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Ken S came to ZCarGarage several years ago when he just purchased this pretty 300zx Twin Turbo. It had just passed the 60k mark and ZCG performed routine maintenance including full timing belt services. It wasn’t long before Ken got the performance bug and started upgrading the suspension. ZCG installed Tockiko 5-way shocks, sway bars, and StopTech 13″ big brakes. After tackling the suspension naturally Ken wanted more power so a Stage 3 upgrade with supporting mods was installed. Unfortunately the stock turbos had issues so they were upgraded to JWT Sport 500s.

The original front bumper had seen better days with nicks and peeling. Williams worked his magic with new paint and installed new side skirts, JDM front bumper and that trademark vented hood that we have seen on other Z32s.



Recently Ken visited  ZCG for more power upgrades.  Basic performance upgrades included new 2.5″ IC plumbing and SMICs from ConceptZ.  Here you can see the install and how much cleaner the new plumbing is:

Dual JWT POP chargers replace the single merged setup:

With increased cooling capacity and the HKS boost controller total output is now 383hp/378tq at the wheels!

Here is the engine bay before/after the install and detailing. Please check the gallery for more detailed images: it’s easy to overlook all of the work that is performed!


It is impressive to see an iconic 90′s sports car perform and make power that rivals most current sports cars. It is even better when there is still plenty of aftermarket support and enthusiasts willing to continue developing parts!
Long Live the 300ZX TT!
Click below for more photos
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GTM-Boosted G37 Coupe

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects,Performance
by Alvin G @ 2:24 pm on July 1, 2011

ZCarGarage has plenty of upcoming project updates to share with you so keep checking the blog! Here is Rob with a report on a sleek, twin-turbocharged Infiniti G37 coupe:

Matt and Josiah are cousins in a family filled with Nissans and Infinitis.  Matt had owned lots of American muscle  cars and bought the G37 since it had a great combination of performance yet refined ride and style. The power wasn’t enough though…we have all been there! Matt and Josiah came to ZCG to meet with me and discuss options for increasing the G’s output. We came up with a plan consisting of a GTM Twin Turbo Kit (Stage 2) to make sure we had room to grow should the need arise.

The kit installation was smooth and GTM really makes a high quality package. Note the heat shields that hide the exhaust manifolds and the large front mount intercooler that fits beautifully behind the factory bumper:

With the kit installed, the engine bay appears almost stock with only the polished intake pipes deviating from the tame look . There isn’t much to indicate the magnitude of force-fed power that is now being produced :) On the ZCG dyno the Stage 2 kit turned the rollers to the tune of 428rwhp/369tq!

To keep the newfound power “under the radar” we mounted the Defi link gauge setup in the sunglass holder and out of plain sight:


The G37 is now an entirely different machine with the added power and torque and we know that Matt is enjoying his new Japanese super coupe!

You can see more pictures of the build below:
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Ashley’s ZR…Updated Pictures

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects,Performance
by Alvin G @ 8:05 pm on April 25, 2011


We featured Ashley’s Z33 Roadster back in November ’10 when her Z-obssessed husband brought the car in for Tein springs and dual-JWT pop chargers. The car still sports the same tasteful drop but now sits on a mint set of 19″ Volk Progressive Spoke wheels(discontinued) in gloss black with polished lips.


ZCG also installed that neat “Z” emblem which doubles as a LED side marker, here is a short video of it in action:

Ashley’s husband is none other than Scott S, fearless driver of the GreenMachine. Scott also owns one of the baddest Twin-Turbo Z32s on the planet. I will do a feature on his car soon, but here is a teaser of his latest set of wheels on the 300:




Gary’s 500hp Twin-Turbo G35

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects,Performance
by Alvin G @ 2:07 am on February 10, 2011

Gary S. must have an affliction for Nissans that are fast, black, and modified. This 2006 G35 Coupe has just 13k miles on the clock and it has been tastefully modified to the tune of 500+rwhp. He is also the owner of the black BEHEMOTH RB28 240z, and brilliant S14 240sx (not black) that I will report on shortly. There has got to be another black, high hp Nissan somewhere in his garage :) Besides owning fast Nissans Gary is quite resourceful and creative. Notice those ZCarGarage-themed barstools in the shop office? See a bunch of hard to find JDM pieces on wall? Thanks Gary!

When we last heard about Gary’s G35 it was making 470whp/470tq on 91 octane with the APS TT kit. The built engine comes from Rebello Racing and uses JWT S2 cams, 650cc RC injectors, 3.5″ downpipes and a JWT flywheel with HD clutch.
We were having trouble holding the boost level steady so upgraded Forged Actuators(13.5psi) and an HKS EV6 Boost Controller were installed to keep it in check. UPREV tuning with a PMAS MAF showed that stable boost = BIG HP and TQ: 513hp/509tq to the wheels!


Here is a short video clip(more to come) from one of the tuning sessions:

When Gary isn’t driving his amazing S14 he swaps out for this big, black machine with massive Stoptech brakes gleaming through gunmetal spokes of the Volk GT-7 wheels. Gorgeous .

This is the year that Gary will finally drive the long awaited BEHEMOTH so keep following the blog!




Shop Updates for 1.20.09

Filed under: Featured Cars and Projects
by Forbes @ 3:00 pm on January 20, 2009

We finished the relatively easy task of putting a modified 350z back to stock for starters last week.  This car came to us from another shop with a massive oil burning and smoking issue.  The car was running a built engine, GReddy TT, full fuel system, and so on.  It turns out that the other place believed that the turbos were the issue so the original set was trashed and two new sets were installed before the owner decided to bring the car to Z Car Garage.

The engine was disassembled and the inspection discovered that it had been subjected to massive detonation and was no good.  It was torn down and all good parts were saved for later use.  A stock engine with low miles was sourced and was installed.  The car ran great when delivered and most importantly the owner was happy.  The car went from being on the lift with no engine, trans, etc. to being a runner in less than a day.  Nice job Fred.

As for the turbo kit, it will be going on a built 3.8L VQ in a customer’s car that is from Tennessee.  It formerly had a custom built supercharger but we knew from the beginning that it would be getting turbos.  The car now features a fully built automatic transmission, rear end, and axles to accompany the rest of the drive train.  It was meant to be a brutal daily driver that will stand up to the abuse of back to back runs down the drag strip and it already features a nice set of Volk Racing SF Challenges for street duty and a four-wheel Rotora big brake kit.

The first two pictures below are of the car with the old supercharger setup.  The last one is of the engine running normally aspirated this morning before it was taken apart for the GRreddy twin turbo system.

…and finally this “morning”….

We should also be receiving the carbon fiber hatch back from our paint shop back today for a really trick twin turbo 350Z that we work on.  This car, seen above, was featured in D Sport magazine last year and it is truly something special.  Look for a full rundown on this car once this stage is completed.

More updates to come today.  I have a lot more to write about.  ZCG

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