STRAMAN 300ZX CONVERTIBLE
More flash and dash per unit cash.
Nissan's new-for- 1990 300ZX
rewrote the performance rules for Japanese sports cars. It isn't a cheap ride,
with the twin-turbo version zinging through the $30,000 barrier like a bullet
through peach fuzz. But we can't complain. That's because no previous car--at
anything near the price has combined acceleration, grip, stability, lightness
to the touch, and unapologetic comfort in the levels the new ZX
does.
It was inevitable that retrofitters would add
the pleasures of open-air motoring to that list of appealing characteristics.
And equally inevitable that one of the first to do so would be Richard Straman,
of the Costa Mesa, California, design-fabrication-restoration
firm bearing his name. The R. Straman Company's reputation for quality
metalwork has expanded its business from top-drawer restoration of collectible
cars into specialty engineering and prototyping for major manufacturers. But
through it all, the creation of convertible conversions has been a mainstay.
The previous 300ZX was a popular candidate, so the
new car went under the torch as well.
For a conversion price of $8500, Straman
craftsmen turn your squat and menacing ZX coupe
into a convertible that retains an aggressive look--top up or down. The roof is
cut off, the rear hatch is unbolted, and the interior is completely gutted.
Then begins the process of restoring most of the structural stiffness lost in
the removal of all that steel overhead. A U-shaped bulkhead is welded in behind
the cockpit, to close off the trunk. This provides a well for the folded top
and ties together the car's right and left sides around the rear-suspension
pickup points. A roll bar (the lawyers might prefer it be called a
"stiffening hoop") is also part of the deal, since the ZX
doors have to keep those funny stand-up ears to locate the upper seatbelt
anchor points and the side windows' guide pins. Underneath, of course, is the
usual bracing running the length of the rocker panels. Various other bits
counter any local flexing that Straman has identified.
In addition to the power-operated folding
top, Straman constructs and installs a steel trunk lid and some filler pieces
at the beltline above the rear wheels (the one area of the conversion that
looks a little unsettled). Then he reinstalls the interior, crafting new trim
as required, and sends the car on its way.
And the car gets on its way smartly.
Performance is essentially unaffected by the rework, which adds only about 25
pounds to the car s curb weight and controls chassis flex remarkably well. In
fact, we were impressed with how like the standard coupe the convertible feels:
the same solid stance on the road, responsive steering, pleasant ride, and
blistering acceleration. (Straman engineered the conversion for the twin-turbo
car, which, of course, is the worst-case scenario in terms of stress.) There is
a touch of the cowl flutter that every ragtop this side of the 911
suffers--evident as a mild lateral waggle in the steering wheel over very
uneven surfaces--but only a touch. If reduced rigidity has degraded the Straman
300ZX's handling, it isn't detectable--at least
not on Southern California roads.
As a convertible, the Straman ZX
works beautifully. The close-fitting soft top might make some drivers feel
claustrophobic, but we've heard that complaint about the coupe's low roof as
well. And this canvas top can be struck in a few seconds. Wind flows smoothly
over the steeply raked windshield, allowing almost normal top-down conversation
on the highway. A turbulent "curl" starts to blow in the driver's
left ear at speeds above 70 mph.
Little about the 300ZX's
performance is compromised by the Straman convertible conversion. Some ultimate
rigidity may have been lost, but not enough to dissuade an enthusiast from
indulging the car's ability to generate gratifyingly high dynamic loads. It's
still a big, fast, high-performance heavyweight. And if the car's flash and
dash per unit cash brought sweat to the brow of Porsche and Corvette loyalists
before, watch out: it really turns up the heat as a racy roadster.
I want to thank you for looking at my Z. This is a 24 year old car that has great styling and performance to match. I have modified this car to be a high performance Z that is very street-able. The convertible top is original, power operated and in good condition. The paint is good as is the interior. The leather seats could use new covers. Everything on this vehicle works including the power antenna. This is not a trailer queen it is driven and enjoyed. The engine was rebuilt 2000 miles ago with upgraded internals and HKS turbos. The injectors are the new style and have been modified to flow 590cc. The automatic transmission has been replaced with a 5 speed with a OS Gieken dual disk clutch. This conversion was done correctly and factory wiring harnesses used. The driveshaft has been upgraded to a steel one piece unit from Powertrain.The rear steering has been removed (to much power) the body has been upgraded with stillen sideskirts and rear bumper cover. A 99 JSPEC front bumper has been installed with a custom front panel. There have been many more upgrades installed to increase the performance and ease of maintenance. Please read the following list. of upgrades.
1990 Z32 300ZX Mods |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straman
Conversion |
1 of 27 left (estimated)
/ 44 made |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Engine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wisco Pistons + .30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eagle Rods |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Modified Injectors 578cc |
|
|
|
|
|
Modified PCV system |
|
|
|
|
|
EGR delete |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carbon Canister delete |
|
|
|
|
|
Greedy Intercoolers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
HKS Air Filters |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selin Dual Intake |
|
|
|
|
|
|
HKS 2530 turbos with Stainless oil
feed lines & 1.2 mm restrictor |
|
|
Throttle Body Coolant Bypass lines
removed |
|
|
|
Stainless Fuel Lines |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustable Fuel Regulator |
|
|
|
|
|
Modified ECM Chip |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PVCR delete |
|
|
|
|
|
|
AIR Valves delete |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuel Damper removed |
|
|
|
|
|
Koyo Radiator |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arrow Fuel Filter 40 micron |
|
|
|
|
|
Polished Upper Intake and Water
Pipes |
|
|
|
|
Relocated PTU |
|
|
|
|
|
|
J30 Timing Covers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z1 RFL BOVs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larger Oil Cooler |
|
Ford Explorer Trans Cooler |
|
|
5 Bolt Downpipes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.5 in Mid Pipes with High Flow
Converters |
|
|
|
|
Stillen Cat-Back Exhaust |
|
|
|
|
|
Hard Boost Pipes / T-Bolt Clamps |
|
|
|
|
UR Pully Kit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drivetrain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OS Gieken Dual Disk clutch |
|
|
|
|
|
5 Speed Swap |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dash Harness / Front Harness / Alt
Harness changed to 5 speed harness |
|
Modified shifter to Short Shifter |
|
|
|
|
|
Powertrain one piece driveshaft |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suspension/wheels |
|
|
|
|
|
|
KYB Struts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Slotted and drilled front rotors |
|
|
|
|
|
Hawk Blue pads front and rear |
|
|
|
|
|
Stillen Tension Rods |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADR M-Sport Wheels |
|
|
|
|
|
Continental Front Tires 245-40/18 |
|
|
|
|
|
Michilen Rear Tires 275-35/18 |
|
|
|
|
|
Hicas Delete |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Modified TT power steering pump |
|
|
|
|
N/A Power Steering Res |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blitz Dual Boost Controller |
|
|
|
|
|
AEM Wideband O2 Gauge |
|
|
|
|
|
Volt, Water, Fuel Pressure, Oil and
Boost Gauges |
|
|
|
Clarion Head unit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
JBL Amp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Body |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
99 Jspec front bumper |
|
|
|
|
|
Stillen Side skirts with fillers |
|
|
|
|
|
Stiller rear Bumper cover |
|
|
|
|
|
Parking light Mod |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clear rear side marker lights |
|
|
|
|
|
Modified Rear Taillights |
|
|
|
|
|
JDM Headlightds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12000 HID low beams |
|
|
|
|
|
Red LED side marker bulbs |
|
|
|
|
|
Custon Car Cover |
|
|
|
|
|