90's Japanese sports cars and aging

[familyMAN]

About a week ago, I dreamed I had a complete Euro conversion sitting in the dining room.

I woke up SO DISAPPOINTED! I didn't even realize how much I liked it.



It looked better in my dream

Poor camera angle. Most people don't seem to understand how to photograph a 3S to accentuate the hourglass

[95gto]

Something to consider when comparing these cars aesthetically is that both the Supra and RX7 being viewed are the 2nd gen restylings of the cars, so using a first gen 3000gt isn't really an apples to apples comparison. The 1st gen 3000gt should be compared to the MKIII Supra and FC3S. A 94-95 model 3000gt is truly the fair comparison for the MKIV and FD.

As for the Z32 leg humping, it is a Z car from Nissan, that like a Corvette, gets to exploit pedigree when its performance or substance falls a little short.

[j2k4]

Poor camera angle. Most people don't seem to understand how to photograph a 3S to accentuate the hourglass

This ^^.

Exactly what I've been chasing with every pic I've tried to take of my car.

Look at the car = hourglass.

Take a pic = WTF?

I'd been away from cars for so long, I am only now arriving at some of the old hat conclusions you guys have been onto for years, but I still think viewing a 3S at the right angle puts it on top of the pack.

The rest of them are (to me) evocative of any number of other body-styles.

Also: I think the issue of whether or not these things are aging well is a bit off - I think the profiles that attract us are better-termed 'ageless', a la the GT40/Ford GT.

There's a reason they ripped themselves off, I think.

[UTRacerX9]

The 3s can quite easely drop 450lbs from stock without much comfort sacrafice though. That and added power would most likely have them give another opinion on it.

With my car, I did just that. Some of the major weight loss items... Fiberglass hood, wheels, CFDS, Stillen DP and Super Drager exhaust (that shaved off a TON of weight on the exhaust), flywheel, battery, crank pulley, charcoal canister, spare/jack/etc, smaller lightweight steering wheel, and all the little things you can get rid of. My fiberglass hood also had a big scoop in the center... Over 70mph, you could start to feel the front end feel more planted to the road because of the extra air being forced into the engine bay.

In the end... none of that stuff could change the steering dynamics of the car. The stock steering rack is sloppy and has too much play. The car has a front weight bias which doesn't lend itself to changing direction as fast as is possible, and the suspension components themselves are all made out of steel with thick rubber bushings. The chassis is heavy, but it isn't very stiff. On a Porsche, all that stuff is much tighter, made of aluminum, and there's a rear weight bias so the front end feels incredibly light and controlled. When I jack up one side of my 911, the whole side of the car raises and both wheels come off the ground easily, whether I jack from the front or rear side jack point. On the Stealth, I used to have to raise it HIGH to get the other wheel to come off the ground, because the chassis would flex so much.

I'd actually been researching how to adapt a BMW M3 steering rack to our cars. I'm convinced it's possible without too much work actually, just need to weld a few mounting points on, and mate the steering shaft to the stock shaft. I think it was the 96-98 racks that would work best, IIRC. But then I kinda caught myself and realized it didn't make much sense to do that when my Boxster S already handled like I wanted the Stealth to do... right out of the box.

[Boost4VR4]

I think the 3000GT is a nicely styled car and has a more aggressive look to it. The Supra has very simple lines and it is a very smooth looking car. The RX7 is one of my favorites of the bunch, I really appreciate an RX7 in person more than I do in pictures. The 300ZX I am torn on simply because I don't see them often and because I am not fond of the back end, it has a dated back end that looks like a Trans-Am/IrocZ and the front end doesn't look that great either. Of the bunch, the 3000GT looks the nicest because it is longer, has a wider wheelbase, and looks very nice with new wheels and coilovers.

[JasonY]

The FD's body was finalized around 88/89 fwiw. Development of the REW engine pushed it off until it being released in 92.

Jason

[familyMAN]

Where are the turbo MR2 pics???

[NOMIEZVR4]

I think the MR2's fit in with the DSM, Honda/Acura crowd more than the 'supercars'...pleasure meeting you today btw..

[TwIzTeD_3kGt]

With my car, I did just that. Some of the major weight loss items... Fiberglass hood, wheels, CFDS, Stillen DP and Super Drager exhaust (that shaved off a TON of weight on the exhaust), flywheel, battery, crank pulley, charcoal canister, spare/jack/etc, smaller lightweight steering wheel, and all the little things you can get rid of. My fiberglass hood also had a big scoop in the center... Over 70mph, you could start to feel the front end feel more planted to the road because of the extra air being forced into the engine bay.

In the end... none of that stuff could change the steering dynamics of the car. The stock steering rack is sloppy and has too much play. The car has a front weight bias which doesn't lend itself to changing direction as fast as is possible, and the suspension components themselves are all made out of steel with thick rubber bushings. The chassis is heavy, but it isn't very stiff. On a Porsche, all that stuff is much tighter, made of aluminum, and there's a rear weight bias so the front end feels incredibly light and controlled. When I jack up one side of my 911, the whole side of the car raises and both wheels come off the ground easily, whether I jack from the front or rear side jack point. On the Stealth, I used to have to raise it HIGH to get the other wheel to come off the ground, because the chassis would flex so much.

I'd actually been researching how to adapt a BMW M3 steering rack to our cars. I'm convinced it's possible without too much work actually, just need to weld a few mounting points on, and mate the steering shaft to the stock shaft. I think it was the 96-98 racks that would work best, IIRC. But then I kinda caught myself and realized it didn't make much sense to do that when my Boxster S already handled like I wanted the Stealth to do... right out of the box.

On that note, since putting coilovers on, mine lifts the whole side from either jack point. Almost evenly. Not sure what relevance that has, but thought I'd throw that out there.

[Ange]

With my car, I did just that. Some of the major weight loss items... Fiberglass hood, wheels, CFDS, Stillen DP and Super Drager exhaust (that shaved off a TON of weight on the exhaust), flywheel, battery, crank pulley, charcoal canister, spare/jack/etc, smaller lightweight steering wheel, and all the little things you can get rid of. My fiberglass hood also had a big scoop in the center... Over 70mph, you could start to feel the front end feel more planted to the road because of the extra air being forced into the engine bay.

In the end... none of that stuff could change the steering dynamics of the car. The stock steering rack is sloppy and has too much play. The car has a front weight bias which doesn't lend itself to changing direction as fast as is possible, and the suspension components themselves are all made out of steel with thick rubber bushings. The chassis is heavy, but it isn't very stiff. On a Porsche, all that stuff is much tighter, made of aluminum, and there's a rear weight bias so the front end feels incredibly light and controlled. When I jack up one side of my 911, the whole side of the car raises and both wheels come off the ground easily, whether I jack from the front or rear side jack point. On the Stealth, I used to have to raise it HIGH to get the other wheel to come off the ground, because the chassis would flex so much.

I'd actually been researching how to adapt a BMW M3 steering rack to our cars. I'm convinced it's possible without too much work actually, just need to weld a few mounting points on, and mate the steering shaft to the stock shaft. I think it was the 96-98 racks that would work best, IIRC. But then I kinda caught myself and realized it didn't make much sense to do that when my Boxster S already handled like I wanted the Stealth to do... right out of the box.

maybe coilovers and poly bushings would make the steering less "sloppy" for you? The car is a GT, setup for comfort, not performance/track.

About weightdistrubution not much to do. Goes with the front engine. Best thing we can do is to shave as much weight in the front as possible.