adamant2686

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the correct section to ask such a question since im new to the forum, but it seemed the best venue. I've been following the rx-7 since I was a teenager. I understand they can be alot like women, (unpredictable, unreasonable, and loud!), but I've always dreamed of owning one. Up until recently, I felt they were pretty unrealistic for me to attain, but alas I traded my 600rr for a 93 300zx tt. It has 95k miles and runs strong and has several aftermarket parts, although thee paint could use a respray. So let me cut to the chase, would it be realistic to believe that I could trade this for an FD of around the same caliber? Sorry for being such a vague question, just wondering how close to realizing FD ownership I am?

Any input/reality checks/ constructive criticism appreciated. Don't have enough posts to consider entering a feeler ad in the classifieds section yet!

Thanks, Adam.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

Hey Adam.
Your story reminds me of the Paper clip on Ebay thing!.(trade up..now it is a house..)
anyways welcome to the Forum.Get acquainted with some of the Tech aspects if you can.
Fd for a 300Zx?..ya never know.(but get 15 posts first).

adamant2686

thanks misterstyx, I'm working on it!

shorty1408

ok, well let me say this. i have a 300zx in my garage in peices from doing a rb25det swap. that car is the hardest thing i have ever worked on in my life, no joke. after 3000 dollars and alot of blood sweat and tears, i finally had to give up on it because i still was needing another 3k for it to even start, much less driveable. so 2 months ago i bought a 1988 rx7, bc our stories are pretty much the same, and ill tell you first hand, and probably wont get better first hand advice... but go with the rx7 any means possible. on a scale of 1-10 for difficulty working on a car, and im a mechanic btw, the 300 is a full 10. the rx7 is a 5. if the rx7 is what you really want, and what u want to build to make your own, and you actually want to have fun doing it, git it. youll be kicking yourself later for not doing it when u have the chance, trust me, i did. now, u have to think, the fd will have alot of drift tax on it, the 300 doesnt. so for the same money, your probably not going to get something like what u have currently. my advice, depending on your money situation, bc the 300 will cost a arm and leg for anything, go with a 2gen. easy to work on, can be made powerfull for little money, and at least to me looks good. you also have to take into acount, just like the 300, parts for fd are more exspencive. look at the fd like mazdas version of nissans 300. hope this helps, good luck

Darrin Wagers

commitment lol

The Laser

Trade it dude, But get an FC like adamant said. All I her from most FD owners on here is how hard their car is to work on yet it's substantially less for FC owners. I'd go with an S4 since you're able to take off more emissions items and vacuum lines then you would an S5 it seems, not to mention getting rid of the air pump. Everything you get rid of just makes the car that much easier to work on. An immaculate S4 can be had for less than what the 300zx is worth, so you could also get cash money for the difference.

adamant2686

Very good points shorty and laser. The both of you have given me food for thought. I haven't done any type of involved work on the 300 yet (oil and trans fluid) since the previous owner "said" he had done forged internals and port/polish. I do really like the idea of having an rx7, but unfortunately the styling of the FC doesn't quite do it for me lol. I do now have some food for thought, as it seems if an FD were achievable, it'd still perhaps be easier to work on than the z. Finally, I haven't completely ruled out an FC, as it makes sense financially just can't seem to get over the looks (different strokes for different folks).

DC5Daniel

iTrader: (10)

The 300zx TT is a desirable car. I can't see why you wouldn't be able to get in the ballpark. As stated above though, condition and value are not going to be equivalent.

The Laser

Depending on where you go, a TT300zx can fetch upwards of $12k. But that's usually highly, and properly, modded or bone stock with damn near no miles on it with literally no rust anywhere. I HAVE seen them go for this when I lived in Washington state. The main problem with them though is that to do any major work on them is going to cost over $1k, and NOBODY will even want to touch anything wiring harness related. I'm also going to assume he didn't have reciepts for the work done? Or did he do it himself to save money? If you know.

The Laser

That's understandable. Though if you're a rotary newb, I'd recommend an FC just so you can get some basic knowledge of how the motor works, what you can and can't do to it, and learn patience when it comes to parts for it. I've come from a DSM world where those cars have about as bad, if not worse, reputation when it comes to the motors. If you can be patient with these cars though, any other engine will be easy-peasy. I love how the FD looks though, and if given the choice between that and an FC, it would be the FD soley on looks. Just sexy.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

correction, early 13B engine vehicles are a 5 out of 10 to work on, FB being lower yet at a 3-4/10. the FD he asked about is a solid 8/10. worst i have seen is a VR4 TT at 10/10.

adamant2686

Thanks for the encouragement Daniel, I'll just have to be patient and become more familiar with the FAQ's and other general rx7 owner info posted on the forum.
He did not have receipts and "claimed" he did the work himself. Athough I don't have any receipts to prove it or a mods list of any kind, making it a little more difficult.
Good to know. +1 on FD styling
I see. So FD's are a bit easier to work on than 300's, but not quite near the ease of an FC.

I was considering an imported FD that I'd run across yesterday; gonna have quite a bit of research ahead of me in terms of titling the car, but perhaps that's part of the fun (might try to contact another JDM owner who's already been through this process). Thanks for all the feedback so far guys!!

ZE Power MX6

iTrader: (157)

It's hard to tell, you might be able to trade for a same mileage/condition FD, if you can find ad FD owner that's currently looking for a Z.

The Laser

As far as this goes, if there is already crash test info already done for it then you won't have much of a problem getting it here and registered. I'm not sure what the import law is for older cars is for the cut-off year.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

nissan? no i haven't seen too many Z's that are really that tough considering their long engine bay. mitsubishi is a different animal, the 3000GT/VR4 was a twin turbo transverse all wheel drive V6 in an engine bay that literally wrapped right around the engine and you could barely fit a straw in anywhere. the godawful water pump was timing belt driven and sat right in the middle of the engine, it was about a 20 hour job on the VR4, most shops wouldn't even let inexperienced techs work on those cars because an out of time belt would wreck EVERYTHING.

i never saw so many toasted valves/heads before or after my time with mitsubishi..

Iced_Apple

it's to be hard to find a FD owner who wants a 300zx that is tore apart. but you never know. i have worked on a couple 300zx TT's and they do suck. there worse then 3000gt vr-4/stealth TT's. best bet is to sell the 300zx out right then save some more and buy a decent FD

adamant2686

Iced, I think you were referring to shorty's 300, mine is 100% complete and running. Not bad advice though on selling the z and saving money to add on; always a route to consider.

yan

i had a 94 tt z... BEST car ever.. WORST engine bay ever lol... You can't even squeeze a finger anywhere through that thing...

stauren1203

iTrader: (1)

My $.02.... Make the Z32 pretty. My experience in the car world, even die-hard enthusiasts are willing to shell out a little more money for a car that LOOKS pretty. If your Z runs well and looks pretty, your best bet will be to, as stated already, sell your Z for the right price then save a few pennies more and buy a GOOD FD. I don't own an FD (yet) but I'm in the marker and my research has told me that there is no such thing as a "decent" rx7. They're either going to be good or not. If you're this close, don't be hasty and buy junk. Do it right


EDIT**: As stated before, different strokes for different folks, with the cost of an FC being so much less than an FD, that does give you some money in your pocket to do some aesthetic upgrades to suit your liking. food for thought.

NorthWest7

iTrader: (1)

It might be an easier optiont to just sell the z and put that money towards a roller, not sure what the z's go for( dont care much for nissan) but the right z enthusiast might give you enough for it to get you started on your way to an FD. I just bought mine and couldnt be happier. If its what you really want im sure you'll find a way to make it happen. Good Luck!

shorty1408

it was sad but happy day today. i just had my 1990 300zx towed away to pick and pull(junk yard). after months of work, excitment, set backs, money issues, things falling apart, its finnaly gone. i will say, i had fun here and there(this car was my first engine swap project), i only got to drive it down the road once though. i have learned a great deal and will take that exsperience with me on my rx7. another chapter in my life has closed, but others have only just begun.