keeping me from doing so (besides a limited budget) is the glorious sound of the NA 20B that a forum member put together (see 20B forum), and the possiblity of him selling a mounting kit for it. The LSx swap is by no means a simple 'bolt-on', but enough have done it to where there is enough support/help.

I, too, am sick of fretting over the car. I want something that I can get in and enjoy, without having my heart skip a beat when I think I hear some abnormal noise.

 

Absolutely! After having been for a ride in gnx7's LS1/FD w/ 431 rwhp. I have definitely thought about the swap. I wish there was local shop that could do the work for me. I couldn't do the job by myself. At very least, I would need someone who has done it before, walk me through the process.

 

Other 13 year old cars get coolant leaks too. RX7's can give you that love/hate feeling more often than some... particularly with those drag-on, can't figure out what it is sort of issues, but I have enough friends with other newer more expensive performance cars to know that they have their share of problems too. The grass isn't THAT much greener on the other side.

 

p.s.... do NOT get an S4 if this sort of thing chaps your ***. I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole.

 

Ive Been Trying To Fix A Fuel Issue For Over A Year Now With Mine, Trust Me I Know How You Feel. Ive Even Had It At Pettit Twice But To No Avail.....

 

I agree. That's what I am in the market for.

 

Im Looking Into An Infiniti G35 Coupe Myself, Love Those Cars So Beautiful.

 

I always loved my FD, but the everyday hood up thing grew old after a while, when it's a daily driver.

 

I'll second the don't buy an S4. If stupid and expensive maintenance problems irk you, its definately NOT a choice car. Its a luxobarge with an engine that has the same overengineered problematic nature as the rotary, theres just so much going on and so packed in that stuff is just bound to fail. I'd vote turbo G35 if it was my money.

 

I know that grass can't be that much greener elsewhere. I mean, as soon as I get another car I'lll be looking to mod it. That's a given.

I guess I'm just getting older or this feeling could be due to lack of sleep...We just adopted a three month old puppy. I have been getting up in the middle of the night to let him out to pee at 3:00 AM every night, while we are crate training him.

 

Sometimes you just need to take a break. Don't get discouraged, everybody goes through ups and downs with any modded car.

The daily beater is the key.

BTW, how the puppy treating you though? What kind?

 

or a BMW. both my FDs have been more reliable and have spent less time in the shop than my last e36.

you'll figure it out. sometimes this **** takes time especially since you don't always have the tools you need at hand. i recently got one of those Lisle coolant bleeder jammies and I just don't know how i made due previously.

 

Unless I'm mistaken, the G35 turbo is the U.S. version of the Skyline right? I too vote for it anyhow, turbo or not! This was the decision I was faced a little over a year ago. Getting a slightly used G35 with my DD Pontiac GTP as a trade-in or, buying an in-expensive (7k) Fd for my weekend terror. I obviously decided the FD route, but sometimes wonder if I made the wrong decision.
Oh btw, my Fd took a **** on me as soon as unloaded it off the trailer when I got home!

 

My old '83 Cavalier would give that Corolla a run for its money-- as long as I could push the Cavalier

I'm periodically tempted to get something different from the FD. One of my neighbors picked up a new Z06. They look great to me and would be seriously tempting after GM sorts out the bugs for a year or two.

Now, about your FD, if you don't use it for a DD, then these problems are not so much of an issue. Why not pick up another vehicle?

 

If you have not replaced ALL the coolant hoses on this car you're wasting your time screwing around trying to locate the leak. Just replace them all and be done with it. Time spent looking around and screwing with a problem is wasted; attack it head on and make your time spent under the hood mean something. Just do all of those little buggers and you'll know that you won't have to worry about another one in the future.

It doesn't take 3 weeks to fix a coolant leak unless you're wasting a lot of time.

All FD coolant hose part numbers

 

Well theres a bunch of turbo kits out for the 350Z/G35 that are real nice, we probably won't see an OE turbo "skyline" version for another year or more, and it'll probably roll in with a 60k sticker price or more, though it will be AWD and have lots of the skyline toys like the older versions. The learning curve for turbocharging the VQ35 has been almost vertical, people are getting alot of power out of them already, my buddy is working on a Z31 300ZX with a VQ, goal is 1000 crank hp, granted thats sleeves, pistons, rods and two big turbos, but it should be doable.

 

Z06 all the way!!!!

If not, next best car is the G35 coupe. Just drive one, you'll sign papers that same day

 

Well, although damonb always has quality things to say - in this case, I defend the original poster.

After the new project FD I just finished, I too am tired of dicking around with the car (and I'm still screwing with it).

3 weeks to fix a coolant leak - sure, easily. For me ,this is how it works out:

1. It's winter here in NC. Get home after work, it's dark, its cold, don't have a garage big enough to work in, have to work outside, in the semi dark, cold, can't see ****, get tired of the BS, go inside.

2. That leaves the weekend. After a couple of hours, think you have it figured out, put it back together, still leaks. Get pissed, have other **** to do, stop working until next weekend.

3. Next weekend, out of town, got other **** to do, etc...

4. Finally, into week 3, order more ****, more coolant spilled, more money wasted for more coolant and parts, hours spent searching the forum, finally get it fixed.

Just hope you don't overheat the engine too bad testing it, and worrying if you've fucked th engine completely.

All to find out, everything you did ,from replacing all the coolant lines, dash removal and heater core, water pump, etc... could have been avoided if the new NAPA thermo you bought hadn't been a piece of **** and been bad from the start. hA!

sooo.....my theory is, the reason other forums are so small and don't have so many posts - because other cars don't have as many problems and members don't have anything to post or ask questions about!

 

to continue my rant - I don't want to be able to brag that I can now pull an engine in an hour, and put it back in an hour - by myself, outside, car on a hill. That just means I've spent so much time ******* around with the car, I'm pro at it!

On the other hand - the car gets loads of attention (just yesterday a guy mistook it for a viper), tons of looks, great fun to drive, and, once its off jacks and you're driving it, you kinda forget about the bullshit.

and also, i must say, my last FD, gave me zero problems until the accident. I think at most, in four years, I had a coolant hose bust and that was it. (I did blow the engine, but another story, and the price you pay for playing the upgrade game). Never left me stranded, etc...

So, once I tame this wild beast, I'm sure life will be good.

 

I would check out some of the coolant lines that are near the turbo/exhaust. After 100K miles I'm sure they could be the culprit.

I could help you do some of the LS1 conversion John... but I don't have any space to work on it at my house.... It is a true bolt in aside from figuring out the wiring which takes probably a full weekend by itself. It would be about $10K to do it right...

New cars that are any good and are sporty command $30K+. Then the high insurance that goes with them. Plus you are no longer unique having an FD because every other jackass owns an Sti/Evo, G35, Z06, Boxster, M3 etc.

I want a new car as well... and make mine into a full track car; however thoughts of the monthly car/insurance payment and a swift punch (self-inflicted) in the nuts makes me come to my senses and continue to drive my paid off and $40/month insured 500hp (flywheel) monster that gets low 20mpg and has yet to leave me stranded in 12K miles after the conversion.

I can put $500/month into my car in stereo, tires, paint job and still be ahead of the game. Plus a built LS1/FD doesn't really depreciate.... since it can hang with a new 505hp Z06, Ferrari, Lambo, Enzo etc.

Come to the dark side..... Luke.... feel the power....

 

DamonB, You're probably right. **** it! I'm calling Ray @ Malloy right now.