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350z MotorDyne Shockwave Single Exhaust: Dyno and Vids

Filed under: 350z,Performance
by Forbes @ 3:32 pm on July 6, 2009

On the 23rd of last month I put up a the most recent track video featuring our good friend Scott and his 350z.  The car had received the new MotorDyne Shockwave single exhaust the day before the track event so here are the dyno results, videos, and my impressions.

I normally shy away from favoring any sort of single exhaust on the 350z but this may be the system that has changes my mind.  From the moment it was unwrapped it was easy to notice that the quality was there, and then we came to the exhaust tip.   MEGAPHONE!!  Here at Z Car Garage we have a special place in our hearts for the megaphone tip, as they are currently installed on Rob’s 240z and 510 as well as Alvin’s Roadster.  The MotorDyne system comes with one from the factory, sweet.

The exhaust was installed without hassle thanks to the simplicity of the included V-band clamps.  As soon as the car fired up we were all impressed.  Rasp was virtually non-existent (this car still runs stock cats) and the sound was extremely crisp.  While it’s not overly-loud, and passed the decibel meter at Thunderhill, there may be a sound limit issue at some of the super-strict tracks like Laguna Seca.

On to the dyno!!

We made a few baseline runs just prior to the install and came out with a hair under 252 rear-wheel horsepower (rwhp.)  After the exhaust switch we made two more runs while carefully monitoring all critical temps as well as the air/fuel ration with an Innovate wide-band 02 sensor.  The number we came out with was sort of a let down: 251rwhp, a one hp loss.  Before simply marking it up as a loss we pulled out the laptop to check the timing in the U-tech piggyback computer.  After pulling a couple degrees of timing we were happy to see the number climb to 259rwhp, a very nice gain for a normally aspirated car.

Unfortunately this isn’t a true comparison because we can’t be sure of how the NISMO system would have performed with the reduced timing, on the sound alone I would recommend this exhaust.  Make sure you check out all the videos and photos after the ‘read more.’

…[read more]




ZONC Blackhawk Event: Photo Set 2

Filed under: 240z,350z,370z,Events
by Forbes @ 1:44 pm on

Here are a few photos taken by one of our friends who attended the show with us.  Thanks Jim.  Enjoy






A few weeks ago you may remember that we stripped the interior out of Kurtzee, the blue RB project, and mid last week it returned.  OUR FABRICATION PEOPLE ROCK!!  The chassis has be stiffened in all the right places to handle the power of the new RB25DET.  All parts of the new cage structure have been tucked away and as tightly to the factory bodywork as possible so that it will not interfere with the driver in anyway, these cars need to have the functionality of a daily driver to be a success in our eyes.

The next step for this project is a trip off to the paint shop to have the cage covered and for the engine bay to be smoothed over and finished.  This should be completed in the next few weeks and then the car will begin final assembly at the shop.  Ill have some more photos when it’s at paint.

I hope you all had a great fourth of July weekend, MotoGP at Laguna Seca was amazing.  Thanks to all who came.  ZCG




Infiniti Essence at Goodwood Fesitival of Speed this weekend!!!

Filed under: 370z,Events
by Forbes @ 10:04 pm on July 1, 2009

Back in March Infiniti released the Essence concept to the public.  The update in this story comes by way of a press release from Infiniti a few days ago saying that the car will be making an appearance at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.  It will be making the trip to Goodwood to celebrate the release of the European Infiniti G37 Convertible.  The most amazing part of the story though is that the Essence concept will be using all of it’s 600 hybrid-horsepower to muscle it’s way around the fabled Goodwood hillclimb course!!

What a sight it is going to be seeing this beautiful, sleek coupe make it’s way around the course.  If MotoGP wasn’t in town (and I had recently won the lottery!) I would have loved to make the trip over-seas for this event.  If you ever have the chance to go to the Festival, do it.  It is the best of the best in Motorsports’ past and present right before your eyes.  Visit the site below.

Here is the full Infiniti press release about the Essence:

NFINITI: ESSENTIAL VIEWING AT GOODWOOD

ROLLE, Switzerland (June 25, 2009) – The Infiniti Essence concept car, shown for the first time four months ago in Geneva, will conclude its pan-European tour at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed. But Essence isn’t the only Infiniti to be making its UK debut. The luxury automotive brand from Japan will also be giving visitors to the Festival a sneak preview of the new G37 Convertible which goes on sale in the UK this September. Unlike Essence, unfortunately.

The Essence concept was created as a celebration of Infiniti and its 20 years history as a creator of performance cars. But equally it is an inspiring exploration into the brand’s future … one that includes launching in the UK. The dramatic design, technology and performance statement is a 600PS petrol/electric hybrid coupe with rear-wheel drive. It will be on display in Goodwood’s FoS-TECH pavilion and also on the famous Goodwood Hillclimb where it will perform in public for the first time.

Joining Essence on the Hillclimb – and later in the Sunday Times Supercar paddock – will be the V6 powered G37 Convertible in right-hand drive form, the first example ever produced. The car’s appearance at Goodwood will be particularly momentous for the two British Infiniti engineers who will drive it as they have worked on the Infiniti Europe project since it started. Offered in a choice of two comprehensively equipped models, both featuring a metal three-piece folding roof, the 320PS G37 Convertible has been designed without compromise to look as beautiful with the top up as it does down. Which is hopefully the position where it will stay for the entirety of the weekend…

Link:  Original INFINITI Essence post on ZCarBlog

Link: Official Goodwood Festival of Speed Homepage




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