Shop Talk for
Z-Car enthusiasts!

Click here to go to the Z Car Garage home page...Click here to go to the Z Car Blog home page...
Performance Parts for Nissan, Inifiniti and Datsun Cars
Search:

Palo Alto Concours Report 6/26/11

Filed under: 240z,510,Events,Skyline
by Alvin G @ 11:27 pm on June 27, 2011

This year’s Concours was just as incredible as last with an even larger showing of Japanese cars. Thanks to David Swig there was an 11-car lineup in the Japanese Car Exhibit.  The display included an R34 Skyline GT-R, Datsun 510, Datsun 610, three Datsun 240z cars, Datsun roadster, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Celica, Toyota Corona, and a Honda S600 roadster!

The weather was perfect for walking on that famous Stanford lawn with cars from different eras and marques everywhere. The highlight of the Japanese Car Exhibit for me had to be the Datsun 610, Toyota Corona and the Honda S600.  I have not seen a clean 610 in person and this one looked just right lowered over Watanabe wheels and running a front spolier. We wonder what it had under the hood.  I really liked the pillar-less door/window and the rear tail lights:

David Swig showed his 26k original mile Toyota Corona Coupe. This car was a totally un-molested gem with plenty of character. From the hidden fuel filler to the pillar-less windows and detailed hubcaps it was treat to see:

The Honda S600 roadster sported a dual chain-drive system unlike the later S800 with its live axle. The  high-revving motor has a near 10,ooorpm redline, in 1965! The owner said driving it was exhilarating to drive since the powerband starts where most car redline 🙂

The Japanese Car Exhibit was staged… …[read more]





Right-Hand Drive Z Gets More Upgrades

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects,Performance
by Alvin G @ 6:55 am on June 24, 2011


Lou S is the owner of this right-hand drive 240z that got the full ZCarGarage performance suspension treatment last year shown HERE. With the handling and footwork sorted the Fairlady has received several improvements that add to both the driving experience and aesthetics.

The Z’s vinyl seats had seen better days with a few rips and tears so new Recaro LXF seats were installed. These are some of the best seats for your Z and a huge improvement over the stock pieces in terms of comfort and grip…letting Lou take advantage of that grippy new suspension!

Another upgrade to the interior was the steering wheel. The tuner-ish “D” shaped wheel was replaced by one of the best period-looking units on the market today: The MOMO Prototipo. I love this steering wheel:

The Fairlady’s tired chrome bumpers got replaced with brand new show-quality pieces and for a cleaner look the over-riders were not installed.:
…[read more]




Palo Alto Concours Next Sunday!

Filed under: Events
by Alvin G @ 10:36 pm on June 18, 2011


The 44th Annual Concours D’ Elegance will take place once again at Stanford University in Palo Alto this Sunday, June 26. We had a blast at last year’s concours event. This year ZCarGarage will display several Datsuns to be part of the Japanese car exhibit. Vintage Japanese cars amidst all of the exotic and super-expensive machines on that beautiful Stanford lawn is not to be missed! Check pics from 2010’s event
Show info is located HERE





Original Owner 260z Gets Refreshed

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects,Performance
by Alvin G @ 11:05 pm on June 10, 2011


It is always great to hear stories from original Z-car owners. Joe A came to ZCarGarage to restore his 1974 260z after 36 years of ownership! He had become familiar with ZCG through our local club, ZONC.  After carefully inspecting the car, Rob and Joe sat down and discussed several procedures that would update and improve the car. They decided on a complete engine rebuild with tuned exhaust, and removing all smog devices since the car was over 35 years old.
Here are a few pictures of the engine bay after removing the drivetrain:

The engine was rebuilt with a mild cam and dyno results showed  nice gains of 23 rwhp and 13tq!

The engine bay and underhood had to look just as beautiful as the body so William painted everything back to the original exterior color. ZCG provided zinc plating and powdercoating services under the hood and all wiring harnesses were redone:

Here is Joe with a few words on how the Z became part of his life:

“It was January of 1969 and I had just been discharged from the Air Force. …[read more]




Heart of the Behemoth Lives!

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects,Performance
by Alvin G @ 1:17 am on June 5, 2011

It brings me great joy to share this with you because it marks a major chapter in one of the most epic Z car builds I have witnessed.  ZCarGarage is building this Datsun 240z for Gary S and it is affectionately called the “Behemoth”. If you are not familiar with this project just click HERE for past updates on paint, suspension, drivetrain, brakes, etc.


The stroked RB28 drivetrain was mocked up and test fitted into Gary’s Behemoth. The engine now resides in Rob’s GoGreen 240z for break-in and tuning before going back to that lovely black engine bay:

Here are some quick videos I shot of the car in action. Turn up the volume, you won’t be disappointed! And if I may, please allow me to personally describe the music this motor makes. To me the sound is very distinctive and exotic. It is loud, nasty and ferocious on start-up and idle. It reminds me of a BRE 240z with those twice pipes cackling, only this RB28 sounds much deeper in tone. It totally contrasts with the smooth, buttery noise produced when cruising. Only Nissan inline-6s sound this way. And that turbo whistling as you roll into the throttle…absolutely intoxicating. When the car shuts down one can actually hear the turbo still spinning through the exhaust!
Enjoy!

…[read more]





Older Articles »