Happy 89th Birthday to our hero Peter Brock! You have been and continue to be inspirational to us Datsun fans worldwide. Here are a few pictures we enjoyed taking with you over the years:

 

We love to see owners enjoying our Z Car Garage CV Axles in their vintage Nissans and Datsuns. This 1971 Datsun 510 is owned by Jay W and he replaced his old CV Axle kit with our ZCG CV Axles just over 3 years ago. Jay has been racking up the miles running numerous road rallyes in 2024 and 2025 including the Snowball Rally in April, DWA Classic in May, Motherlode 400 in June, Faultline 500, Tokyo Calling 4 in September, Socal TT in October. Here is his report from the Overcrest Rally.

Featured in Nostalgic Hero

 

Before we hear about Jay’s rally adventure let us congratulate him on being featured in the popular Japanese magazine Nostalgic Hero! See both of his 510s in the June 2025 Vol 229 issue:

 

2024 Overcrest Rally Redux

 

September 16, 2024, by Jay Whalen

Hi Rob, just checking in as my ZCG CV Axles #403 just clocked 20000 miles in 2+ years. I didn’t capture too many driving videos on Overcrest, but my wife and I have a few from Mother Lode and Faultline this summer. Also, we now have ~22,500 miles on the ZCG axles. Don’t worry I’m cleaning them up, but here are some recent pictures:

 

The opportunity to enjoy a car you love with like-minded enthusiasts against stunning natural backdrops is what I appreciate most about rallies. The adventure, camaraderie and community stands out to me about Overcrest and was evident when we drove in the Oregon 23’ rally. At their film festival in Oregon they announced the spring Redux 24’ rally was in Utah and I knew I needed to share the adventure with my father and son in my 1971 Datsun 510. I had followed online the 21’ Overcrest Rally in Utah I was blown away by the stunning backdrop and the cinematic journey the rally created. Plus seeing and driving with rally friends, I didn’t know were attending and meeting new ones from all over the country is a large reason I’m drawn to Overcrest.

 

The 510 is not just a mode of transportation for the rally; it’s a character in my family’s adventure story. There is a shared excitement of revving its underpowered engine, hearing the twin Mikuni carbs, and dancing the car on winding paved and dirt roads. There is also the collaborative effort required to navigate the rally route, endure hundreds of miles a day of hard driving and the collective pride in showcasing our classic amidst a field of diverse vehicles.

 

Speaking of diverse vehicles, our client Tony K also attended in his 1972 Datsun 240Z:

 Driving alongside my father and son adds a generational resonance to the rally. It’s a multi-layered narrative where the car becomes a conduit for shared stories, passed down from my father to me and now shared with the next generation. It is something my family holds close and we’ll remember for a lifetime. The rally becomes a living testament to the enduring legacy of our family’s love for cars and the
joy of driving.

 

Our rally journey took us 8 days and 2900 miles across the California Centra Valley, Sierra Nevada, Movaje Desert, Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau. We drove a large loop which allowed us to explore several National Parks and retrace my fathers HWY 50 drive when he moved to California in 1971. The 510 did extremely well, with no major issues. We had a flakey starter motor, wore out a pair of tires and went through a quart of oil.

 

In essence, the Overcrest Rally in Utah with my father and son was a celebration of heritage, a journey through time, and an opportunity to weave new memories into the fabric of our family’s motoring legacy.

 

Enjoy this video of Jay’s 510 in action on a few of the rallies he attended in 2024, volume up!:

 

We love Jay’s attention to detail and it shows in his rally prep! Check out the skid plate he CAD designed:

 

See more build details with photos of the 510 HERE. Follow his Datsun adventures on his Instagram.

 

 

For Sale (SOLD)
1970 Series 1 Datsun 240Z
VIN # 6132
Monte Carlo Red. Original paint
L28 engine with 4-speed manual transmission
Full suspension upgrade with Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (Stoptech, 328mm)
Price: $27k

 

Interior: stock with Recaro Specialist seats:

 

Car currently has 16″ Konig Rewind wheels with Bridgestone RE760 tires and chassis upgrades:
-Stoptech/ZCG big brake kit (Stoptech ST-42 calipers)
-Arizona Z Car billet suspension
-Ground Control coil-overs
-MSA front/rear strut tower bars

   

Engine is a stock L28:

 

Solid car, only evidence of rust just below battery tray. Paint is original (Monte Carlo Red only available on early models) and could use a refresh.

 

Walk-around video:

 

Previous zcarblog.com post highlighting suspension and refurbishment work can be seen here:
https://www.zcarblog.com/2018/05/21/performance/lous-1970-datsun-240z.html

Historic photos of the Z with stock suspension, wheels and current suspension with 17″ Panasports:

 

Please contact Rob at shop for more info: 408-452-0350 or e-mail rob@zcargarage.com

…[read more]

 

Frank’s 1975 Datsun 280Z features our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles, full suspension refresh, 240Z bumper conversion and Panasport wheels. Before we dive into the work let’s see how Frank and Patty found their Z car…

 

FRANK: Our 1975 280z was affectionately nicknamed “Charlie” in 1978 when we became the third owners of the car. I was 22 at the time and my parents had promised to help me buy my 1st car when I finish college. My girlfriend Patty accompanied me down to San Jose to look at the car and test drive but more accurately she had to do the test drive of the manual transmission because I only knew how to drive an automatic transmission. I think I made up the story that the 280z was for my “little sister!” From that moment on that Datsun Z became part of our lives. A short while later we drove “Charlie” on a nice day trip to Monterey where I proposed and I even wrote Patty a note promising that if I ever screw up our marriage, the Z is hers. Talk about a unique prenup!

 

Anyway “Charlie” has always been with us often as a daily driver to school, work or sometimes to Sears Point to watch that actor race for Bob Sharp. Servicing was usually done at Z Doctor in Richmond or Hayes Auto in the city but as the years went by and these places closed we started to rely on neighborhood service station mechanics.

 

Fast forward 37 years later, approaching retirement and a big move to San Diego one of my work colleagues who races Miatas asked me if I had ever heard of a fellow vintage racer Rob Fuller who does wonders on Z’s out of his shop Z Car Garage. After exchanging a few photos, Rob agreed to take on a new project. Luckiest day in “Charlie’s” life!

ROB: Frank was a doctor at a SF hospital and his colleague (Matt) was racing Spec Miata as a newbie while I was racing full-time SCCA in 2022, no longer taking any work in.  So through a racing connection I was able to take in their car. We performed extensive work on Charlie: injectors, header, ZCG exhaust system, all hydraulics, clutch, Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, heater core, 240Z bumpers, full suspension and 16×7 Panasports.

Suspension

 

The suspension was refreshed with Techno Toy Tuning parts done in ZCG black finish. KYB strut inserts with Eibach lowering kit, T3 control arms, tension rods, urethane bump stops, rack bushings, control arm bushings, ball joints , f/r wheel bearings, ST sway bars, mustache bar bushings…everything was powdercoated or zinc plated.

Before/After:

 

More chassis photos in the gallery below!

 

Z Car Garage Big-Brakes

We are proud to have several of our ZCG products on Frank’s 280Z. We installed our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels) which have the been standard on numerous ZCG builds.

     

As fellow S30 owner/racer Glenn C mentioned in his review, on top of braking performance, pedal feel is extremely important and our Big-Brakes deliver. This is a direct result of working with Stoptech to create a totally bolt-in solution requiring no M/C change or additional proportioning valve/adjustments. All fitting behind a 15″ Watanabe or Panasport wheel and retaining factory emergency brake lever! A few details below:

Calipers: Stoptech ST42 4-piston front & rear race calipers (Alum 6061 mil-spec Type III anodized)

Rotors: 280mm x 20.6 with Alum 7075 hats

Pads: Stoptech 309 sport street pads

  

Frank’s stock disc/drum brakes were removed and we installed our ZCG Big-Brake kit.

 

At the rear, the factory drum brakes were replaced with our ZCG Big-Brakes. New OEM Nissan master cylinder and Factory handbrake functionality IS retained!

   

Z Car Garage CV Axles

 

Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 250 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback. Frank’s ZCG CV Axles set #0047 shown below:

   

New motor mounts, tranny and diff mount. The differential was resealed:

 

Panasport Wheels

 

Complementing the new Big-Brakes on Frank’s Z are Panasport wheels! We installed 16×7 Panasports with 225/50/16 tires and performed an alignment:

 

Engine

 

We knew the car would be stopping and handling better than before, so next up was the engine bay. Once up and running we found the head gasket weeping. We replaced the head gasket, did the front timing chain set and refreshed the top end:

 

A Koyo race aluminum radiator with upper and lower hoses was installed to keep temperatures in check. The heater core was refurbished:

 

Beyond cooling and fuel system work, the engine was largely untouched to maintain factory reliability. The intake manifold and all associated plumbing was cleaned up and injectors replaced. We replaced intake and exhaust manifold gaskets with factory Nissan parts with a few ZCG tricks like our exhaust nut and exhaust studs.

 

New alternator before/after:

 

New evap canister:

 

The exhaust manifold was replaced with a 6-into-1 header and EGR kit leading to our ZCG exhaust system with stainless resonator and slash-cut tip.

 

Engine bay Before/After:

VIDEO

Frank and Patty’s 280Z in action on the street, volume up and enjoy!

 

S30 World Fuel Tank

We decided to start fresh with a new S30 World fuel tank.  Great product from owners Gustav Oplasnik and Chris Visscher, Z enthusiasts/restorers.  All the vapor hoses in the back were replaced and hatch weatherstripping to eliminate fuel smell in the cabin:

 

Interior

 

Recaro Specialist seats in leather are our favorite upgrade to the S30 interior:

 

Another upgrade to the interior of an S30 is our ZCG sound deadening package. The result is a less tinny sound and almost Germanic-like “clunk” when you shut the doors. All weatherstripping was replaced on Frank’s 280Z:

 

240Z Bumpers

Frank wanted to clean up the exterior lines and replaced the large, factory 5-mph bumpers with chrome bumpers from a 240Z. We installed aftermarket F/R bumpers after our man William closed up all the holes and finished the paint work. Enjoy the before/after photos with more in the gallery below.

Rear:

  

Front:

 

Enjoying The Ride

  

We shipped the Z back to Frank and Patty in their new home down in San Diego. They were super stoked with the ZCG work performed and immediately began driving the car. Their first car show was The Main Street America car show in July put on by the Corvette Club of San Diego. Over 400 cars with a Datsun category.

 

FRANK: Rob and ZCG basically made our 280Z the awesomest most fun to drive ever. The list of replacements and improvements is too long to list but basically incredible upgrades with ZCG BBK, suspension rebuild with KYB struts springs, new bushings, ball joints tie rods control rods sway bar etc… and ZCG 2.5 exhaust system, ZCG CV axles, all new hoses, Koyo Race radiator with belts and so much more! Cosmetically a new head turner with 240Z style bumpers, beautiful bigger wheels with sticky tires and Recaro seats that are the envy. Again so many upgrades a long list but needed and appreciated. “Charlie” is faster, handles better, brakes with authority and what a tone!

Patty and I will always be grateful to Rob for his expertise, Z enthusiasm, honesty and did I mention sweet singing voice. A true pleasure to work with.

 

 

The Last Stop in Braking for your Z

 

Z Car Garage Big Brakes are one of the best systems available for your S30 Z Car with over 200 kits sold worldwide and unanimous positive feedback. See our ZCG Big-Brakes on client cars HERE and enjoy the photos below:

    

Big-Brake Kits Available For DIY Install!

Z Car Garage is proud to offer our Big-Brake Kit to Z-Car owners that want to perform the installation themselves. We can ship worldwide and each kit contains everything needed with a comprehensive installation guide. Blog posts documenting all of our customers running the ZCG Big-Brakes can be found HERE. Christopher’s beautiful S30 and his ZCG Big-Brake installation:

  

Our ZCG Big-Brake kit ships with everything needed to install and retains the factory parking brake function. Chris successfully installed the BBK on his Z and they look great behind the 16×8 (zero offset) Watanabe wheels with 225/45/16 Toyo tires. Beyond ease of installation and quality components, our Big-Brakes perform by offering superb pedal feel…everyone that drives our demo Z confirms! This is a direct result of working with Stoptech to create a totally bolt-in solution requiring no M/C change or additional proportioning valve/adjustments.

   

CHRISTOPHER: The car feels planted like never before. Our family also has a fully restored 73 240 that is an excellent OEM example. Where that car feels stable and drives well, there’s no denying the age of its component and it drives like a seventies sports car.  The 280 feels like a modern sports car and inspires confidence. The brake pedal communicates exceptionally well and the balance of the calipers bring the z down from speed a rate well beyond most cars today. The light weight of the S30 and the size of the ZCG big brakes is an unreal combo!

…[read more]

 

This is Matthew’s 1973 Datsun 240Z featuring our Z Car Garage KW Suspension. He has kept the car mostly original aside from chassis and drivetrain upgrades including a triple-carb’d L-Series, Watanabe wheels and Recaro seats. Let’s take a look at how Matthew got into Z cars…

 

Matt is from Calgary, AB and we know him through his father, Rob from many years ago. Our good friend Herbert was selling his original paint, 87k-mile 240Z and Rob noticed it on zcarblog.com leading to his acquisition.

MATT: My Z car story is a family affair that began at a young age. Growing up, my parents both owned Z32 300ZX convertibles — which, incidentally, is how our connection with Z Car Garage began in 2004 when Rob and the team at Z Car Garage did a pre-purchase inspection on one of the Z32 Convertibles before being imported to Canada. We were active in a local Z car club in Calgary, Alberta, attending events with the 300ZX. At the time, the 350Z was new and exciting, and I even had a poster of one on my bedroom wall.

 

But to truly understand our story, it’s important to go back even further. When my dad was a teenager working at a local gas station, he fell in love with an orange 240Z with a white interior that often came through. He was 18 at the time and never forgot that car. Fast forward to 2009, when Rob from Z Car Garage called and told my dad he had to buy a 1973 240Z that had just been featured on ZcarBlog.  My Dad flew down to Seattle, WA to pick up the car and drove it back to Calgary, AB. I was 15 then, and I vividly remember working on the car with my dad. We replaced the dash with an original, uncracked one, fixed a minor oil pack leak, and made lasting memories at local car shows and events.

 

When I turned 18, my dad gifted me half-ownership of the Z. Unexpected circumstances forced us to sell the car in early 2012. By then, though, I had fully caught the Z car bug. I spent the next year or so searching high and low across classified ads in the U.S. and Canada, but nothing quite compared to our Z. On a whim, I posted a “wanted” ad on our local classifieds, using the most recent photo I had of the car. Then, in March 2014, I received a message that simply said: “Hello, I own your old car,”…followed by a phone number. We exchanged a few emails and calls, and they even sent me a photo of the car’s current condition (below, March 2014).

 

On April 5, 2014, I picked up the car and drove it straight to my dad’s house. He didn’t know I had bought it back. I drove past the house, and he spotted it from inside. I don’t think I had even parked before he was out the door, beaming with excitement. Not only had I gotten back into a 240Z — I had brought home our 240Z, the same one we had built memories with years earlier.

 

From 2014 onward, the car remained largely untouched. Matt was finishing university and starting his career, and while he drove it when weather permitted, the Z mostly stayed as it was. Behind the scenes, he was always dreaming of how he’d eventually build it — period-correct modifications, all reversible, in case they ever wanted to return the car to stock.

 

In 2021, he began collecting parts for the build. He started with a second set of suspension components, which allowed him to send the spindles and hubs out for the KW coilover conversion and have other parts powder-coated or zinc-plated.

KW x Z Car Garage Coil-over Suspension

 

Our Z Car Garage KW Suspension is available in limited quantities. These coil-overs offer game-changing performance suitable for street, track and daily-driving for your S30 Datsun Z car. View the suspension installed on Sung Kang’s RB26DETT-powered Datsun 240Z, Larry Chen’s SR20DET-Powered Datsun 240Z, James’ turbocharged L-series powered Datsun 240Z, Mrs. Butters, our Series 1 shop 240z and more client cars HERE. For more information on ordering and pricing please contact RobATzcargarage.com.

   

MATT: I first came across KW’s Classic segment on their Instagram page in 2021, which featured the 240Z platform. A few years later, I reached out to KW and learned that Z Car Garage would be the exclusive dealer for the kit. Given my family’s long-standing history with Z Car Garage, it was an easy decision to contact Rob and place an order.

 

The installation was straightforward, though slightly more involved than on a modern car due to the need to install bearings into the hubs. I also opted for the KW adjustable top hats, as I planned to run 16×8 +0 Watanabe wheels and wanted to avoid rolling the fenders in order to preserve the car’s originality.
The first drive revealed a night-and-day difference compared to the stock suspension—firm, yet compliant enough to maintain comfort for street driving. Although Z Car Garage ships the KWs with a recommended out-of-the-box setup, we ended up softening the settings slightly to better suit the rougher roads in Calgary, Alberta, which are no match for the smoother roads in California.

 

In the corners, the car feels extremely planted, with excellent turn-in and feedback. With my current setup, the grip provided by the suspension and tires far exceeds the car’s power output, making it an absolute joy to drive and toss around in corners. Before installing the KWs, I drove more conservatively, hesitant to push the car too hard. Now, with the upgraded suspension, my confidence—especially in corners and at higher speeds—has grown significantly, allowing me to truly enjoy the full potential of my Z car.

 

It took a couple of years to gather everything, but with the help of a good friend — who also happens to own the local performance shop, VEX Performance in Calgary — the build finally started coming together in July 2023. We removed the old suspension and replaced it with freshly powder-coated components and, of course, the KW suspension. The engine bay was cleaned and prepped for the new Fujitsubo exhaust and triple Weber setup.

 

But the moment it all came together was when the car was lowered onto the ground, sitting on its new Watanabe wheels. That’s when it hit me — a rush of emotion. The same Z my dad bought in 2009, the one I brought home in 2014, had finally become the car I’d dreamed of for years.

 

Thanks for your support Matt! We love that you are building and enjoying your dream Z car! What’s next?

MATT: As of 2025, the Z is exactly how I envisioned it. I take it to local Cars and Coffee events, car shows, and the occasional late-night meet. As for future plans — they’re still up in the air. I’ve considered going EFI, or maybe even an OS Giken TC24 build someday. But for now, I plan to Enjoy the Ride.

 

Build Sheet:

Engine/Drivetrain
Triple Weber DCOE40
Kameari Exhaust Sheild
ITG Air Filter w/ Carbon Backing Plate
Fujitsubo Super Ex Header
Fujitsubo Legalis R Exhaust
Koyo Radiator
Malpassi FP Regulator
Nismo Fuel Pump
STI R180 3.54 LSD

 

 

Suspension
KW V3 Coilovers w/ Camber Plates
Endless Front BBK
T3 Rear Control Arms
T3 Front Tension Rods
ST F/R Swaybars
280ZX Rear Disc Brake Conversion
SuperPro Bushing Kit

Wheels/Tires
Watanabe R Type 16×8 ET 0
Watanabe Electron Lock Nuts
Continental ExtremeContact 225/50R16

Interior
Recaro Classic LX

 

…[read more]