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More VQ35HR Upgrades: Bolt On Some Power

Filed under: 240z,350z,Performance
by Forbes @ 11:14 am on August 28, 2009

We have done a couple of these modifications before to other HR equipped 350Zs with great results.  This round of upgrades differs in two areas.  First off, this is the first set of headers that we have done on an HR car, and secondly, this car is an automatic.

The other changes we made to the car were the tried and true Injen intake system and a pair of Stillen high-flow catalytic converters, both of which we have installed on numerous cars that have come through the shop.  Both of these parts have made nice gains in the past so we pretty much knew what to expect here.

Looking at the dyno graph you can see that the automatic transmission is certainly using up a little more power than in the manual cars but the power gains are more than noticeable.  The car is now more powerful throughout the entire rev range and the torque curve in the middle is now gonna give that push in the back that we all love when you stab the throttle.

I have a feeling that we will be seeing this car again for another round of modifications.  Now that we are an Up-Rev software retailer maybe we will get the chance to play with the fuel and timing tables to get the car where it needs to be.  We can’t wait to get the chance.

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Treasure Island 2009 Photos

Filed under: 350z,370z,Events,R35
by Forbes @ 6:30 pm on August 24, 2009

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Treasure Island meet last weekend.  I was so happy to see the twenty-ish cars at the shop to make the drive together.  Also thanks to everyone who helped set up and organize the event and to Rob who was nice enough to provide doughnuts and coffee for everyone in the morning as well as the raffle prizes (dyno pulls and shop gift certificates.)

It was a real blast to see all of these Zs on the road.  I ended up not driving so that I could ride with Rob and take pictures.  He had taken the T-tops out of his 300zx twin turbo which made for some great photo opportunities and an even better sun burn for me, haha.  Treasure island was a bit chilly but the good conversations about Zs kept my mind off of it.

I will be posting some information on another get-together real soon, so I hope to see you all then.  Enjoy all the pictures after the read-more!!

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Historics 2009 Photos

Filed under: 350z,370z,Events,Racing
by Forbes @ 1:49 pm on August 20, 2009

I want to start off by thanking everyone who showed up for the ZONC Z Car Corral on Saturday.  It was a pleasure to see all of you!!

The weather was perfect early on Saturday and I was pleased to see that we had 8 cars a the shop ready to join us on our caravan down to Laguna Seca to meat up with the rest of the group.   Unfortunately the most of the drive to the track takes place on Highway 101 so there isn’t much room for spirited driving, we still managed to get to the track in under an hour and a half.

Once arriving it seems like the rest of the car clubs enjoy getting up much earlier than ours did because all of the other corrals from Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, and others were already nearly at capacity.  Porsche had the most cars by far, easily understandable because they were the featured marque this year.  When will it be Nissan/Datsun’s time!?!?  Are you gonna show up when it happens?  I sure am.

While the practice sessions were underway in the morning hours we walked the paddock area in search for automotive gold.  There are amazing cars at every turn at this event, and you don’t even need your sense of sight to appreciate them.   I can’t even count the times that our group stopped by a running car just to listen to the engine note and to smell the burning race fuel.

After lunch we settled into our seats just outside of turn four to enjoy the racing.  While we appreciate the older racing cars that were up for the first few races, we were simply patiently waiting for the last two races of the day which were the 1964-1971 FIA Mfg. Championship cars (mainly Porsche 917s) and the 1981 -1990 FIA Mfg. Championship cars and the IMSA GTP cars.

You can imagine that when seriously priceless cars are raced that the track time is little more than glorified pace laps,  NOT TRUE!!!!  The cars were wheel to wheel in every sense and there was certainly rubbin and bumpin going on.  The drivers wanted to win, after all when would all of these cars ever be on track again together?  It was truly a sight to behold.

I have found a video of the winner of the IMSA GTP race and it can be viewed after the “read more”.  The video is taken from inside the pilot’s driver’s helmet.  I want one of these cars.  There is also a gallery of the photos that I took on Saturday (the only day I attended unfortuantely.)  I will try to find photos from Sunday from someone who attended.  Hopefully we can get our group numbers a little bit higher next year to show how much support is out there for Nissan/Datsun products.  See you there.

(the photo below was of a really clean 240z that was just sitting by itself in the vendor’s area, we had to check it out.  haha)

Complete gallery and video after the ‘read more’

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A Few Updates Today, 8 August 2009

Filed under: 240z,350z,370z,Events
by Forbes @ 12:39 pm on August 7, 2009

I have updated a few things that you might want to know about:

New Email Address!!  ZCarBlog@gmail.com

I just added this so that you could email me directly without going through Rob if you so wish.  Feel free to send me any of your thoughts or harassing emails.  I appreciate them all.

I have updated the “For Sale” page a little bit as well.

  • The ZCG G35 Twin Turbo now has a new price of $26,000 (practically a steal for what was invested)

It has also received new Michelin PS2 tires in the rear, new brakes on all four corners, undergone the full 60K mile service, and been upgraded with an iPhone/iPod integration system in anticipation of a new owner.

  • The White 1973 240z has gone on to a new home.  Congrats to the new owner.
  • The Wide-body G35 Twin Turbo has been taken off the market, the owner was just too attached to let it go.

That’s all for now.  More updates later today and over the weekend.





2008 Monterey Historics Photos: Post 1950

Filed under: 240z,350z,370z,Events
by Forbes @ 1:29 pm on August 1, 2009

Here is the next set of photos from last year’s Historics weekend.  These are most of the ’50s and newer cars.  I have two more sets coming of Trans-Am/Can-Am cars as well as some really cool vintage open-wheel cars.  I hope that a few more of you have signed up through the ZONC website.  We really want to represent the Z as much as possible so please get your tickets and meet us here!

We will also be planning some sort or cruise down to the track on Saturday for the corral.  I’ll have some more info on this soon.  Have a great weekend and make sure you see all of the photos after the ‘read more’.

Link:  Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC)

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