I bought an '85 Nissan 300ZX for my daily driver, but found that I hated it... so I found a guy who had an '83 Firebird. Said the only reason he got it was cause he couldn't find a 300ZX. Only reason I got a Z was because I couldn't find an f-body. Just got her back last night.

It's nothing special at all. In fact, it's slow, old, beat up... but it runs good and that's all that matters(it's a DD).

Remainder of pictures are at: http://junk.zeronsystems.com/83%20firebird/

Also, an awesome picture we got on the way down to get her:

 

It's ok Nissan 300ZX owners are a wierd bunch anyways





haha

 

HAHAHA thats awsome! Looks like a good fixer upper forkvoid, My x girlfreinds dad had a 300zx twin turbo and damn that thing was fast, definatley the fasted import ive ever been in.

 

The main forum for the 300zx guys were mostly rude jerks, especially the mods. It was terrible. Simple questions from newbs resulted in responses that would get us here banned instantly. My Z had a full exhaust and CAI on it... the thing was super quick. I'll miss that for sure. I won't miss saying "Dang Japs" though, when working on the car.

 

Back in the spring/summer of '86, after my '83 Z28 had been stolen, I test drove just about every "sport coupe"(aka, 2+2) on the market, including a new 300ZX. I didn't like it at all!

People who think thirdgens were a "bucket of bolts" should've driven that mid-'80s 300!

 

Amen! The ride was horrible and the handling was worse than a Camry. In fact, I think a Camry could probably take high-speed corners better than the Z. It was terrible. Only thing it had going for it was being very quick in a small engine(2.0 N/A). Mine was a 2+0. It even looked just like those gray ones in this thread.

Also, are there any other locations for the RPO sheet, aside from center console and in the trunk area? Didn't find it in either, so I think it may just be missing.

 

nice pete 379 and haha its really a small world.

 

Eh? That's not your Peterbilt, is it? Cause that'd be nuts.

 

haha nah i wish tho, im trying to get my Class A so i can do OTR but DOT regs are 21, so i got 4 more months, i was referring to the fact that ther person u got ur car from was lookin for a car like ur 300 and u were lookin for a f-body

 

yep, you'll mean some crazy lookin big rigs on the roads.

 

Did you look under the passenger seat? Sometimes it's in the seat frame under the cushion...

Good save! Those jap cars can be fast, for sure, but they just aren't comfortable for big Americans (at least not this one!) Even the newer 300Z's from the 90s are uncomfortable as hell for me. I'll take a 3rd gen any day and be happy with it.

What are you gonna do to it? Turbo Buick engine so you can eat the rice boys up?

 

I looked there when I cleaned the carpet... not there either.

I really don't know yet. I bought this so I can take the engine out of my Camaro and fix it...again. My dad didn't realize my crank had been ground when he told me what bearings to order, so I've got standard bearings in a crank that was ground 10 on the mains(rod bearings are fine). I haven't really considered what I'm gonna do to this at all. Perhaps it'll be my v8 car, perhaps I'll sell it and buy a v8 thirdgen. Who knows.

 

Nice find with the 83. It looks like a very easy project. (Nose, Mirror, dash pad...)

Have fun!

The RPO sheets started showing up in 84 in the center console. For 83 your best bet is the build plate on the radiator support. It will have the major options (engine, color, etc).

If you really want to go in depth you would have to find the buildsheet.

 

http://junk.zeronsystems.com/83%20firebird/IMG_1604.JPG <-- Is that it?

EDIT: Yep, that's it. Thanks for telling me what that was; I had no idea.

 

Yup... and it says...

The car was built the 4th week of April in Van Nuys, CA. Dark Royal blue interior, and has "Silver Sand Metallic" water based paint.

Standard reclining bucket seats, and T-tops.

 

I never drove the 80's 300zx but i did have alot of 80's Rx-7's and i love them. My buddy has a 1992 300zx twin turbo with about 400hp that thing is sick fast. But i always wanted a Trans Am so i finally got one and love it more than any car i have ever had.

Pic of my last Rx-7, it was a 1987 Turbo II.

 

OMG turbo II I have always wanted one, how do you compare it to that LB9?