15yr old with $400

After going thru 2 cars, my dad and me were on the search for a 3rd project when we came up on this.


1987 Nissan 300zx. Owner was selling it because it had a blown head gasket and didn't have time to fix it. He was getting ready to send it to the junkyard, so we had to save it.
After some exchanges, we poured some water in and drove it back home as it wasn't too far. Once we were there, we started to do a full look around to see what had to be repaired, what was missing and what needed to be bought. First thing was to fix the engine and get it running in top condition. This meant it had to come apart and new head gaskets had to go in. Along with this we did a full tune-up(timing belt,water pump, seals, etc).

At this point the engine was running great, but there was still cosmetic stuff to be taken care off.

The car was missing the passenger's side side skirt along with both door panels. Yeah I was young and thought yellow interior and wings from Fast & Furious was cool. So I painted some stuff and added a wing, man was I wrong. Oh and not to forget, clear coat was coming off. So I also painted the hood black.

By this time, I had bought the spare car and swapped over some parts. Door panels, broken mirror and a few other things.

Stickers add horsepowa YO! seriously, but No.
Hey why not paint stripes on the hood and paint the wheels?

Thank god this ended quickly after.
Well after that, we moved and I finally had a garage to work on the car. So that meant we started the body work that need to be done. Common problem on these cars is lower quarter panel rust, and this one had it.


I had swapped the doors over from the parts cars since the original ones had rust.
All body work was done and it was rattle can to make it match somewhat. Missing side skirt was also found along with oem mudflaps and a chevy tahoe lip.


at this point, the wing had came off and the interior was back to normal color. Finally.

I was content with how the car looked. But I knew it had much more to go.  Car needed a set of wheels to replace the stocks, which were a killer factor to me. So on the hunt we went and we found these for cheap.

At first, all I knew was that they were 17x7 +38. After some research, I found out that they are called Team Dynamics k2. I figured they'd fit fine and would look good, so on they went.

Didn't know much about offsets and widths at this point. I thought it looked fine. Time to find tires!

225/50s went on and it looked decent. The wing went back on. Oh god...
I figured since the paint is messed up anyways, why not try a 2 tone?hmmm

That didn't work out, so all black it went.

Much better. Still needed more work.
At this point, I was learning about wheel offsets and fitment. So we ordered some 1.5"(38mm) bolt on spacers.


much better. Paint looked like shit but it was still better than the rattled canned red...

Drove it around like this for a while. By this time I had graduated from high school and had started attending college and working.
Then this happened



I had started to follow the whole stance scene and I knew i wanted to get the car. So I picked up some ebay coilover sleeves and installed them. The rear went low, but there was much more to be desired from the front.
Took the car to my first stance show, Simply Clean 3 in Sanford, FL.

Had a blast there with everyone and it was fun seeing all the slammed cars.

A little bit down the road, went and took some pics of the car for mad cool points! I also removed the coilover sleeves from the rear and cut the stock springs to eliminate reverse rake. The coilover sleeves didn't give enough lift at max heaight.
Then I tried something a little different, Chalkboard paint.
Chalkboard Z was born!
Hey! why not take it to a show and let people write on it? First ILDS Winterfest

Others took pics of the car




And the aftermath



man was that fun! Got great feedback from others at the show for doing something different.
I picked up some roof rack bars and made my own wood rack. Also got a turbo spoiler and wrapped the lip with duck tape

V2lab Mystery Meet came around and I took the car.


More chalk aftermath

Was getting bored with the car, so I changed a few things.
made and visor and put some stickers on it

Took it to a meet

I had ordered a wood grain steering wheel, s13 hub adapter and wood grain shift knob. Also picked up a wink mirror locally. Led strips installed to finishing it off.


cleaned up the car

More car meets, cooler on roof rack for more cool points



I had been working about and going to school. So by this time I had some money saved for wheels. Picked these up, 17x10 +20 XXR 526



Wrapped on 235/40s

Car looked so different on the new wheels. I knew I had made the right choice.


I drove it like this for a while, but I knew it had to be lowered more. So after some searching I picked up some S13 240sx rear coilovers along with front coilover springs and camber plates. These came off a wrecked car so the front coilovers were broken. That was ok because those wouldn't let me go as low as I wanted. Along with this, I bought a set of front struts to shortened and mk2 scirocco strut inserts. It was time to play!

rear coilovers went on. Fitment test? Passed.


Test fit on the front

Perfect. Coilovers worked out just like I wanted them to.
Decided to take the car to Z fest and meet some fellow Z owners.

Took 1st place Diamond on the Rough. It was a good day

And the aftermath of the show


It was time to put the coilovers to use! Track time
Z31 Road Course night
That was a blast. learned how this car handled and pushed it to its limits. Great night.
Then I lowered the front a little more

And I took it to one of the biggest shows every year. Simply Clean 4





Rolling with a homie

Then the next show came up. ILDS Winterfest 2012. I had picked up an inflatable Corona Bottle to put on my rack










It was time to leave :(

I decided it was time to change the look of the car. As much fun as it was, it was getting old. So I cleaned it up and gave it a simple look


Then took it a car meet


The I committed and ordered some paint!

Firemist Purple

Perfect color for the new look.
Also ordered a TBO front lip


Always liked the look of splitters on racecars so I made some

The hood and hatch also got Carbon fiber vinyl wrapped


The splitter was a little too loose and was making a lot noise scrapping the ground and stuff. So I made some support rods and installed them.

It was time. Time to prep for paint!




Then it happened...




and once done


Such difference from what I started with. But this meant it was time to rename it once again. This time?
Count Von Purp
by this time I was 18, still going to school and working. Car was been built using the little money i had. But it did what it had to.
I went over to a friend's house to pick up some stickers for my wheels

And when installed

V2lab Mystery Meet came around and I went once again!




Car was looking good, but I was getting bored again. Time to build stuff!
Rear diffuser



Roof Visor

Then out we went for pictures!



MOAR PICTURESSSSS!!!!

Rolling a car show

Playing Limbo at said show


Parked at the show


Decided I need to do something to the interior. So I picked up some fabric and redid some stuff


And made some Canards

That summer I took a drive down to tampa for my first cars & beaches meet hosted by ILDS




I put the wing back after this because I felt it was fitting



Took it to Simply Clean 5 like I do each year. Always a blast


Then 1 week before ILDS Winterfest 2013, I blew the engine. I was coming home one night, and apparently the engine had sprung a water leak. I didn't notice it was overheating because the gauge said it was fine. Car started smoking and it was too late to stop and save it.
Engine came apart in hopes it would be a quick fix.

Nope. Messed up 3 pistons. Engine was done.
Time to finally do the swap I wanted to since I got this car, VG33.
Threw the engine in along with a few bolt ons and a full tune-up. Also painted the engine bay.

Perfect.
It was running once again

Then I got tired of the wing. Took it off and made my own


I was digging it.


Others were digging it too
Titan Open House


UTI Torque Meet



time to leave :(

I daily drive this car. Its soo much fun all around.
Took it to the beach





Once again, I got tired of the wing. This tend to happen a lot...
I picked this up. quick test fit. Awesome.


Wing got installed and wheels got plastidiped.
Out to the show!



I went out that next week and took some pictures



Made some wood floors for the hatch


Then it was time for Hot Import Nights




Then it was time to remove stickers!




Now this is the current state






This car has taught me a lot of lessons in life, and it will keep on doing it as long as I'm around. I wouldn't have made it this far if it wasn't for my family and friends always being there to lend a hand, Specially my dad. He's been the one helping me 24/7 with this headache  I call my baby, putting in 100% day & night. Thanks Dad. And for everyone else, I thank you all. As for the car, this is only a step on this long road. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed.