How2Day: The 1986 300ZX Specifications

The 300ZX was Nissan's flagship sports car from 1984 to 1996, and a continuation of its Z-car line. The 1984 to 1989 model was Nissan's third-generation Z-car, replacing the 280ZX. Boasting more horsepower, better handling, and more luxury features than its predecessors, the 1986 model received side skirts, an upgraded plastic spoiler, and was the first to offer a T-top roof as an option.

The 1986 Nissan 300ZX was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle with a curb weight of 3140 lb. It used Nissan's VG30E engine, a 3-liter, fuel-injected V6 with 160 horsepower and 174 ft.-lb. of torque. A turbocharged version, the VG30ET, was also available and offered 200 horsepower.

The zero-to-60 mph time for the naturally aspirated engine was 8.2 seconds, while the zero-to-60 mph time for the turbocharged engine was 7.4 seconds with an automatic transmission.

The base VG30 engine used in the 300ZX was a popular engine during the 1980s. By 1986, more than 500,000 VG-series engines had been produced, and it was used in a wide range of vehicles, including the Nissan Quest, Pathfinder, Maxima and 200SX. It was even used by Ford in the Mercury Villager minivan.

The fuel-injected engine was built with a cast-iron block, and aluminum heads and pistons. The camshaft was a timing-belt driven, single-overhead cam. It was an interference engine, meaning that if the timing belt broke, it was possible for the pistons to run into the cams and damage them.

The turbocharged VG30ET variant came with a single Garrett T3 turbocharger with 6.8 psi of boost and a compression ratio of 7.8 to 1. Unlike many turbocharged engines, the VG30ET wasn't equipped with an intercooler, bypass valve, or blow-off valve.

From 1984 to 1989, the 300ZX used Nissan's Z31 chassis. Although it shared the same basic shape and 91.3-inch wheelbase as its predecessor, the 280ZX, it was more aerodynamic.

The MacPherson suspension used struts in the front and a semi-trailing arm in the rear. The turbo model featured driver-adjustable shocks.

The 1984 300ZX Turbo, with its top speed of 153 mph, was the fastest Japanese car to be sold in America at the time, and was the highest horsepower production car available in Japan at the time of its release. As a result, 300ZX sales started strong. By 1986, however, sales began to lag. This resulted in Nissan introducing further improvements in subsequent years, and a complete overhaul in the 1990 model, which used the Z32 chassis and VG30DE base engine.

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