My first import I just bought on monday a 1990 nissan stanza - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

merkerguitars · 01-12-2005, 02:48 PM

Ok so I was looking on autotrader and came across this car it's a 1990 nissan stanza. I bought it for $200 and it has a new radiator, but it leaks coolant into the oil, the previous owner already tried to replace the headgasket, but I i'm going to tear the head off and get it pressure checked and also take a look at the timing cover, cause that might be cracked or have a hole worn through it. at the most for a head and all the parts it will cost me $900 to fix, it gets about 31mpg on the highway and is 138 hp. So its damn near double the mileage of my cadillac and only 2 less hp. If I drive it for a month it will pay itself off...here are the pics, what do you guys think? Also parts are dirt cheap for it and it should be way more reliable and easier to work on.
As per request, pics I took today of the car It is a texas car, and doesn't have a bit of rust on it either

degrawj · 01-12-2005, 02:54 PM

With some work, that car can be looking pretty spiffy. However, in my experience, Nissans are incredibly difficult to work with. Their engine design isn't exactly the best, but if you've got the time and the patience, I'd say you got a pretty great deal.

Tech · 01-12-2005, 02:56 PM

if it cleans up well and runs right then it'll be a good deal.

good luck!

p.s. i don't wanna see any fat wings or V-tech stickers on it when it's done, k?

1slOwCD8 · 01-12-2005, 04:37 PM

Is that gonna be like your winter beater until you get the mustang project done, or did you just buy it cuz it was $200? Oh yea, why would he have a v-tech sticker on his car? Unless he really likes the phones.

animal909 · 01-12-2005, 05:57 PM

ka24de engine... the truck engine of nissan lol. You'll feel low end grunt but the top end is okay. It does have smooth acceleration and I never heard of a ka engine dying. Good pick.

Atomic Pinkie · 01-13-2005, 08:38 AM

I really wish I had your understanding of cars/mechanics...

It must be a blast doing what you do

merkerguitars · 01-13-2005, 10:50 AM

To all you wondering if it will be riced out no no no and no

It will be bone stock besides a K&N air filter and a cd player and new speakers. This is going to be my new daily driver. Good gas mileage and something reliable is what i'm going for. And I know for a fact once I get my mustang running I could never afford to drive that everyday.

Scorps · 01-13-2005, 02:53 PM

Better rims and wheels and toss the mud flaps and the extorior would look good. If that was my car I would toss on a small body kit, 17 inch rims, tinited windows and a killer sound system...but thats me

merkerguitars · 01-14-2005, 10:20 AM

Well hopefully i'll get it towed today, The at the bare mininum I want to get the head off to inspect the head itself and get it prepped so I can send it to a machine shop to get leak tested. Maybe if i'm lucky i'll get the timing chain cover off, then I should easily be able to find out the problem with it. I called the machine shop that did all of my mustang machining and they priced out some options for me, it's about $30 to have it leak tested, and another $50 to shave the head.

Ilow · 01-14-2005, 01:39 PM

I like your car economics theories. Those are supposed to be tough little cars, so once you get it fixed up it should give you some good service. keep us posted.

Scorps · 01-15-2005, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merkerguitars

Well hopefully i'll get it towed today, The at the bare mininum I want to get the head off to inspect the head itself and get it prepped so I can send it to a machine shop to get leak tested. Maybe if i'm lucky i'll get the timing chain cover off, then I should easily be able to find out the problem with it. I called the machine shop that did all of my mustang machining and they priced out some options for me, it's about $30 to have it leak tested, and another $50 to shave the head.

Oh I thought that was your house it was parked at...that person has a lot of cars.

80 bucks isn't bad at all

Hardknock · 01-27-2005, 07:24 PM

Good luck man. You probably already know, Nissan engines are a B I T C H to work on. I had a 1988 Sentra and when the head gasket went, you have to literally tear the entire motor apart to replace the gasket. A whole day's work for a 5 second fix. What a pain in the ass.

I'll never buy another Nissan again. Just to many bad memories and experiences with that first car.

01-12-2005, 02:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	My first import I just bought on monday a 1990 nissan stanza Ok so I was looking on autotrader and came across this car it's a 1990 nissan stanza. I bought it for $200 and it has a new radiator, but it leaks coolant into the oil, the previous owner already tried to replace the headgasket, but I i'm going to tear the head off and get it pressure checked and also take a look at the timing cover, cause that might be cracked or have a hole worn through it. at the most for a head and all the parts it will cost me $900 to fix, it gets about 31mpg on the highway and is 138 hp. So its damn near double the mileage of my cadillac and only 2 less hp. If I drive it for a month it will pay itself off...here are the pics, what do you guys think? Also parts are dirt cheap for it and it should be way more reliable and easier to work on. As per request, pics I took today of the car It is a texas car, and doesn't have a bit of rust on it either __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

01-12-2005, 02:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tech Addict Location: Baltimore MD	if it cleans up well and runs right then it'll be a good deal. good luck! p.s. i don't wanna see any fat wings or V-tech stickers on it when it's done, k? __________________ -Tim- ~I swear sometimes i feel like i'm married to a child. ~You better watch who you're calling a child, Lois, cause if i'm a child than you know what that makes you? a pedophile. and i'll be damned if i'm going to stand here and be lectured by a pervert.

01-13-2005, 08:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Atomic Pinkie Addict Location: Chicago	I really wish I had your understanding of cars/mechanics... It must be a blast doing what you do __________________ Where dem bitches at?

01-13-2005, 10:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	To all you wondering if it will be riced out no no no and no It will be bone stock besides a K&N air filter and a cd player and new speakers. This is going to be my new daily driver. Good gas mileage and something reliable is what i'm going for. And I know for a fact once I get my mustang running I could never afford to drive that everyday. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

01-14-2005, 10:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Well hopefully i'll get it towed today, The at the bare mininum I want to get the head off to inspect the head itself and get it prepped so I can send it to a machine shop to get leak tested. Maybe if i'm lucky i'll get the timing chain cover off, then I should easily be able to find out the problem with it. I called the machine shop that did all of my mustang machining and they priced out some options for me, it's about $30 to have it leak tested, and another $50 to shave the head. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985 Last edited by merkerguitars; 01-14-2005 at 10:25 AM..

01-12-2005, 02:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
degrawj I'm still waiting... Location: West Linn, OR	With some work, that car can be looking pretty spiffy. However, in my experience, Nissans are incredibly difficult to work with. Their engine design isn't exactly the best, but if you've got the time and the patience, I'd say you got a pretty great deal.

01-12-2005, 04:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
1slOwCD8 Psycho Location: chicago, illinois	Is that gonna be like your winter beater until you get the mustang project done, or did you just buy it cuz it was $200? Oh yea, why would he have a v-tech sticker on his car? Unless he really likes the phones.

01-12-2005, 05:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
animal909 Crazy	ka24de engine... the truck engine of nissan lol. You'll feel low end grunt but the top end is okay. It does have smooth acceleration and I never heard of a ka engine dying. Good pick.

01-13-2005, 02:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	Better rims and wheels and toss the mud flaps and the extorior would look good. If that was my car I would toss on a small body kit, 17 inch rims, tinited windows and a killer sound system...but thats me

01-14-2005, 01:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ilow Junkie Location: Pats country	I like your car economics theories. Those are supposed to be tough little cars, so once you get it fixed up it should give you some good service. keep us posted. __________________ "Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris

01-27-2005, 07:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	Good luck man. You probably already know, Nissan engines are a B I T C H to work on. I had a 1988 Sentra and when the head gasket went, you have to literally tear the entire motor apart to replace the gasket. A whole day's work for a 5 second fix. What a pain in the ass. I'll never buy another Nissan again. Just to many bad memories and experiences with that first car.