ChrisFix’s First-Ever Barn Find Sat Untouched Since 1998 For A Reason
ChrisFix has landed his first-ever Barn Finds, one of those old cars that make you wonder what stories they’re hiding. This one had been sitting in a Kentucky barn for decades, and its previous owner’s family had a pretty good reason for holding onto it. Now it’s found a new home, although ChrisFix quickly discovered that getting it running again was going to be a fight.
ChrisFix Picked Up This 1990 Nissan 300ZX Barn Find For Just $2,300
The car is a yellow 1990 Nissan 300ZX, and it hadn’t moved since 1998. When its owner passed away, his family kept it tucked away in the barn because it meant so much to him. Eventually, though, they decided it was time to let someone else take care of it.
The estate sale listing had an asking price of $4,700 and only three photos. ChrisFix sent his friend Hussein to check it out, and after a bit of haggling, they got the price down to $2,300. That’s less than half the asking price. Even better, ChrisFix mentioned that similar 300ZXs in good condition were being listed for around $9,000 to $10,000. Those are asking prices, not confirmed sale figures, but still. The Kentucky plate backs up the timeline, last registered in 1998. It also has an aftermarket F40-style rear wing, which gives it a seriously unusual look. And here’s a fun bit of trivia. The facelifted Lamborghini Diablo actually borrowed its headlights from the Nissan 300ZX. Yes, a V12 supercar wearing Nissan headlights.
This Nissan 300ZX Had A Few Nasty Surprises After 28 Years In A Barn
The first oil change wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. The oil filter was so badly corroded that the pliers punched straight through it. Worse still, tiny steel particles turned up in the old oil, and he sent a sample out for analysis. Those results aren’t in the video.
The fuel system was a mess, too. The tank was badly rusted, and the fuel pump assembly was crumbling apart. Mice had also moved into the airbox. The battery cables were corroded deep into the wire. Thankfully, the underside was rust-free, the engine wasn’t seized, and the cylinders looked to be in reasonably good shape. Getting it started required a little ingenuity. With the original fuel tank out of action, ChrisFix rigged up a homemade fuel cell from an old E85 tank. Testing pointed to clogged injectors, so he gave it one last-ditch attempt without expecting much. The Nissan fired up anyway.
The engine settled into an idle with around 60 psi of oil pressure and 43 psi of fuel pressure. That’s encouraging, but there’s still work to do. The injectors need cleaning, and ChrisFix has ordered a junkyard fuel tank because new ones aren’t made anymore. Only then can the 300ZX be properly checked for road use. It’s not road-ready yet, but after 28 years of silence, this 300ZX is idling again. Not bad for $2,300.
Source: ChrisFix YouTube
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