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TUNING: Sean’s 2010 Nismo 370Z

Filed under: 370z,Performance
by Alvin G @ 3:42 pm on April 13, 2022

 

Sean M visited Z Car Garage for dyno tuning on his 2010 Nismo 370Z. We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. Let’s hear how Sean found his Pearl White V1 Nismo Z34:

“I obtained this car through my father’s best friend. A couple of years ago, I found this car on craigslist and I wanted to jump on it very badly. I had just gotten a car six months before, so I couldn’t get it and knew it was going to be gone within the next couple of days. Sure enough, that’s what happened. I showed up at the Thunder Hill 3-Mile course that weekend, and spotted the car parked next to our trailer when we arrived. It turns out my father’s best friend bought the car, and from that moment I told him that if he ever wants to sell it, I want to buy it from him. About a year and a half later, thats what happened!”

 

Once he got the car Sean started modifying it immediately with Stillen G3 intakes, Z1 headers, Magnaflow cat-back, Z1 motorsports 34 row oil cooler, Z1 clutch, KW V3 Coilovers, Hawk DTC60 pads, and AEM Oil pressure and wideband AFR gauges.

“After installing those parts, I knew it was going to need a tune. Thats when I found the man the myth the legend Rob at Z Car Garage! I found them online looking for Z tuners in the bay, and after coming into Z Car Garage I knew I brought it to the right place. Rob got the car squared away with the UPREV ARC license, and with his knowledge about how hard the car gets driven he dialed it in.”

Dyno Tuning

 

We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades on Sean’s Z. On the dyno, Rob UPREV tuned with gains throughout the rev range. Peak gains of 20hp/20tq for a total of 335hp/272tq at the wheels was achieved:

 

Enjoy this dyno video that Sean filmed:

Sean was stoked on the dyno results:

“Being a huge racer himself, he knows what it takes to keep a car maintained and up to date, and the motor running safely and efficiently. Z Car Garage is always my recommendation to fellow Z enthusiasts, as I know Rob is a wealth of useful information as well as a brilliant mechanic. After the tune, the car has fantastic throttle response on partial throttle and tons of top end!”

 

We also added the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.

Here is a video of the exhaust and launch control (courtesy of the UPREV ARC License):

 

Enjoying The Ride

 

Sean is an avid driving enthusiast and this Z sees the track 2+ weekends per month, running strong each and every time. It is a car that gets driven close to its limit, and is often featured on Sean’s YouTube Channel, Milburn Motorsports. You can also catch Sean and his racing adventures on Instagram.

 

Rob had a great time with Sean:

“We met Sean through tuning his car. He’s an awesome young man and even brought some of his friends (some we’ve also worked with) with him to the shop. It’s good to see passionate, enthusiastic young people in motorsports.  Whenever Sean is here we talk about his Z car and how much he enjoys it and how we both enjoy driving. He’s got a really cool YouTube channel that we subscribe to and he’s an excellent racetrack driver.”

Thanks for your support Sean, Long Live The Z!

 

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.




TUNING: Kevin’s 2013 Nismo 370Z

Filed under: 370z,Featured Cars and Projects,Maintenance,Performance
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on December 27, 2021

 

Kevin M visited Z Car Garage for Stillen intakes, test pipes and dyno tuning on his 2013 Nismo 370Z.

 

He found this V1 Nismo Z34 in September 2020 at a Nissan dealership that was not yet advertised. Being a rare Magma Red model he jumped on it quickly.

 

A common issue on the 370Z is the internal slave failing due to heat. Thankfully Z Speed Performance makes a kit to convert the internal slave to external (CMAK Upgrade). In January 2021 on his first to ZCG we performed the CMAK upgrade. Since the transmission was removed Kevin opted for a Z Speed Stage 1 Quiet clutch with steel flywheel:

“When I first got the Nismo I was worried about the infamous csc going out. So I looked up for any shops that dealt strictly with Nissan and I was lucky enough to come across Z Car Garage. Transmission work included the Zspeed Performance Stage one quiet clutch kit with C MAK. My Nismo felt almost brand new compared to when I drove it off the dealership.” 

 

 
 

We also installed Whiteline diff bushings on that first visit and discussed doing a tune and some hot rod stuff in the future.

 

In October 2021 Kevin returned to ZCG. We installed CWorks Test Pipes and Stillen GEN 3 intakes:

 

Dyno Tuning

 

We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. Rob UPREV flashed Kevin’s Z with the additional ARC license. Baseline power was 296hp/256tq and after tuning it made 338hp/275tq at the wheels, gains of 42hp/19tq. Kevin was happy with the power improvements.

Enjoy this video with dyno runs and exhaust system sounds!

 

Thanks for your support Kevin, Long Live The Z!

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.

 




TUNING: Gordon’s 2010 Nismo 370Z

Filed under: 350z,370z
by Alvin G @ 5:38 pm on June 25, 2021

 

We met Gordon in 2013 when he came to Z Car Garage for Stillen Gen 3 intakes on his 2010 V1 Nismo Z34. He had 13k miles on the clock and that same summer we also installed a Fast Intentions exhaust system.

 

Here is the Fast Intentions TDX cat-back exhaust system and Stillen intakes:

 

The exhaust looks great from the rear:

 

Stock single muffler vs the TDX dual muffler setup:


Stillen Gen3 Intakes are always a nice addition to the HR engines:

 

The Z is Gordon’s fun car so very little daily driving…in 2015 he came in for minor paint work and an inspection with only 27k miles.

“When I first got my 2010 370Z NISMO I did a little bit of research on local shops where I might consider having some minor modifications done. The research I did pointed me to only one place that consistently had nothing but rave reviews – you had to go to Rob and his team at Z-Car Garage. Rob lives and breaths Zs. It was apparent from my first visit – Zs of all models and years everywhere. It was clear I was in the right place.”
In 2021 Gordon contacted us because his clutch was beginning to fail. A common issue is the internal slave failing due to heat. Thankfully Z Speed Performance makes a kit to convert the internal slave to external (CMAK Upgrade). Since we had to remove the transmission Gordon opted for a Z Speed Quiet clutch with steel flywheel.
 
 
 

With 33k miles no won the odometer we performed a full 30k service. The diff bushings were replaced with Whiteline units and CV axles lubed.

Dyno Tuning

 

We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. It had been 6-7 years since Gordon’s last UPREV tune. On the dyno, Rob re-tuned the Z with gains throughout the rev range. Peak gains of 22hp/15tq for a total of 309hp/254tq at the wheels:

 

Gordon is thrilled with the power gains:

“The final piece was an Up-Rev tune. So Rob worked his magic with the tune and the results were amazing on the dyno. The car was just awesome. Rob and the team have done some regular maintenance work on the car over the years, including a recent replacement of the factory clutch with a higher performance clutch w/ a lighter flywheel. We also added a new set of Continental Xtreme Sports. It feels like a new car. I can’t say enough about Rob and his team. They truly are Z best…”

 

Thanks for your support Gordon, Long Live The Z!

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.




TUNING: Gentry’s Nismo 370Z

Filed under: 350z,370z,Performance
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on June 11, 2021

 

Gentry Stein visited Z Car Garage from Chico, CA for dyno tuning on his V1 Nismo 370Z.  We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. Gentry contacted us before searching for the right Nismo Z34 and eventually found this super clean V1, #528:

 

On the dyno, Rob Uprev tuned the Z making great mid-range to redline gains. Peak gains of 9hp/7tq for a total of 322hp/267tq at the wheels:

Gentry is thrilled with the power gains:

“My experience at ZCG was absolutely awesome! Rob’s passion for Z’s can truly be felt while at ZCG. I felt confident knowing my car was in the best possible place it could be to get dyno tuned. Rob even took videos of the car for me while it was on the dyno. The car made great power throughout the whole powerband, and it’s even more of a blast to drive now! The throttle feels alive, and the torque gain is really felt from 4K-6.5k RPM. I’m excited every time I sit in the drivers seat of my Z.”

 

Yo-Yo World Champion

Fun fact: Gentry is the World Champion of Yo-yo. He provides some insight into his desire for a 370Z and career in Yo-yo playing:

“In early 2020 I was specifically looking for a V1 Nismo Z34 in white. I wanted a car that I could daily drive and also take through canyons and coastal roads. I don’t care about a fancy interior with luxurious amenities. I wanted something that looks sexy and is fun to drive, and to me that’s an exact description of this car. Ive driven some other popular cars, but this car feels rewarding on a different level. I love what they did with the body kit of the Nismo too. You know you have the right car when you can’t help but look back at it every time you get out of it.

 

My Z story really starts with my love for Japan. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Japan 5 times over the last 6 years for work and play, and have developed some incredible friendships that have allowed me to experience Japanese culture and values. I started playing with yoyos when I was 8 years old, which is when I met one of my mentors who is from Japan. From then to now as I’ve turned that passion into a career, much of my success is due to what I learned from that mentor as well as my other connections and experiences in Japan. The month preceding winning my first World Yo-yo Championship was spent training in Nagoya and Tokyo. I experienced the special level of care that goes into everything in Japan, whether it’s design, food, human interaction, work ethic, etc… This has played a major role in inspiring me and helping me develop into the person I am today. This level of care is also felt in their Z cars when looking at and driving them. I have such a respect and appreciation for Japan and their culture, and I feel proud to drive a car that was born from the same place as many of the building blocks to my own life success.

 

As for my goals with the Z, I plan to continue to drive the hell out of it. I’ve put 15,000 miles on the car in my first 10 months of ownership. It’s literally been 15 thousand miles of fun and I’m looking forward to more of that. I’m pretty content with the way the car is setup. The car is riding on KW V3 suspension, has a Wavetrac limited slip differential, polyurethane differential bushings, K&N drop in air filters, Motordyne Shockwave exhaust, and special sauce from the fresh Z Car Garage tune. I also just did a full paint correction and ceramic coat myself to keep the car looking as good as it drives.

Thanks Z car garage for being part of my car’s story!”

 

Follow Gentry on Instagram and check out his instructional videos over on YouTube. When you are ready, you can even purchase a yo-yo at his shop.

 

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.

 





 

We love to install bolt-on parts that add power to your Z/G car. At Z Car Garage UPREV or EcuTek dyno tuning can maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake/exhaust upgrades. Today we bring you three cars that received dyno tuning to maximize performance gains from common bolt-on parts. Enjoy!

Salvador’s 370z

Salvador visited us for a dyno tune with EcuTek on his 2018 370z.

 

The dyno shows significant gains in power/tq making 314hp/264tq to the wheels:

 

James’ 350z

James visited ZCG for an UPREV tune on his 2003 350z.

 

The Z responded really well to the dyno tuning session, making 256hp/257tq at the wheels. We also re-located James’ steering-mounted controls to allow map switching.

 

Z Car Garage offers the ARC(Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting for $150. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details!

 

Malcolm’s 350z

Malcolm’s Z came to us with a tune by another shop. It was E-tuned and Malcolm reported that it just didn’t feel right.

 

After UPREV tuning he picked up 13hp/10tq making 309hp/272tq to the wheels:

 

Enjoy this video showing all three Z’s on the dyno and contact us if you are interested in UPREV or ECUTEK tuning for you Nissan or Infiniti!

 

 

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