I have been a diehard Z owner since 1973. I have owned a new 73 240Z, a new 77 280Z, a new 81 280ZX, a new 85 300ZX Turbo and a 3 year old 93 300ZX. I loved them all. I have put almost 900,000 miles on them. I still have the Z31 and Z32. But for some reason, there is something about my Z31 that has me hooked.
This is a special Z car. I am the original owner with over 23+ years of ownership. This car is very dear to me. I have a lot of good memories that go back almost a quarter of a century. Just imagine how many things you still have from 23 years ago. I bet not much. Over the years, the Z31 was my daily driver and it now has over 307,000 miles on it. Being a northern car (Massachusetts and New Hampshire), and driven in the winter, it was slowly rusting away. In 2000, I had the front fenders, rear quarter panels, rocker panels, passenger door, and pieces of the floor replaced. I also got a new set of Alba chrome wheels. In 2001, the car was in a major accident and basically totaled. I had her fixed up again and continued to use her as my daily driver. In 2004, I flunked a safety inspection because of frame rot. It was either junk her or restore her. I decided to do a complete restoration on her. This would be the third time I save this car from being junked. The major issues were the front subframe rails and unibody were rotting. In 2004, I saw an episode on TLC Overhaulin where they cut off the front subframe of a 65 Mustang and grafted on another. That was exactly what my Z31 needed! Using the internet, I found a front subframe in Arizona and had it shipped to Boston to an autobody that specialized in full restorations. I pulled out the interior and drove the Z to Boston. In July 2004, they started. They pulled the engine and tranny, removed the front and rear suspension, and disassembled the entire body. For the drive train, I had the engine, T5 tranny, and rear differential rebuilt with new half shafts, as well as replacing most of the sensors on the engine, new engine wiring harness, new T3 turbo, and a new distributor. For stopping, I got new brake pads, rotors, and calipers. For the suspension, I got new KYB shocks, polyurethane bushings front and rear, and a rebuilt steering rack. Externally, a xenon body kit and a new paint job. In the interior, I got new carpets, a new 200 watt Pioneer stereo with new speakers, and a new Mahogany wood grained steering wheel. I created carbon fiber inserts for the center console and faceplates for the AC/heater and radio. My goal was not to soup it up, but to get it as close to new as I could. In April of 2005, the car was done. I am more than please at the result. Imagine having an almost brand new 85T Z31 in 2005. Cost me twice what the estimate was but I suspected it would anyway. All I have left is redoing the seats. Since then, the Z is no longer my daily driver and will never be driven in the winter again. It has become a garage queen alongside my Z32. I have a good problem now, which Z car to drive on that sunny summer’s day!
This is what I started with in 4/2004. Looks pretty good but the rust is underneath the car. Front subframe rotten, also kinked from a prior accident (wife). 
The first day of the restoration. 
Engine Removal 
Empty Engine bay 
Cutting off the old Front Sub-Frame 
New Sub-frame 
Attacking the rest of the Rust 
New front sub frame test fit 
Rebuilt engine 
A new VG30t Engine. A thing a beauty!! 
Big day. the heart is back!! 
Getting ready for paint. 
Painting a masterpiece 
A Z IS REBORN 4/2005 
K&N filter,
3" turbo back exhaust,
Rebuilt engine,
New T3 turbo,
New engine wiring harness,
Rebuilt T5 Transmission,
Rebuilt rear diff and half shafts,
KYB dampers,
New brakes and rotors,
Alba 15" wheels,
Dunlop 245/50R15 tires,
Poly front rear and crossmember bushings,
New steering rack,
new alternator and battery,
Urethane body kit,
Mahogony steering wheel,
200 Watt Pioneer stereo system,
New 250 watt Pioneer 3 way speakers
new front fenders,
new rear quarter panels,
new rocker panels,
new drivers door,
replaced front sub-frame,
Complete paint job.
