Hey Guys,

The time has come for me to get another car. I have had my FD for almost 10 years and driven it daily for 9 of those ten years. It's got all the bolt-on's except for upgraded turbos, so you know that I have had fun with it. The first two motors died due to coolant seal failiure. I am now on my third motor and the it's developed a cooling issue and it's over heating. I have been running on borrowed time since February and have been using Block-weld to keep the coolant seals intact.

It's time for a change...

I have been thinking about buying the following car(s) to replace my FD for a daily driver:

2002 Z06:$33k w/ 25k miles
Pros: Power, torque, reliabilty & affrodability
Cons: Common(they're everywhere)
* I haven't driven one yet.


1991-1996 NSX:$32k w/ 32k miles stock
Pros: Styling, Reliability, Rare, handling
Cons: Lack of power, expensive to mod -> I'd be very temped to go FI. It's a 13-15 year old car.
* I haven't driven one yet.


2003-2004 G35 Coupe/350z: $25-30k
Pros: Newer car, decent power for crusing, if I get an AT, my wife will be able to drive it, Ok styling
Cons: Big & heavy, needs more power.
My wife has the G35x Sedan


1993 LS1/FD: $22k This is Mark Corbett's(gnx7) car
Pros: 431 rwhp/385 ft/lbs. in an FD
Cons: Needs a paint job and some cosmetic work. Some minor electrical work: turn signals & Stereo etc. Some interior work as well. It's a 13-14 yr old chassis.
I've ridden in the car and it rips!


I'd love to have an LS1 put in my FD, that would be ideal. But I can't do the work myself. I don't have the patience, time, space to work(garage), or know how to do the swap. I will most probably buy another car and part out my car and sell off all the performance parts:

• ASP/M2 Large SMIC w/ puller fan
• Power FC & Commander
• Datalogit w/ tuning spreadsheet (I'm running 15 psi and still have all my apex seals)
• TechEdge Wideband O2 kit
• N-tech Highlfow cat(not on the car)
• Maganflow Resonated midpipe
• Down pipe
• HKS exhaust Old school oval canister type
• Tokiko struts
• M2 coilovers
• H& Springs(not on car)
• Polished Upper Intake Manifold
• Intake hardpipes w/ K&N's
• Koyo Radiator(might be clogged - not sure)
• Tripoint rear sway-bar
• Pettit solid front sway bar
• N-tech ss Brake cooling ducts & 10' feet of 3" hose(not installed)
• N-tech lapping day pads front & rear(new not installed)
• Jimlab's unobtanium bushing kit(minus the differential bushings)
• HKS Twin power Ignition Amp & harness
• 2 sets of 4500k HID light kits(if I can't use them on my next car.
• Optima Redtop battery

...I think that's everything...as well as all the in-demand OEM parts...

***The shell was recently repainted and has a straight body and shines like new. There is just a couple paint scrapes on the fender but otherwise it would be one of the cleanest "rollers" on the market. It would be perfect for an LS1 Swap. I'd rate it as an 8.5 out of 10.

I'd like to hear your comments or feedback on this subject.

Thanks,
John

 

sorry to hear about you bad luck with coolant seals.

LS1 FD all day!

that or Z06... if you're going to trade your rotors for pistons you might as well have 8!

they would both be sick cars and you can't beat that sound.

 

supra. fast handles well, reliable, rare (twin turbo 6 speed targa top) have unlimited potential.

 

Did you use Block-weld to help get some additional miles out of either of your first two failed engines? If so did you replace the radiator and pump after its use? If not that may be why you have been duplicating your problems with cooling. Well anyway I guess that is a different subject.

Between the choices below I'd go with the NSX. The other's are rather generic except for the Rx-7 but trading one 7 for another seems a little backward. I'd sooner fix your issues and keep the 7 you have worked so hard to create.

 

Go drive a Z06. Those things are awesome. Interior isnt that great, but those things are fast and handle. There was a couple at the autox I used to go to, and they would dominate. Of course, so would an LS1 FD. But, if it were me, after 10 years of driving a car, Id need something different.

 

I would think you could sell all your uprgrades, plus the money you have saved up for a new car and ship it to Hinson to do the work for you. This will give you a slight new car feel, but if you do need a new change, than the only thing to do is to get yourself a new car.

SUPRA twin turbo six speed and tell wifey to enjoy her G35x

 

E46 Bmw!

 

No, I didn't know about the o-ring fix then. Besides, my 2nd motor had a massive front cover oil leak. I'd love to have an NSX! I'm just a little leary of buying a car that old.

I'm not a fan of the way the supra looks. I like the potential power, though.

I have been referred to a couple of local shops that say they can do the FD LS1 swap for me. But that option will require me to go through the hassle of sourcing all the parts and buying a daily driver while my FD is getting worked on which could take months and cost at least $10k-15k. That's still an option, but it's the most hassle and time consuming.

 

Personally, I'd go with the NSX. I drove a stock 96, and it had get up and go, but was nonetheless underpowered. But you get something most people have never even heard of or seen in person, and it looks like a million bucks on 4 wheels.

It still does the 0-60mph anywhere (depending on year) in 5.2 to 5.8. Not blazing fast, but quick.

 

Also if you want a v8 ditch the dinosaur technology of the LS1. look at the

infinity 4.5L such a sweet engine

 

if your gonna move from one Jap super car, then it goes without saying you should move to another ,

SKYLINE GTR WITHOUT A DOUBT BRO!!!

 

probly not an option due to the fact r34's sell for 100k usd

and R32's are ugly and boring as **** gtrs are far to over rated

 

I know its not an option, but chalk another one up for the elise. Its quicker than 2 of the cars on your list and it costs just about the same and its brand new as well.

I would take the z06 if I had to though..

 

pfft elise go EXIGE! go i want one so bad but boosted

 

Z06! more parts available, cheaper upkeep, but the downside is the cheaply designed interior.. as my friend states "interior was designed by fisher price" big *****, lots of plastic
I drove an NSX, was ok, i agree with underpowered but it had some unf sleek style, get noticed everywhere you go.
G35 is even more common than the vette and nothing fancy, just big, heavy, adequate power for getting you from point A to point B
LS1 FD is a good setup, FD looks, cheaper upkeep, all the luxury can be installed (a/c, power steering) gotta worry about smog though.. unless you go all out to make it smog legal (way more costly and time consuming than you'd want)


Someone mentioned an Elise..
yeah an overpriced celica that actually handles. track ready, not very good for daily driving though.

E46 BMW is nice too, rode/driven one it definitely is a fun car, and you get to have rear seats

 

Not interested in a Porsche? I would think you could something nice in your price range...

 

Pretty ignorant to say. So was the older one just a rwd integra type R?

people need to get over the engine they used. but you are right on the migth not be a good daily driver

 

depends on what your priorities are.

Z06 will be fast and fun, but there are a lot. NOt sure about interior.

NSX will turn just as many heads and get as much attatntion as your FD. Probably more.

G35 is new, will probably have more longevity and less time getting worked on. Looks great, but doesn't stand out as much.

LS1 FD, will keep you in an FD but get a lot of noob flames here in the lounge, but who gives a **** about the noobs?

All great cars that would be good chouces if you are adamant about moving on from the FD. Good luck with your sale/purchase/choice.

 

Z06 can be had for MUCH cheaper than that too.

I had the Z06 for like 6 months. Great car. Fast, reliable, new.

I ended up with my old FD and am in the process of swapping in the LS1. It's gonna be NASTY.

 

I bought an 2003 350Z touring with 16k it had a salvage title but it was only $17,500 then you have money left for mods. Unless of course your tired of modding. Its a sweet car but I wish it had more power. Thats why I'm looking for a FD as a project car and leaving my 350Z alone. 350Z upgrades are pretty expensive like a twin turbo kit by APS costs 6-7k.

 

I guess I am Bias, since I owned one... G35. A buttload of go fast upgrades available, not quite as $$$ to mod as the Z06. Stillen makes some radical bolt on kits for it.

 

Get one of the two cars you mentioned with Corvette powerplants =) Then twin turbo it!

 

Um, but you have compare apples to apples. Even if you installed a turbo kit or a supercharger kit on your G35 and made around 450-500 rwhp (at a cost of at least $5,000) you would still lose to a bolt-on, cam-only 410 rwhp Z06 (at a cost of around $2,000). Introduce a good set of heads (and make the comparison monetarily fair) and the Z06 will make 450 rwhp all day long. Power to weight ratio, gearing, aero = Z06 wins easily.

The G35 is a nice car, but if he wants to go fast, the G35 is not the platform to start with.

To the OP, I seriously considered an NSX after I sold my FD. At the end of the day, it was too slow and making it even as fast as a stock Z06 was going to be an expensive proposition.

 

did you get my pm?

 

so, go R33