FULL Z31 BUYERS GUIDE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW! (1984-1989 300ZX) 

If your Z31's digital dash goes dark except for the fuel gauge, the solder on the pins where the pigtail plugs in have shriveled up and lost connection. Fairly easy DIY to freshen the joints and get your dash back.

The turbos all had 5 lug hubs from launch in 1984.

Thanks for the great video! As a non-car guy I just bought 2 Zs! A black '86 NA 2+2 manual for $750 CAD. Runs and drives, but it's got some rust and needs interior parts/carpet. Bought a red '88 NA 2+2 auto to help cover the pieces I need for the black car. Both blue interiors. Stoked to be in a position to get these cool cars for cheap and have somethung fun to wrench on.

You took your time with the video and people should pay attention to this video as a good buyers guide. I there is only one or two thing that you may have missed. Pay attention to the framerails because they are easily damaged when you lift the car up using them which causes them to rust and rust behind the seats under the carpet from leaking t top seals or leaking water line running from the t tops. Great video!

I just bought my 3rd Z31 last week for 1000 bucks. an 87 coupe/na not in the greatest shape, but she runs. needs some TLC. I previously had an 87 2+2 and an 84AE when I was overseas. all GLL digital with auto climate control... great cars! loved 'em both and regret not keeping them. I am traditionally a 280/280zx guy and I never liked the 300, that is until I got in one and fell in love with it. This video is on point.... the Z31 is much more of a bear to maintain and it has a lot more things to go wrong than the earlier cars. and they really suck when they break but they are blast when they're running! Cool cars. Keep 'em running 😎

I had an 87 n/a in 1997. Loved it, but it always wanted to overheat and the mechanic could never figure it out. Had to blast the heat on summer days and keep moving. It was a fun car though. I put bkackiut vinyl stickers over the rear taillights and cut circles so the brake lights were each 2 circles like corvette. Looked awesome when i was a teen.

Had an 84 turbo in the early 90's, loved it soo much, got a 06 350z roadster in 15 in the same color (still kicking 😂

This mentioned some issues that I experienced while owning which I wasn't expecting to hear like the leaking rear quarter panel. My trunk is rusted to hell because of this. Something I didn't see mentioned were weight differences between slicktop and targatop models. I've had my slicktop for 7 years now, and I bought it running at like 168k miles(?) for $1,500. Since then, I've only seen these cars go up in price. The final good deal I saw was in like 2019, I saw CLEAN blue targa top turbo model with like 150k miles for 2.5k on craigslist. Since then, nothing very interesting has come around my area. Also, my 85 owners manual says Datsun on it, but the car did have a Nissan badge which eventually fell off one day lol. Never knew the 84 said Datsun.

Been looking for another for about 15 yrs now. I’ve owned 2 both 88 one turbo and other non turbo. Great cars.

I had z31 as a daily for years and it was by far the best, most fun car ive ever owned. even if it was NA 2+2. Shiro is a dream car of mine.

Hey I love the video keep making them it’s information dense which I appreciate so much cause people don’t understand cars but I will say you shouldn’t worry so much on how you’re speaking, as your personality is part of the reason people will watch you, overall I’m gonna hit the sub thankyou for the video 😊

Thank you for this sole source of information to make all of my Z31 decisions! 🙂 (Great video!)

My Aspen Gold low mileage 85 makes me happy just by looking at it. When I was a kid I would go to classic car shows with my dad. I always felt that I wouldn't get a chance to own something cool when I got older. Took me longer than expected, but I rediscovered my enjoyment for cool cars in my mid 20s and the Z31 just fit perfectly for me. Unique, sleek and stylish wedge design that had that edge of 80s attitude. In less than a month of driving, I had already been stopped 4 times at gas stations and when I was driving around in my small town shopping center, a kid shopping with his mom stopped in his tracks and shouted "WHOA!! WHAT IS THAT!!?" Cracked a smile outta me

Thanks for this excellent Z31 review. I have a turbo '86 and NA '87, great looking 'money holes', but I love mine!

Great video!! I did wanna add that looking for a w-series would be a good idea ONLY if your trying to build the engine. It could save you a bit of time and money because W-series rods have the same wrist pin as the z32. This means that when going with forged pistons you don’t have to buy rods as well since the only benefit of after rods would be the weight. However I prefer the oe rods since they retain an oil squirter for cooling the piston.

hell yeah man love the Z content! I have two zenkis and they are the sickest cars

nice work you put on this video, liked it! how about you would tell us some preferable price ranges? Current and approximate prices, of course.

The 87-89 bumper looks wayyy better

That Dude in Blue just reviewed my 89.. Mine is blasphemous, I know,,, but I had been looking for a decent example for many years. Drove hours to go test drive a few, and when I got there the engine is coughing and there is rust in the rear truck (very common). Also had one almost loose the rear diff during the test drive. (Diff mount problems also common). Meanwhile they seem to be creeping up in price... All this to say, if you want an ok condition na car probably budget for around 7 grand and plan on a grand or two on immediate repairs. If you want a nice turbo car budget for 12-15grand and plan on 2 to 3 grand in repairs. Remember either way it's an antique car, all rubbers, plastics, and wires will be brittle. Try to buy one from an enthusiast, that's you best bet, and they'll probably throw in parts... Great points in this video! Best z buyers guide vid on RU-vid! Buy your z31 ASAP you'll be the only guy in town with one!

Good information

15:43 Actually a bit of adjustment can be made on the stock rear trailing arms with offset crossmember bushings by K-MAC (541326 H). I have them installed on my '85 Turbo. Unless you're lowering the car a lot they should allow for proper tow and camber. Professional alignment after installation is recommended.

everything about the later cars is better except the tail lights it just totally kills it for me

Good video....I am original owner of 1984 GLL NA, the headlight washers were a turbo option not GLL, 1984 GLL had no EQ but added for 85' as mentioned, The AE had the square wheel which all 84s had

In 2013 I had a black '87 kouki na 2+2 5spd with the analog dash, damn i miss it

I love my z31 regard the issue she brings me joy n slot off memories can't put a price on that sir but thanks for the infor ..was great

This kinda blew up, you gotta make more of these for those underrated cars

28年前、初めて購入した車が300zxだった。その後280zxを購入した。z31にまた乗ってみたい。usa86editionが欲しい。

Good nice video. I got 1988

Good info!

The wide body style fender change both front and rear in 1986 is notable.

I have had 4 Z cars. 3 of them Z31. I had an AE and never quite liked the shift box as opposed to my 87 & 88 which was much smoother. My 87 engine was louder than my 88 which I thought was my best Z. My first one was a 1980 280ZX

On March 25th, 2004, exactly one week before my 18th birthday, my BEST friend, my brother from another mother, was driving home and swerved to miss a horse, hit the 2nd horse in the opposing lane, and clipped a 3rd horse, went sideways in to the ditch where it flipped over, ejecting him and the car landed on top of him. We believe he was killed on impact from hitting horse #2 straight on. The horse was an adult horse, so you can imagine how tall a horse is and how tall his silver '85 (same year he was born) 300ZX 2+0 non-turbo digital-dash 5-speed, EXACTLY like @ 1:22 in this clip. The horse pushed back the windshield, his t-tops, pillars & back glass and moved it to his rear spoiler. His head left an imprint in his headrest. After hugging his parents, his dad asked me to go to the wrecker yard and get everything out that could be salvaged, since I knew that car from top to bottom. I knew the few hidden spots on that car. Got the stereo out of it and his graduation tassel, from his rearview mirror, which I still have, it's in my safe. He didn't drive that car like you'd expect, except once. As he liked to tell the story, he got a "flying without a pilot license after he sent his car airborne in an intersection in front of a cop. The car was taken care of well. A Japanese doctor everyone in town knew. I think brought it over from Japan. I think he babied it, because it was kinda slow, but fun in the snow! lol He and I both had red StreetGlow red neon underbody lights on your vehicles (mine was a '94 Reg Cab 2wd all black S-10 with the S-10 SS 4.3l CPI motor) Anyway, he never drove the car fast. Actually, we both would draft each other and try to hit record fuel economy since we all know the ZX's have a digital instant & average fuel economy. I have one tattoo. It's on my upper right shoulder. It says RIP on top and in the middle, it has some tribal with "ZX" in the middle & "ML" for his initials on the bottom. I never thought I would want one of these, but now I do. I wish I had one now. Please wear your seat belt and either replace or restore your foggy/hazy headlights. He was going 60mph (limit was 65) and he still couldn't see them until it was too late. We were suppose to go to the junkyard that day, but I took a nap after school, so I blew him off. He was at my house, or me at his, everyday after football practice. He went to his gf's instead, fell asleep, woke up around 1am and headed home. He got 3/4 mile from home. It was his neighbor's horses that got out.

The 71C trans is actually the "Weakest" one. The T5 trans hold more power as long you aren't just absolutely BANGING on the gear shifter. Upgrade the shifter to one with stops, and upgrade the shift forks, it'll hold plenty more power than a 71C

Great video! as someone without any experience in repairing or rebuilding cars, do you think itll be my financial ruin to buy a z31? im currently studying so i have about 300€ income per month. Ive already seen one at a car dealership and it was in pretty good condition but only small changes has been made over the years (suspension has been changed). All of my friends and family think it would be a bad idea because id have to buy so many exchange parts.... thanks for your opinion

Just sold my 86 NA yesterday and this is in my recommended today. Google sure knows how to make you regret your decisions...

theres a shiro near my location with a couple of bubble spots and a blown headgasket for 15k. its a canadian model, and i wanted to get it cause its rare, but its not the color i want.

hey bro! it looks like you have experience with all the cars I am looking at! I’m going between a 300zx (84) and a bmw 330ci (02-05) and if you have any comments on which one to choose.. I love both so I’m struggling to decide right now

When did you get your Z31, and if you don't mind my asking...what did you pay for it? GREAT looking car!

I am looking to buy a z31, but really scared of the parts sourcing part. Is it really rare to find parts for it? I felt there are many shared parts between the Zs and different nissan cars.

Meowet, I won't ask what you paid for your Seattle Z31, but can you tell me what the selling list price was it for. Also how many miles? Thanks

Can you do a similar video for the Z32?

Recently bought a new battery for my Z and now it has no power, where to look from here?😊

I had 1984 white with T tops I got from Mom with 60k This one was 2 plus Zero

I feel sad since people make fun of me when they see that i have a non turbo 2+2 to the point where I am deciding to sell it or just let it sit there... people are wild

i wish these cars weren’t near impossible to buy in europe. i rarely see one on sale and even then it’s usually overpriced

So does a 1987 n/a have a lsd or open diff

what do i do if ive had one for 5 years already

黒の８８もいいねぇ～

I like I have 5

I'm going to sell my 87 with 125K. You think i can get $4,500?

some incorrect info here but overall good vid

My 87 NA says 2+2 on the title, does not have the rear seats, but does have the triangular rear windows, making me question wtf is going on there lol

Now hear me out would it be smart to daily one of these🗿

It's a shame that you consider the camber issue an issue at all, due to the fact that this only comes up if you're modifying.

Z31s have gone WAY up in value.

You state no bullshit guide for buying a used 300 then start off like you did in the last video with a whole history lesson and details about new car options that were available for it at the time. Nobody's buying new. What the hell should we look for if an old beater happens to come up for sale in our area? Video fail.