Hey everyone, the day is almost here. I am trading in my Firebird on Saturday, March 1st. Gee, I am gonna miss that car and the T-tops....and it was a great ride for 3 years. Just letting you all know, but I will be popping in to see whats up and to help out where I can. As for the new vehicle, I will be driving home a 2003 Nissan 350z. I know, I know....but it's an awesome car. No flames please, I've been a loyal member of this board for 3 years now and the time has come....i'll keep in touch!!

Thanks everyone for thier help over the years!!! I couldn't have done it myself.

 

Hey man..do what makes you happy! I had to get rid of my trusty V6 Camaro too, so I could get a V8 with some real power.... I don't think anyone here is gonna flame you. And personally, I happen to like the new Z's...always have liked that car line though.

 

Sad to see ya go but a brand new car is awesome to have. Take as many pictures of your car as possible before you let her go. Memories

 

Sorry to hear that the Firebird is leavin.... but you made a great choice with the 350Z! Those cars look sweeeeet and I hear they have good power too! Get us some pics of your new ride man!! Stick around, once you're a Third Gen guy, you'll always be, with or without your ThirdGen!!

 

drove one of those Z's about a month ago. Not bad power outta the lil' six....actually it was pretty impressive...i'm still trying to buy a 2+2 280Z off a co-worker...but he's relucant to sell his old blue beauty.

 

I agree with 88...once a Thirdgen guy, always a Thirdgen guy. I don't own one anymore but I love the damn cars and want to own one again in the future.. And I know there are several people still loyal to the site that no longer have their third gens.

 

I'd have to agree with that!!! I am going to miss the car soo bad. It's truely a love affliction. But someday I will own another that is for sure!! (hmmm, 89 TTA....ahhhhh) I will definately be around.

3rd Gen's Rule!!!

 

Preachin to the choir, brother. AMEN!

 

I understand you wanting to get a new car. I don't think I would be any happier without my thirdgen, even if I had a garage full of every car I ever wanted, I would still want my thirdgen to be there.


I don't like the new Z, but hey, I'm not the one getting one. Well, I should say I don't like the styling, but I do like everything else about it.

Good luck with the new "Nissan Z."

 

I hope they're giving you decent money for your car...from your profile it sounds like you had some good work done in that car!

 

I would have waited till the turbo model came out. But I love the Nissan's, especially the Z's. Good luck with your new car.

 

A friend and I were driving the other day (Seperate cars...my Z and his 1995 CompTA...for those of you who don't know, it's the most limited F-body EVER made...it's a firehawk in Trans Am Trim...only 167 made...well 160 somethin) and one of the New Z's decided to get into a kinda road race with us throughout a one way-6 lane section of the highway. It was fun. I hung a hell of a lot better than I thought I could. The Comp owned the 300 tho.

 

Heh..sweet story.. I don't see many Z's around here. Hell, I see more of the last generation Turbo Supras than I do the new Z's....and those late model Supras are a rare commodity here. Maybe 3 or 4 are around locally...

 

AND WHAT CAR WILL BE LUSTED AFTER AS A COLLECTORS ITEM IN THE FUTURE?
The Third Gen line of vehicles.
Only new car I seek is a 1956 Corvette.
If it's not matching numbers so much the better!

 

So far I have only seen one new Z since they came out. Come to think of it I rarely ever see any Supras, 240Zs, or 300Zx's. Where are all these cars. It seems like I only see them in magazines. It's no problem finding a thirdgen.

Our cars would be more valuable if there were less of them, or at least not seen as often.

 

Come to think of it I rarely ever see any Supras, 240Zs, or 300Zx's. Where are all these cars.

RUSTED AWAY!
Cheap jap metal can't take American winters & rocksalt onroads.
They all rusted away.
And good bye to those tin cans

ANY AMERICAN MUSLCE CAR WILL ALWAYS BE MORE VALUABLE than a jap beer can.

Except maybe the 1970-72 240Z & the late 60's Toyota 2000GT.
Those are the few of the only desired jap cars for a collector.
Rest of them are Corvette wannabes and honestly worthless,
To a serious collector.
Put your money into a 70's era Corvette for more fun!

 

Forgot to add the original 70's Datsun 510 and an original Mazda Rotory RX7, too is inching up the desired scale.

 

Yanno, sad thing is, I may not be willing to give up either of my camaros for one, but if I could get my hands on a MKIII supra 5 spd, I'd be pimping the hell out of that thing

 

Disappointing news about the trade-in!! You're right, I really did take care of the car, and did just about all the bolt-ons! Car ran great! It was dead realiable for three years (70,000 - 120,000). And I had every intention of selling it privately for a good chunck of change or just keeping it. Doing a cam, and really taken the engine apart since it wouldn't be a daily driver.

First, it does need a paint job. The nose & fenders are primer black. Also, I recently found out its terminaly ill. I am missing teeth on my flywheel, and its not worth it for "me" to invest the money in into fixing it. In the last two weeks I had to do the starter, altenator, IAC valve, and oil pressure sending unit just to keep it running. Sooo, I only got $900.00 for it!! AHHHH! I know, its a slap in the face!! But it seems like it all starts happening at once. But I KNOW if the flywheel WAS ok, this engine and tranny has many many more miles left on it. Not a leak anwywhere. It's just too bad I needed the 1,000.00 to buy the new car. All of a sudden I can't drive the car w/o worrying about being stranded somewhere, so I need to get rid of it before the flywheel goes. I have been stranded three times in the last two and a half weeks.

I'll always love Firebirds (and camaros), and do love american muscle cars more than anything. Nothen' like it!! And the Z is no match for a TA, etc...but its a damn sweet car. But I CAN'T believe I will be driving and import!! LOL!!!

 

n/m

 

n/m 2

 

Ya want a FREE FLEXPLATE FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS?
Send me $10 for the shipping.
It's already boxed up.

I also have two more to give away.

It can leave today or Monday if ya want it to & I catch the reply in time.

Happy to save ya the money of higher insurance & car payments for that new car purchase.
Not fond of that z thing car at all.
Nice specs, but... looks like the designer of the car.

AGAIN
FREE AUTOMATIC FLEXPLATE FOR PRICE OF SHIPPING ($10).
At your door step within 5-7 business days.

I have these due to my 2.8->3.4 swap projects and am ACHING TO PASS THEM ALONG TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE! I hate throwing anythign out.

 

Honestly, I don't know what a flexplate is or does. I am trading it in tomorrow anyway.

But the new car is going to be a 6-speed manual.

 

It's what the Torque Convertor is bolted to.
This item is bolted to the crankshaft.
This item is turned by the starter gears to go ZOOM!

EVEN TO SOMEONE THAT NEEDS ONE, I CAN'T GIVE THESE AWAY!!

 

Those Datsun 510's seem to be really collectible now a days. I am starting to see more of them, especially at import shows. It may be small and have a small engine, but they have a tremendous potential for speed and handeling, afterall, they do have a racing heritage.


There is also one Toyota that is really valuable, the 69-71 2000GT, the one bond drove in one of the bond movies with Sean Connery. It is a very beautiful and collectible car.


With what that car is worth, I could buy 6 mint condition thirdgens. I wish my thirdgen was more valuable.

 

Except maybe the 1970-72 240Z & the late 60's Toyota 2000GT.

Ya missed my earlier response, too!
The Datsun 510 is valuble because of Pete Brock.
WHO ALSO DESIGNED THE ORIGINAL SHELBY COBRA GT fastback, only 6 made!
Who also inspried the racing paint scheme of the Datsun 240Z's' of the early 70's
Why I know this
I BUILT THEM AS MODELS AS A KID & I still have my 240Z race car model.
Add Paul Newman (actor/team race driver/part owner-NEWMAN/HAAS) and ya got instant collector/hero/status of the 510.
The Toyota 2000GT is a beauty of a ride.
So was the female passenger.

 

Sorry KED85,

I completely skipped over that part about the 2000GT. I was kind of in a hurry, I had to rush to my next class.

 

HEY
STUDY HARD
STUDY FEMALE CLASSMATES TO POSSIBLY DATE
I'll survive!
Hasta La Vista!

 

SAEspinz80,

Are you done with thirdgens or even F-bodies all together?

 

Limited thirdens??? Mine's 1 of 3,203-

 

Wouldn't that be more unique than limited edition? I should've bastardized my Camaro before I sold it and offered it as the limited edition, one of a kind "Ghetto Fabulous Edition". Equipped with Euro-Wing, APC stickers everywhere, performance parts companies that I don't even have anything by in my car, and spraypainted interior trim! Ohh can't forget the **** seat covers and XR Racing floormats. Actually, I DID have the mats in my Camaro, but I yanked em when I sold it. Those SOB'S cost $20, I aint giving em away! Even if they dont match the new car!

 

No, definately not! I love them too much. The new car is fantastic. But someday, once I have a driveway and garage you can bet there will be another thirdgen parked there. I can post pics once I get them.

 

I am doing sort of the opposite of what you are doing. I am keeping my thirdgen, and when I get a house with a garage, that's when I am going to get my dream car, although, I am going to need to drive stick better to drive the car I really want - a wide fendered Detomaso Pantera GT5. Any year would be fine.


Maybe I could try and retrofit an automatic trans, lol. I know a real man drives a stick, but I like autos. I really like to sip a liquid while driving, I can never seem to get enough to drink. I am always thirsty. Its kind of hard for me to sip my 72 oz. slurpy, shift gears, and change the cd's at the same time.

 

No its not. Just get one of them hats that holds the two beers in each side with a straw.

 

First of all Dale, those hats can't hold those 72 ouncers which I am so fond of. Second of all, I don't want to look stupid while driving either.


I'll drive an auto any day than to wear that goofy hat.



SAEspinz80,

You have any plans for your newZ?

 

a wide fendered Detomaso Pantera GT5.

NOW ThAT'S A DREAM I HEARTLY ENDORSE!
I'd have to nix teh auto tho.
Why
The Cleveland Ford mill & the transaxle were NOT designed for automatics, period.

Make sure you do find one that has no rust.
That accounts for about 1 of entire production line!
These cars, designed in Italy, made in Italy, US Ford Mill, German ZF Transaxle couldn't handle our US environment, thus they rusted extensivly.
An exotic car designed for an automatic?
The Ferrari 400. Using the GM TH400 tranny.
Roll Royce also used the GM TH400 tranny, too.
Wouldn't doubt if a Sherman tank used a TH400 tranny, too.

For fun shifting?
Try eating Ice Cream cone (Dutch Apple ICE CREAM MY FAVORITE) While Shifting a 1966 Corvette.
I held steering wheel by knees, cone in one hand, stick shift in action in other hand.
IF I HAD THE CHANCE, I'd still be doing it, too.
I loved that Ice Cream, my favorite.
Oh the Corvette was my baby, long gone can't trace the trail at all. Tried to track it by a contact in police, every state in the nation. Gone, except for pics & memories.

 

I know KED85,

I most likely won't be getting a GT5 in the future. I really need to learn to drive a stick better so I can drive the car I really want. A GT40 would be really nice to have, either the actual one, replica, or possibly even the new retro one. I really love those Ford V8s. I'd really like to have a Pantera though.


I love old school, Ford engines, and exotic cars. The GT40 and the Pantera fit the bill perfectly.

If I plan on getting any of those cars, I will be driving my thirdgen for a loooooooooooong time. I would be so excited to get one. The best part would be driving past some kids and watching thier faces as they stare at my ride as I roar past them.

Until then, I can still dream.


Sorry SAEspinz80, didn't mean to go off on a tangent. I don't often get the chance to talk to people that actually know what cars I am talking about. I say to my friends, I love those Panteras, and they are like "what." Not only do I have to tell them what a Pantera is, but I have to show them a picture, and even after that they still don't know what a Pantera is.

 

Not only do I have to tell them what a Pantera is, but I have to show them a picture, and even after that they still don't know what a Pantera is.

NOT TOTALLY SAD...

I look at it as hope for the next gen hot rodders to carry on what inspired me.

I can still recall many Road and Track issues showing the Yellow Pantera on the back cover, as a new car.

What a wonderful thing it is to see how the great rides of the past are still embraced with affection & desire.

Even in LA, VERY FEW PANTERAS, VERY FEW.

I still enjoy seeing this guy tooling around in his Pinto Wagon (1973) with American Daisy Wheels on it. I can't wait to join him in my 1974 Vega Wagon I hope to one day purchase.
I already attained one dream today.
I took posession of the keys to the second house I just bought.
Makes the Vega that much closer. And the 1956 Corvette, too! I gave up on the 1959 Elky, too big for LA roads

 

Even though I just turned 21, I really appreciate the older cars. There are very few cars that get me as excited as those cars of yester year.


In Champaign, Illinois, a city that has a population of 100,000 There is this little body shop that gets a steady stream of exotic cars in there. I love going down there. This is the only place in town where I can see Aston Martins, Racing 911s, Racing 944s, Panteras, BMW M1s, a Deausenburg, a couple of 300SL gullwing, and on one lucky day, I saw a very early Lamborghinini Countache (the days before it got fender flames and wings) and a Ferrari F40.

Where do these cars come from? Its like exotic car heaven for me because all the cars there are old school. I often try to make an excuse to see what I can find down there. That place is always booming with buisness.


I wonder if in the future, if our grandchildren will be talking about restoring thirdgens, the way we like to pick up 1st gens today.

 

IF YA SMART LIKE ME YA RESTORE THEM NOW WHILE THE PARTS ARE FREE IN THE YARDS!

BMW M1 is ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
It is a stunningly beautiful ride.
When I was younger, I discovered this neighbor had a BMW507! It was like 30+ years unitl I saw another in the flesh.
I also found out (while visiting George Barris's shop-it was on the other side of the freeway from where I moved to in SoCal) Bo Derek has one & it was "customized"-ever so slightly by George for her. When I first visited George's shop, I was allowed to sit in the Green Hornet's Black Beauty. I told that story to George when I had again met him later on in 1999. His helper came to me later on & told me I made his day with that story, as his Wife had recently passed & I gave him a very good laugh. George Barris is one of the nicest folks I've met out here.
Out here, I see those/these things all the time.
Cruise nights at Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, The BATMOBILE ARRIVED AS IN THE REAL ONE. Guys were out having fun that night! It was on a strecher tow truck. I can go on & on about the rides.
Our family almost bought a Masseratti Muira S. We turned it down when we discoverd how much (BACK IN 1972!) it cost for a clutch (which is why the car was for sale) job. $3K! for a clutch job. My old 1966 Corvette cost $1,750 in 1972! Sitting in the Masserratti, and turning neck to see those 12 Weber velocity stacks thru that narrow slit of plexiglass.... for a17 year old kid, that was still a thrill. Then to go home in my 1966 Corvette, was knida a step down!

Old School is a different phrase to hear describing rides of that classic status.
Wish ya were out here, I'd show ya the Petersen Museum & then I'd get to see what I donated! I discovered a PERFECT CAN of STP! It was in a warehouse for years. I asked that that item be displayed in the "Hot Rod" Speed Shop display. I couldn't open it, as why destroy a bit of history?

Our third gens restored! PLEASE Check out prices for these things in Hemmings. You'll get new respect for them.
I try to keep reinforcing in everyone, these days of cheap 3rd gen cars parts & stuff are leaving very fast. This discussion was the same back in 1968 about 1967 Camaros & back in the late 70's early 80's about the 1970 1/2 to the 81 F Bodies when the new 1982's arrived.
I now get nerverous when ever I drive my old 1974 Corvette. Broken plastic rear bumper cap & all. My original Air Cleaner set up under the hood of the Vette is VERY VALUABLE, as it's a true Ram Air correct piece. That's WAY up in price, now, too.
Atleast all my old friends (from 1982 to present when I was/still am buying parts for my 1967 RS/SS Camaro & the 1974 Corvette) that have old parts are happy to sell me anything I see, it's affording it....

It's a real treat to hear how the original thrill rides still offer a spinal chill to some. AND YA KNOW THE NAMES!
I can't wait for my Son to be abit older so I can bring him for the fun of Cruise nights & such. At 2 1/2, he's into the BIG TRASH TRUCK EVERY MONDAY MORNING. The guys on the route put on a big show for him, he loves it!
My Son gets very quiet as we cruise in the Corvette.
I think he enjoys the exhaust vibration feeing thru his car seat & the wind. He can barely see over the dash, like an old lady in a Caddy! I don't go so fast for the engine noise, just cruise with him for the ride. I understand my niece did same thing in my Brothers 1961 Corvette.

WE OWN A PIECE OF TRUE RED BLOODED AMERICAN ROCK & ROLL HOT RODDING HISTORY. Don't let them slip/rust away that easy. You'll be surprised how hard 3rd Gens will be to regain one day.

 

I think thirdgens will become more valuable in the future because there will be less of them whether they are totaled or rusted away.

Imagine how valuable those 89 Turbo TAs and GNXs will be in the future, and I thought they were expensive now.

Even though I have a lot of work to be done on my car inside and out, I am determined not to let it slip into the graveyard that is the salvage yard. It will take me quite awhile to get my car to look like I want it to look. I guess I have to just start on it one bit at a time until there are no more bits to do.

 

If my grandchildren know whats good for them they will be.

 

devianb, don't worry about straying from the topic. i am loving this thread. have intelectual conversations about cars in NOT always easy!!

KED85, I agree with completely about the value of thirdgens. I had been keeping an eye on the KKB value of my car, and as the miles continued to go up, the price continued to stay the same and then eventually start going up too!!. That's the main reason why I am so sad to have let it go on Saturday. Thirdgen's are absolutely going up in value, although very slowly. To find one in a few years is going to get more and more difficult, espcially in the condition mine was in when I let it go. But, that's part of the fun in working on cars.

devianb, my plans for the Z aren't very extensive yet! First thing I am planning on doing it tinting the windows. After that I am just gonna rack up some miles and see how she does. Being a first-year production car and all. I am not really into the aftermarket for this car yet. Its ONLY been out for about 6 months, and I am not diggin' the aftermarket parts that are available yet. I am going to wait till some of these companies have the car for a year or so and really can really get their hands dirty. So many people are eager to mod their Z, and to their suprise have lost some horsepower and torque on the dyno. Dynosheets have been posted, and the engine continues go up in hp as it breaks in...all the way up the 10,000 miles, that's the highest of seen dynoed. That car was dynoed with 4 other cars each progressively higher in miles. And as the miles got higher, so did the HP....it was a great post. Then there are guys who did same-day before and after dyno's with intakes and acutally lost HP. The thing with the engine in the Z is that Nissan has soooo finely tuned this engine, I just don't believe aftermarket companies are quite on the ball yet. But I am very anxious to see the aftermarkert parts keep coming. And you as you can guess there are TONS of body kits available, but I haven't really seen on that impresses me yet, and that is worth adding the extra weight or paying to get painted.

To conclude this long answer, a year from now an intake and exhaust would be nice (NO R!CE-CAN). And then I would love to see NISMO come out with a supercharger or turbo and avoid voiding my warranty. That's the thing with this car, I am going to be careful not the void the warranty. Things with the car are great so far. 480 miles, and lovin' it. Hopefully things continue to run perfectly!!

 

SAEspinz80,

If I bought a new Z this is exactly what I would do to it.


First, I would get some custom offset 18's with a deep lip and push the wheels to the edge of the fender's lip.

Lower it to have less than a 1" gap.

I would then get an HKS turbo charger kit or upgrade if Nissan makes a turbocharged version of the new Z. HKS doesn't make one yet, but you know they will.

I would get a full exhaust with with the European style mufflers, with 3.5" outlets coming from the muffler, like on 86-96 Vettes.

I have a lot of issues with the styling of the new Z, so I would do some sort of headlight swap, and mount the side markers horizontally instead of vertically.

Sparco seats

And of course, a system, nothing fancy, but something nice enough to take to audio shows.




Going back to thirdgens, mine is worth about $800 running. After all the work I plan on putting into it, I wonder how much it will be worth then, $1200. It doesn't matter since I will never sell my car.

 

ahh, yes...i forgot to mention the stereo. that'll probably be first, since the performance stuff is still up and coming IMO. i am thinking very similar, along the lines of something that sounds great! but that somewhat inconspicuous...not outragous. the car gets enought attention as it is...lol. but i am a big audio freak, so that'll happen soon enough.

fortunately i love the headlights and the vertical lights, so i won't be touching those.

i am not a fan of the stock rims, the 17's or the 18's. mine came with 17's, and am thinking about switching them...but probably after tints and the stereo. but we shall see. of course we are talking over the course of the next couple years....lol!

and yes, i know a supercharger will be out and about at some point....just when?! lol!!

 

Your lucky because since you will have an import, you will a have a ton of aftermarket parts to choose for your engine and body. Everything I want has to be pretty much custom fabricated, which would make my car more and more a one-off design that most likely will not be duplicated because it won't be everyone's style.



I like originality and being unique. If I see someone that has the same thing I have, I will change what ever I have just so that no one else will have it.


That is why I don't get to excited over a lot of cars with body kits because most of them are just bolt-ons. Ever since body kits started to become popular on Hondas, everyone puts on the same kit, which raises the bar even higher to be even more unique. That is why you see so many cars out there that are just crazy. Half the time its just so they can out do someone else's ride appearance wise.


Didn't you always hate it when in elementary school when you drew a blue house with a tree in the front, and the kid next to your drew the exact same thing after you just did. Now my house doesn't look special anymore. So I took a big brown crayon and wrote dodo all over his drawing just so he would have to draw something else.


Ok, I may be the only one on that issue, but that is how passionate I feel about being different, or standing out from the crowd. I don't mind people having the same things as me, just not the exact same thing. I call that creativity theft.

 

Ha ha..being unique is the reason I painted the plenum, put chrome wiper blades on, a windshield decal, taillight blackouts, the 3 1/4 in. intercooled tips, and my performance stickers on my Camaro...not to mention the bitchin speakers and JVC Kameleon player. But even then....I wasn't being all that unique. Dev....why is your car only worth $800?! Camaros around here, even if they're TRASH, will still fetch at LEAST $1500 generally. I netted $3000 even for mine!

 

Nixon,

I imagine my car is worth a little more than $800, I was guesing that would be what an appraiser would value my car at. My car needs some body work and interior work. The interior panels are horrible. I need to get the entire rear cargo panels and the plastic piece that goes on the hatch part. My headliner, dash, and dash pad are near perfect though.

My center console is spreading from the sides too. My seats are worn and there is a tear in the driver's side.

One thing fixed, repaired, or replaced is one less thing I have to improve upon. I completed a lot of things, but I still have a long way to go, but if I take it one thing at a time and keep going, I will eventually finish modifying, customizing, and changing my car.


I can't wait for the day when I walk out to my car, open the hood, look under the car, look inside the car, and realize that there is nothing left for me to do or change. I enjoy my car now, but I will enjoy it the most when it is 100% finished.

 

Finding the right person who makes a great offer for more than you want is always good. Right now I could manage to sell my car for 3750, or over 4000. Before when I bought it the int was shabby, body was subpar, and motor was ??? since it came with a bald rear tire, I still spent 1800 for it OH and it has manual everything with the exception of what I put on so far.

 

Dev...haven't you learned anything yet? You're NEVER 100% done! And when you are....you're gonna get bored with it and change it again. You see the people with the expensive cars that are always adding or replacing CD players or subs, or trying different exhausts and intakes, or finding new motors to build and drop in? That's cause they're "100% done"...