The Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo came from the factory with a very potent powerplant capable of doubling its output in modified form. Unfortunately the Z32 also came from the factory with brakes that were just adequate even at stock power levels. Once you turn up the boost, a car as massive as the Z needs some “whoa” to reign in the “go”…Stoptech to the rescue!

Patrick S recently purchased this ultra clean 60K! mile Z32 from Socal. It already had Stage 3 power and suspension upgrades and needed some big-brakes to acheive that all-important goal of having a perfectly balanced sportscar.  A Stoptech BBK up front with new rotors in back and  a new master cylinder were installed by ZCG:

The rear calipers were treated to “Stoptech red” finish to match the new front calipers:

The finished install:

How gorgeous are these SSRs? Patrick’s Z is now equally competent in the acceleration, handling and now braking departments!

Rob has UPREV tuned many cars and it’s no secret that with proper tuning, simple bolt-ons can yield significant power gains. David T. came to ZCG for a Bassani exhaust and tuning for his Z33 and left with some impressive results. The dyno chart shows a large improvement in peak hp and tq(+14hp/+20tq) at the wheels. Look closer however and you can see even more gains throughout the entire rev range.  At 3700rpm David’s Z makes 21hp more and enjoys a HUGE jump in torque from 215 to 245!

So make the most out of your bolt-ons and run more efficiently with some UPREV tuning at ZCG!

 

Nissan Z owners are dedicated to their cars. At ZCG we offer that same level of dedication to helping each customer achieve their vision of Z perfection. Tom N is the owner of this brilliant blue 370z and shows us how perseverance and love for the Z always prevails.
It begins just over 2 years ago when Tom visited ZCG for some simple NA bolt-ons that yielded over 300rwhp:

 

With significant power gains Tom then gave the Z a stance adjustment, stiffer suspension and a new look that soon became a “must do” for most Z34 owners: William’s “Blackout” package.

All of you can see where this is going, right? Time for BOOST! Two years ago the forced-induction scene for the Z34 was definitely not as abundant as for the Z33. Stillen offered a centrifugal-based supercharger and the only CARB-legal s/c kit on the market which was very attractive to Tom. ZCG installed the kit and put the Z on the dyno for some tuning only to find that it was not producing power as advertised by Stillen:

 

 

387hp/310tq at the wheels just didn’t feel or sound right. Despite Tom and ZCG’s best efforts, dealing with Stillen unfortunately did not yield an improvement which was disappointing. This is where the power of the Z and their owners comes into play.  Where most would be tempted to throw in the towel Tom kept at it and continued his quest for boost. Sam at GTM had developed a new Rotrex-based supercharger kit for the Z34 and it really impressed Rob.  GTM to the rescue!

Here are a few pics of the install. Note how compact the Rotrex unit is, FMIC detailing, and intakes:

 

Fit and finish of the kit is great and it really does have a sleeper look underhood with the Rotrex unit neatly tucked away. Do you see a blower? Looks like a power steering pump to me!

 

Tom also added a few supporting mods like Motordyne ART pipes and a Berk exhaust system.  Icing on the cake: The HKS camp2 engine monitoring system in the factory NAV location…

 

Did I mention that Tom has great taste? A subtle front lip and supremely tasty Volk TE37s finished in black with Bridgestone PP S-04 tires make this boosted 370z really special.

 

So how did the GTM kit perform compared to the Stillen?

 

With 421hp and 359tq at the wheels and more power all the way to that sweet HR-7500rpm redline, we think Tom is much happier with the GTM kit 🙂

Check the gallery for more install pictures and TE37 pictures too!

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One of our customers has acquired a very special ’72 S30 with only 30K miles! It is truly a time capsule with a pristine interior, engine bay, and original parts like ignition wires stamped with “1972” on them!
Check those tags out, this Z has been sitting on jackstands since 1988..and today it was started for the first time at ZCG!

Follow the blog for updates and enjoy these teaser shots…

Left: Yes, that is the factory exhaust system!  Center:  Original T/C rubber bushings are still pliable! Right: Factory paint in trunk looks amazing!

At Z Car Garage we are fortunate to be a part of many Nissan/Datsun enthusiasts lives and here is another amazing story of how we helped one man reunite with his beloved 240z…

To Rob and team of Z Car Garage,

Thank you for being a big part of reuniting me with my 1971 240Z on my 50th birthday.

I’m not sure whether you know, but this was my very first car, purchased for me by my father when I was 16 years old. Did I have a cool dad or what? He paid $4700 for the car in 1978. Although it was about 7 years old when I got it, it was in great shape and probably the most awesome car I could have had during high school. After a year, the seller experienced seller’s remorse and actually contacted my Dad to buy the car back. Of course, there was no way I was giving that car up, and over the next 20 years, my 240Z was my pride and joy.

Besides being a reliable means of transportation, I have numerous fond memories of this car, most notably proposing to my wife in this car 19 years ago. On that night, we had dinner in SF and afterward, I drove to the Marin headlands. With a romantic view of the City, Golden Gate Bridge and some champagne and strawberries, I proposed to my then girlfriend, who might very well have said yes because the car made me so cool.

But, after 20 years, I unfortunately started to notice exhaust fumes seeping into the car, and by this time, it was no longer my primary mode of transportation (more of a weekend car). With the exhaust issue and the fact that I didn’t have room at my new home for three cars, I decided to store the Z at my father’s place. My plan to temporarily store the car until I had time to address the exhaust issue turned into a 12 year separation between me and my 240Z.

For my 50th Birthday, my cousin, Trent coordinated with my wife to get my car running again and secretly moved the car from my dad’s place to your garage. Along with many assorted relatives, they planned to surprise me with the restored car during a party we held at my house. Of course, it was a HUGE surprise to walk out my front door and see the Z sitting on my driveway after 12 years in storage! It’s amazing how good it looks, and I especially appreciate how the restoration is not “over-the-top”- as close to stock as I maintained it.

Everywhere I drive now, someone comments on how good it looks. Besides looking great, it also runs great. The carburetors are perfectly tuned, the clutch is tight, and the suspension has greatly improved the handling. And it’s not bad for my ego either.

It’s great to have my 240Z back and I can’t help but smile whenever I get in it.

Thank you again to you and your team,
Ken M.

As you can imagine we were very eager to help Ken’s family bring the Datsun back to life and back on the road. ZCG focused on making this car sharp looking with an emphasis on driver enjoyment. Cosmetic upgrades included re-chroming and straightening both f/r bumpers with fresh OEM rubber trim:

 

Requisite 16×7 Panasport wheels shod with Bridgestone Pole-Position  re760(225/50/16) tires are at all four corners:

 

Underhood the engine bay received some serious attention with a full clean/detail, all new coolant bypass hoses and upper/lower radiator hoses:

 

The intake manifold was removed, cleaned and de-smogged. New intake/exhaust manifold gaskets installed along with a new header and full exhaust system. Driveability being a priority Rob and the crew tuned the carbs to perfection: steady idle, crisp throttle response, and smooth power delivery in all gears. I drove the car briefly to take photos and even I fell in love with it 🙂

 

The chassis also got some serious love with a complete front/rear suspension rebuild that included new bushings throughout, 5-way Tockicos, Eibach springs, sway bars, and new steering rack bushings. The interior on this 240 is incredibly clean. We added a Kenwood head unit and an MSA rear speaker box: Nothing flashy in this handsome cabin!

Thanks to Ken and his family for letting ZCG be a part of their Z Car passion. This is what we live for!

Check the gallery for more detailed pictures:
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