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PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:56 am 
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:37 pm
Posts: 41
Location: East Lyme, CT
Hello everyone!
Just joined yesterday and I'm travelling to PA tomorrow to pick up my fair Lady. Have been interested in the Z-series since I was a kid watching Paul N. race up in Lime Rock for Bob Sharp Racing. Not mechanically inclined, so first order of business is to find a solid and reliable shop not too far from southeastern CT. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!


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Jeff in East Lyme, CT
'94 300zx Fairlady Z, Black Emerald
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 2:35 pm 
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Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:21 am
Posts: 973
Location: Somers CT
Nice looking car ! !
When you go down to pick it up ask them if they know when the timing belt was last changed ?
It should have been done around 60K.
My 96 was due not for milage but because it had never been done.

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W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:43 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:53 pm
Posts: 14778
Location: CT
What a beauty! Welcome Jeff, you sure know how to make a Grand Entrance, don't you?! WHOOOOOeeeeee, baby!

:thumbs_up: 8) :thumbs_up:

Frank T

PS: The ONLY folks I know who work on the Z32 (other than Nissan dealers) are our members in RDZ (Research & Development for the Nissan Z) in Danbury. You can find their sponsor advert in the left margin of our Homepage. If you call, be sure to tell them your our new member.

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1970 240Z


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 11:03 am 
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Location: East Lyme, CT
Hey Guys,

Yeah, the car only has 71,000 miles and it's definitely due for the timing belt change. That's my first order of business.
So tell me straight: for such a big job as this, should I plan to have it done at the Danbury shop or can I just have my regular mechanic tackle it? He's worked on all my cars for the last 17 years and has been in business over 20. I trust him completely but also don't want to make an enemy since I've heard the VG30DE engines are not the easiest to work on.
Thanks -

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Jeff in East Lyme, CT
'94 300zx Fairlady Z, Black Emerald


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 2:38 pm 
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Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:21 am
Posts: 973
Location: Somers CT
Jeff,

I had my mechanic do mine after contemplating going to the dealer.
The dealers all wanted to upsell the job but since mine only has 17,4xx mile on it I decided I did not need all their scrutiny, it was still pricey, around $1400.00 in total including 750.00 for parts.
I would say if he is a good mechanic he can handle it and save you some $$. :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:

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W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 4:05 pm 
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:39 pm
Posts: 697
Location: Long Island, N.Y.
You've got a sweet ride there Jeff. Congratulations and welcome. I just had this job done on my 1985 Z31 300ZX (with 35,000 miles on it and only 6,000 miles on the 1st timing belt change that was done in 1994) and had asked myself the same question(s) that you're asking about who should do it. My mechanic said he'd do it, and that he had done it once or twice on the Nissan Maxima's. :shock: :roll: My main concern is/was can it be done to exact specifications. Are all the specialty tools and equipment needed for the job accessible to the mechanic. Does/will the mechanic have a back-up support system available if an unforeseen problem arises that he can't figure out?

After a lot of research I had finally found a mechanic who had worked on many Nissans of my year. He actually works for a Nissan dealership. A frozen cam seal was one unforeseen issue that maybe my regular mechanic might have had a problem with. I don't know. At the car dealership service center my car was physically inspected and notes were jotted down (even the 1/2" scratch on the bottom of the bumper). All done because they are 100% liable for damage done while being serviced. Don't know if that would be the case with my mechanic. All the parts being replaced were genuine Nissan parts and not after market and done by a "specialist".

Also make sure that you have the suggested timing belt service suggested done. I had the timing belt, water pump, cam seals, belt tensioner, drive belts and antifreeze all changed. It's definitely not a cheap job but you will at least know that you will not have to do it again for another 60,000 miles. HOWEVER.... if your mechanic has done this job before then you'll probably save yourself a good chunk of change.

Good luck. Enjoy your Z.

Howard J

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1985 300ZX- GLL Dark Pewter Metallic - Survivor


Last edited by HowardJ on Fri Jun 22, 2018 4:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 21, 2018 5:46 pm 
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Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:21 am
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Location: Somers CT
HowardJ wrote:

Also make sure that you have the suggested timing belt service suggested. I had the timing belt, water pump, cam seals, belt tensioner, drive belts and antifreeze all changed. It's definitely not a cheap job but you will at least know that you will not have to do it again for another 60,000 miles. HOWEVER.... if your mechanic has done this job before then you'll probably save yourself a good chunk of change.

Good luck. Enjoy your Z.

Howard J


What Howard suggests is what I changed to go in that far and not change everything is pointless. In addition I changed all accessory belts, and the thermostat.

I bought the parts from https://www.z1motorsports.com/camshaft-and-valve-mechanism/nissan/nissan-oem-60k-120k-timing-kit-p-1680.html 8)

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W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)


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PostPosted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 12:12 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:37 pm
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Location: East Lyme, CT
Thanks for all the advice. I'll take all under consideration as I proceed forward.
Hope to see you at today's meeting at Al's. I'll bring some of my homebrewed IPA.

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Jeff in East Lyme, CT
'94 300zx Fairlady Z, Black Emerald


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 1:01 am 
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Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:53 pm
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Location: CT
Hey, Jeff ~ do NOT change your timing belt!!!!

:thumbs_up: :mrgreen: :thumbs_up:

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PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 1:11 pm 
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Location: Long Island, N.Y.
Frank T wrote:
Hey, Jeff ~ do NOT change your timing belt!!!!

:thumbs_up: :mrgreen: :thumbs_up:



:shock: :? :wink: :?:

Are you flinging some weird advice against the wall to see if it sticks, Frank? LOL

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1985 300ZX- GLL Dark Pewter Metallic - Survivor


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 3:11 pm 
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Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:21 am
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Location: Somers CT
I wouldn't change it either. :P :lol:

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W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 3:13 pm 
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Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:53 pm
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Location: CT
:lol: Nope!

Tell him, Jeff. 8)

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:58 pm 
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:39 pm
Posts: 697
Location: Long Island, N.Y.
Yeah Jeff. Tell me why you're NOT going to have to change your 71,000 mile timing belt. Was it swapped with a chain drive? Was a note found stuffed inside the rear seat showing that the belt was changed in 2018?

"SO WHAT'S THE STORY, JERRY"? or in this case..... Jeff. :roll: :wink: 8) :shock: :lol:

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 10:06 am 
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Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:37 pm
Posts: 41
Location: East Lyme, CT
Gentlemen!
All is well. At the recent Z meet at Al's place on the lake, it was discovered that yes indeed, the timing belt job has already been done at 50,000 miles so I'm all set for a while.

My emerald beauty is currently at Rich's RDZ shop in New Milford getting some custom noise cancellation devices fabricated and welded into my oh-so-noisy exhaust system. The old beauty also seemed to pass Rich's front to back, top to bottom evaluation of where I'm at and what's needed with only minor maintenance items to address. According to Rich, this car was very well taken care of up to now and I plan on continuing the same! Rich is a great guy and I'd recommend his services and expertise to anyone.

Cheers -

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Jeff in East Lyme, CT
'94 300zx Fairlady Z, Black Emerald


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:01 am 
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Joined: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:21 am
Posts: 973
Location: Somers CT
Great to hear Jeff. :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:

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W.Karl Walton
Somers CT



75' - 280Z - HLS30203249 - #304 Gold Metallic (stockish)
96' - 300zx TT - JN1CZ24d3TX960293 - Black on Black (enhanced)


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