how much would a compression or leak down test cost? Yes, if my shops do that, and cost is not so high that i would rather spend it towards rebuilding known problem areas. I would love to take it to SOHO, but wanted to save alot of money first. the over 4 hour drive will be hard on z. edit: compression and leak down test is apparently cheap. Im surprised my shop didnt reccomend it! It sounds like something u would need to pull the engine for

You are correct though, theres no oil on the ground. im not used to straight pipe smell, but it almost does smell like more than gas i think. i read that it will have bluish smoke. normally it has no smoke unless you rev. I think i have seen a blue tint to it though.



I already did that lol. If anybody needs a new hr dipstick i hope shippings not high, but ive got it. It does have slight bend in it from me trying to jam it in my de, and z1 wont take it back. I ordered wrong one first try..

 

I'm not. And no - you don't need to pull the engine.

Yes. Oil is burning.

 

If you have an oil burn issue, usually one, two, or three things. Rings, valve seals, head gasket. There are myriad other things it could be but these are top three.

Get the point? You're gonna tear down the entire engine so don't cheap out trying to fix one thing because, you're gonna have to do it again. A good, solid rebuild shouldn't cost more than about $12k. I mean, after JWT cams, good 14:1 pistons and rings, baffled sump and performance oiling, headers and all the good stuff that you'll need to build that semi-comp motor, that's about right. 2/3rds or more of that is labor to pull the front end, pull the engine and trans (so you might as well do the trans at the same time), tear it all down, machine work, misc parts n' gaskets to make it all work properly. Wanna save money (get a loan approved), learn to do it yourself.

Uh huh.

 

lol well thats kind of literally what i was thinking. Thats why ive been standoffish about actual engine work. I considered i could spend a few grand, and rebuild some failure points, and not build a competition engine. It may be worth it, to greatly prolong engine life. Soho near me offers engine blueprinting, but its expensive too i bet. regardless, im not in the financial spot for a competition build right now. It either collects dust in the driveway, or gets beat up on the road, as i save. I said i was taking this thing off the road in a few months. I want to but i have no idea what im doing always indecisive lol. One thing i know, even though the clutch is already annoying, im still wanting to build this for track. When time comes to push it hard or goto track, i want it built for that. Even if im stupid for wanting to ride around town in an uncomfortable car.

Anyways got my battery today and feel stupid for that too. I guess ill use it, and it will work. Its freakin 40 lbs lol. And im an idiot for trusting amazon as my reference, to figure out the weight. I knew as soon as i picked up the box it was heavier. Im all about saving weight up front, and wouldve opted for a yellow top or anything to save some lbs.

 

Question is do you have a couple grand, or another loan?

 

not atm. can get another loan for a car, but idk about a low interest one for an engine or something. I can continue to baseline it, then save and improve credir. i definitely plan on doing suspension and trans first.


But yes a couple grand is nothing, if that will help my engine that much. unless i run this one out while i save for next one, or low mileage vert for its engine. Because when you start talking 5k-15k, idk when ill have it and theres so many options.

Edit: I deleted a ramble about buying a low mileage vert for second car. Its a pretty bad idea after researching convertible top repair. I may still do the compression test, and leak down test. I now plan on just buying a remanufactured engine for the 350z, and getting it on backup as i run this one. I found them for 3-4 grand, even though some are 6 grand. Maybe i can even get it built some, before install. This way, I can stay away from loans for now. I still would like to make it to the track of some sort, before too long. Ill also keep my eye out for usa used engines. I will post after suspension work.

 

What are your current plans for the "suspension work"?

 

nismo billet rear traction arms

z1 upgraded monoball bushing compression rods

nissan oem front inner tie rod kit

SPL front outer tie rod ends

SPL Billet rear camber arms

SPL Front lower control arm/shock bushings

SPL V4 titanium FUCAs

hotchkis sway bars

and p2m sway bar links.


My plan is to have all of this installed with my b12 kit. I was going to take your advice, and have the really expensive place do it. I spoke with the expensive place, and they said they can do it. He said the guy has done suspension on 350zs before. Yet, he was saying most of their customers are DIY, or go somewhere else. Idk why, maybe because the price is really high. So, im having my shop install, then drive it 5 miles to sports car alignment place on my new tires.

Im also having my shop fix battery completely, install 75mm throttle body, and z1 diff brace. The trans is getting worse and alot of shifter feedback and noises. I may open another credit card and do that too. If not im bringing my ex back with no job and school debt. (lives with broke family in hood in nashville). and ill cosign on her car and maybe drive it some, when i save for trans.

 

if you have to open a cc to mod, you are obviously dont have the funds to do it.... quit taking out loans, buying unnecessary parts and get the car right

not trying to be rude, just brutally honest

 

I dont have the funds lol. But, i do have all the trans parts, and feel i could pay the cc back down quickly. I see where ur coming from though, because i would be screwed if engine blew right after i got it back lol. And i bought stupid stuff like swaybars.. Right now my credit is high, and it does feel good knowing if my z broke down, i could instantly get low interest loan on car. I still have no money this second, my credit cards are just at 0 and thats my money lol. I paid off the suspension loan!

This is baseline man! All ill have left for baseline, is testing the engine, and tune. If i dont open a credit card, trans wont take too long to do. Because I am done buying parts right now, except i wouldnt mind doing headers with trans. I try to save on labor, and car rentals too.

 

the tune is very neccessary. I was told the kid who owned it for awhile was into tuning cars, which is scary. It just sucks i want more fun parts, and they arent too expensive, and i need all my fun parts before tune. the throttle body is not for fun right now.

Im also thinking, i may still test engine, but im also just going to save at some point. Ill keep an eye out for engines and part outs. IIt would suck if i figured out what was wrong with my engine, spent 4k fixing it, then gallery gaskets or something else weird went bad. I might have to save up while this one goes kaput, and build the next one.

 

No.. you want, don't need

 

well ive invested a good amount of money in it; and it may not show, but i want to enjoy it, and it be nice. I want the cage, and harness bar, and seat and all someday. My steering wheel is crumbling away a little bit but not bad yet. may put coconut oil on it, thinking.

i feel like im focusing on the needs still. Im trying to nail down rpm issue, and get in alignment with trans straight. All of this should be done soon. I prob did upset u all buying all these spl parts lol. I got that nismo traction arm, because the spl looked flimsy. I think mic velo said tune and engine first, i need to read that again or post it on my wall lol.

what are your suggestions? As far as order, Just skip my 4 in intake and headers, and tune immediately, then chase engine issues? I noticed some wheel-hop at times, with these crappy tires spinning everywhere. So, im hoping the alignment and diff brace will fix that.

 

No matter what I say, or anyone for that fact.. you aren't going to listen and do what you want anyway

 

capeesh, but i will listen even if i dont heed all of it. I might go back and read this whole thread again sometime, or scan and read some of it. I also dont want to get inferior parts, and mod this thing twice. ill still update u all on it.

edit: i also hope my parts will all work together well, and good enough with b12 kit. If anybody sees a problem and wants to let me know, thanks. I hope my shop knows how to install it.

 

You sound like how I was in my 20's and 30's. I had cool toys and NO savings. I'm 50 now and live off social security because although I did start saving in my 40's, it wasn't enough. I blew through all of it when my kidneys failed. Don't be me. Just fix the car, quit modding it and start saving. This will allow you to buy more parts (because instead of paying interest, you'll be earning it), faster.

 

thats a good idea, and I have actually thought that would be a good approach. Im way too impatient for it though. 350zs will be real old then. I do need good transportation, and the z is almost going to need to be a second car, which means more money. I really want to get to the track though. Thats the main goal. Ill prob keep buying stuff for awhile, even my own house would be nice.

 

Back with more financial advice. Invest your money into an appreciating asset (house/real estate/etc.) and put a little money aside for fun/hobbies and an extremely high depreciating asset like a car/track toy. It does not make sense (cents, scents, since?) to take out a loan for something that loses value on a daily basis.

You can get anything you want, but you can't get everything you want.

 

Well, i appreciate the advice, but that would slow this build down drastically. I also guess I do need to buy a second car, since this is costing too much to only be a daily driver. My back may go out, or kidney fail like ia8 etc. I may wish i listened. But, i dont think i can bring myself to follow that advice. Ill just be happy to make it to the track, preferably an awesome track that I enjoy. It would be a real depreciating asset, if i went and wrecked it. Im treading lightly with Dugan day.

My plan you dont approve of is to keep investing in car. Maybe save if i get baselined with cage, and seats. Then hopefully, i will have saved enough, to build next engine when it blows. Will only put plan on hold, to stop driving it and invest in another car.

 

Called it