200sx few questions

Yup dazman makes a very valid point about the spray bars, if you feel the cam lobes for any wear it generally means they've not been correctly lubricated - walk away.

Walbro (I know I'm ordering one today - needed for Stage 1) is £80 delivered brand new.
 
If you want an NA 300zx then you'll be buying an import as the only UK models were 2+2 Twin turbo's. I'd buy a freshly imported car over one that has been in the UK for a while. The underseal thing is a bit of a myth, JDM 300's had exactly the same protection as the UK ones.
If you don't need the (useless) back seats then get a SWB model, much prettier and a bit lighter. Better still a tin-top one, better looking still, lighter and more rigidity. Rare though and you'll pay a premium for it. They are decent cars, 220bhp but fairly decent performance, not to mention a great sound without the turbo's to muffle it.
 
Having had both a 1999 200sx s14a (now sold) and a 300zx TT (current daily driver) they are a very different drive. The 200sx is quite light at around 1250kg the zx is nearly 1600kg and feels more beefy, but an NA isn't that fast or thrilling, however a properly sorted TT zx is quick and handles well, the reason most don't is that they are getting on for 20 years old and unless you keep the suspension components upto scratch it will wallow.

A 200sx in standard form won't feel quick at all though, the boost is limited in 1st and 2nd gear so its not much fun, but it is quite refined and a good cruiser, I would spend abit more and get a slightly modded one if I was to buy again with basic boost upgrade and some suspension mods.

Things to look out for are worn front lower arm bushes, any clunking over bumps or knocking on steering, check turbo gaskets has been done, and any leaks as they are prone to oil leaks, rattle on start up is quite common which is the varible valve timing but not a major issue. Great cars if you can find a good one, its should feel tight and direct when steering.
 
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looks like im going to go and see that 200sx phoned up and everythng seems pretty well in order had the pump done at 85k, going down to look at it tommorrow afternoon :) from the service record looks like the oil has been changed regularly too

*beermonster, I have looked at slightly modded ones but I worry too much that they have been ragged to within an inch of their life
 
Rich1988 said:
*beermonster, I have looked at slightly modded ones but I worry too much that they have been ragged to within an inch of their life
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Get a non modded one and then mod it slowly yourself, that way you can learn to use the 200Ish standard power before moving on. It's cheap to get to Stage One with 2nd hand parts you're looking at...

Boost Controller - £25
Spark Plugs - £30 (service Item anywway)
Air Intake - £50
Exhaust / Decat / Downpipe - £150
Fuel Pump - £70

Then you can turn it up from standard 10psi to 15ish :)

I'd be more tempted to spend money on getting the handling / and brakes sorted first though ;)
 
So does the 300Zx, the front brakes on those are the same size as the 200:eek: but the rear brakes are larger than the 200.
 
eh? Did the S14 get the 300ZX brakes then? I know S13 owners consider the 300ZX front brakes to be an upgrade.

I think most Nissans of that era have underspecced brakes
 
Lum said:
eh? Did the S14 get the 300ZX brakes then? I know S13 owners consider the 300ZX front brakes to be an upgrade.

I think most Nissans of that era have underspecced brakes
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Yep the s14/a got the same 280mm vented 4 pot front brakes as the 300Zx, although the only difference being that the 300Zx callipers were alloy and the 200s were cast.
 
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Ahh that explains where the cast iron version comes from then. I had wondered about that.

What amuses me is that the aluminium ones have a fairly obvious Sumitomo logo on them, but on the otherwise identical cast iron ones it's really tiny and hidden.

It's like someone at Sumitomo was thinking "oh god, do we really want to be associated with these crappy brakes" after Nissan sent them the specs.
 
Bear said:
Yep the s14/a got the same 280mm vented 4 pot front brakes as the 300Zx, although the only difference being that the 300Zx callipers were alloy and the 200s were cast.
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Actually the 300zx had alloy calipers upto 92 when they changed to the cast 30mm ones. FWIW there are different types of the alloy calipers, early model NA's used 26mm rotors and a narrower caliper to suit.
These 4pot brakes were also used on the R32 GTR, and R33/34 GTS-t, and on GC8 Impreza's (I hear the scoobs used the 26mm ones).
 
As Lum said, be very wary of big end failure. My friends went a few months ago and he's about to remove the engine this weekend to attempt to tackle it himself. If he has further problems, he is toying with an LS conversion ;)
 
Standard brakes are rubbish, can be improved with some decent pads (DS2500/Yellow Stuff) and bigger discs (E36 M3 are a popular upgrade disc size)

Or you can get some beefy Willwood 4 pots, or do what Daz is doing and get the daddy Brembo kit which looks like it has the stopping power to slow down a small country, bet it stops 1200kg of 200SX pretty well!
 
So I bought one today, opened the filler there didnt seem to be a stream of oil as such but it was certainly chucking oil about, it last had an oil change 3k ago and has been serviced pretty regularly up to that point where the owner died, its got 3 months warranty (woopdedoo) so if anything does go wrong that will go some way towards paying for it
 
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