2007 Fairlady Z33 Version NISMO

Restores, Revamps and Repairs
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Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

2007 Fairlady Z33 Version NISMO

Post by Grunzter » Sat Aug 14, 2021 6:58 pm

Thought I would share this car with everyone since its something a little different.
Not really a build, but a return to OEM.
Car is a factory JDM spec. NISMO Z33 (350Z).
This one is from 2007 and is with an Automatic transmission. It was imported from Japan to NZ in 2017.
I am the second owner. The first owner did a good job of looking after the car, so a big thanks to him.

They only made these in 2007 and 2008. ~1613 units were made for the US market and came with numbered plaques.
The US ones did not have the wheel arch extensions, and had front bumper indicators, they also had different upholstery and darker finish wheels.

The JDM ones were not numbered, but going by the overall production in the last two years for the Z33 I figure there are not that many out there.
They were made both AT & MT, and were release in 5 colours, White, Black, Red, Silver and Orange!

So far the following has been done:
- Misc decals etc removed
- A good clean inside & out
- The 'Works' white wheels replaced with the OEM 'Rays forged' wheels.
- Headlight restore

What it looks like now:
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After refurbishment by ARROW Wheels in Auckland. (Highly recommended).
18x9 front (245/40-18)
19x10 rear (275/35-19)
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Last edited by Grunzter on Sat Aug 13, 2022 10:34 pm, edited 6 times in total.
1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Sat Aug 14, 2021 7:02 pm

What it looked like before:
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For interest, a US spec NISMO 350Z.
To note is the upholstery, front bumper vertical indicators & Dark wheels...
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1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Sat Aug 14, 2021 7:41 pm

Another NISMO car of interest is the 380RS.
This was a special, where only 300 cars were to be made that had a VQ35HR engine increased to 3.8L with 350hp.
There was also a competition version of this available.

The interesting thing is the only difference between the NISMO Z33 and the 380RS was the engine and a few minor upholstery highlights in red.
...plus the RS badge at the back located just below the 'Nismo' badge.
Other minor changes were Potenza RE01R tyres instead of RE050A tyres, and the 380RS had 275 wide at the rear where the standard nismo had 265 wide.

The 380rs was only available in 3 colours, white, black & silver, and with a Manual transmission. No AT option.

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Last edited by Grunzter on Sun Aug 15, 2021 3:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Sun Aug 15, 2021 2:34 pm

Changed the ryco air filters to new K&N ones today.

When I pulled off the Nismo front brace, someone had fitted a M10x1.5 bolt into a M10x1.25 hole :(
Obviously they lost the original, and did not realize it was the wrong thread. must have been a difficult to install, but they persevered.
The bolt seems to have taken most of the damage.
I managed to re-tap the hole, and the new bolt seems to torque up. will check it in the future to see if comes loose...

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Also found a OEM factory radio unit through FB market place.
So with luck will have that in a few weeks to replace the aftermarket JVC unit.
1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
bernjean
Z Club Member
Posts: 1709

Post by bernjean » Sun Aug 15, 2021 4:25 pm

Yes, that is indeed a rare car. glade to see it has got into good hands. All the best with the work.
Bernie Kant
Club President

User avatar
Skiwi
Posts: 66
Location: Central Otago

Post by Skiwi » Tue Aug 17, 2021 6:53 am

I love to see molested Zs come back to factory spec. Kudos to you 👍

Cheers
Skiwi
When you drive a "Z" the destination is moot

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Tue Aug 17, 2021 6:53 pm

Thanks.
Good thing not much to do, but still to come:

General:
- Change Radio to original (One organized, the big one with 6CD)
- Fit rear wiper & motor (bought a whole hatch to get the parts. :))
- Need one sun visor holder, as one broken (looking for one...)
- Paint smoke grey parts to make them like new (mainly front lip, and LH side skirt, damaged when red decal was removed by previous owner at my request).
- Fit new front undertray (ordered from Nissan). Currently it does not have one.
- Get spare key (ordered from Nissan), as only have one.

Mechanical:
- Change rear diff bushes (ordered)
- Change brake rotors & pads (ordered) from race brakes.
- Change diff oil
- Change brake fluid

Then drive it! :)
1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Wed Aug 18, 2021 12:42 pm

ok, first day of lockdown, and been into the www shopping.
Got myself an new OEM centre console & cubby to replace the JDM navigation screen.

so will look like this:
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Also got some replacement OEM new sun visor clips and a new OEM cargo mat just to finish it off.

Nice to see places actually have OEM stuff available.
https://conceptzperformance.com/cars.php?id=1

https://www.z1motorsports.com/

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1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Tue Aug 24, 2021 7:05 pm

Lock down is dragging...
Other colours of Fairlday Z33 Version Nismo...
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And a US Spec red one...
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1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
bernjean
Z Club Member
Posts: 1709

Post by bernjean » Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:03 pm

Really like the red one. :D
Bernie Kant
Club President

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Sun Sep 19, 2021 5:17 pm

Lockdown is dragging...
A small package from the US arrived (Concept Z), with some OEM parts.
I replaced the broken sun visor clip, that was easy.
Also replaced the passengers side door handle. It was not broken, but some of the plating was starting to peel, so now its looking all bling.

I have not changed the centre console JDM Sat-Nav to the cubby yet, as will wait until I sort out a radio.

The same with the rear wiper blade, all the new bits to install, just waiting for the wiper blades to arrive from Wiper Tech in Aussie.

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1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:35 am

I have found out from the previous owner I can blue-tooth to the JDM sat-nav screen, just need to use the phone translator to know what i am doing.
Based on this, I will keep the JDM sat-nav, and get my phone paired.

I will put the new cubby assembly in a place I cannot see it, as it was not cheap. :P

Today I will fit the rear wiper motor, though I need to give the wiper arm a coat of paint.
It was easier/cheaper to buy a complete hatch than to buy the parts separately!
I need the wiper motor, wiper arm, spray nozzle etc... also i now have a spare set of plastic parts.

Also the owner found the original undertray, so will collect that ASAP, give it a clean and fit it.

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New brake rotors & pads ordered, as well as diff bushes, so will get these installed within the next few weeks with luck.
As soon as that's done then its off to the paint shop to get the 'Smoke' grey parts tidied up.
1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

User avatar
bernjean
Z Club Member
Posts: 1709

Post by bernjean » Thu Sep 23, 2021 2:08 pm

Did you get RHD dash parts from the states or are they from somewhere else?
Bernie Kant
Club President

User avatar
Grunzter
Posts: 541
Location: Epsom, Auckland

Post by Grunzter » Thu Sep 23, 2021 2:27 pm

From the states, some places sell them, like Concept Z.
However after getting them I decided to keep the sat-nav, and will use the blue tooth function to pair my phone to it...
One day I may change?,,,
1981 280ZX #33 IMSA GTU Race Car
2012 Fairlady Z34 ST (For the son/wife...)
2007 Fairlady Z33 NISMO
(Sold) 1984 300ZX Z31 2+2 Turbo
(Sold) 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

BRONZEE
Z Club Member
Posts: 7200
Location: Auckland

Post by BRONZEE » Thu Sep 23, 2021 5:05 pm

bernjean wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:03 pm Really like the red one. :D
Would have thought you'd be into the orange. :P I didn't realise the Nismo came in the orange, learned a Z fact today.
Next - Z Club events:
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.

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