Yes Zcarblog readers, even those larger Nissans get ZCG love! Here is Rob with the story on this FX45:
Thad N and his wife Dana are big Nissan fans. Thad found a really clean FX with all the right stuff for making his commute a pleasureable experience. Living in the Santa Cruz mountains with all of those curvy roads this FX certainly gets put through its paces.
Thad has added GTspec bracing to stiffen up the chassis and intake to let that amazing V8 sing its song going in and out of the twistys.

His FX still had too much body roll in and out of the turns, and was also lacking in the brake department.
Solution 1: Eibach Pro-kit. A slight drop with some added spring rate allowing the FX to feel more solid during cornering.

Solution 2:  STOPTECH Big-Brake kt( BBK) kit with matching rotors and 309 pads in the rear. The stock rear calipers were also color matched to the fronts in red.

The new stance and big-brakes peeking out of the stock wheels turn this FX into a sleeper:

This FX is born again. Thad’s impression after the upgrades:  “the FX was amazing!!!”  After Dana drove she called to tell me that her G35 sedan needed to be upgraded ASAP.
So stay tuned this Nissan family has more upgrades on the way 🙂

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:

We had another fantastic track day with NCRC at Laguna Seca Raceway. The ZCarGarage group included Scott S (Green Z33), myself (silver 350z), Allen B (grey Vortech350z), Walt p (Blue GT-R), Rob (red370z), Tom D (gray G35 TT), and Kurt I (blue Z06, don’t worry he has a real Z too). There were at least 3 other Z33s, a 370z, a Datsun 240z, 2 GT-Rs and a very clean Nismo Z33 in the paddock…a great day for Nissans 🙂

The paddock was filled with lots of wicked metal.  Some highlights: BMW was very well represented with all years of M3s and a bunch of 135is. A lone Ferrari 458 spent an inordinate amount of time parked with race numbers….hmmm.  Bobby T showed up with his newly painted Carrera; this car used to be an interesting shade of brown so good job Bobby! A tube-framed Mercedes 300SL, I wish I had seen this LS1-powered Miata in action, and incredibly fast green 240z.

The weather and track conditions went from damp and foggy in the morning to warm and dry in the afternoon. Our friends were spread out in all three of the run groups, and everyone had a chance to “mix it up” through the various turns of ‘Seca. Walt P was tearing it up in the Open(race) group with his 1-month new GT-R, kudos to him for putting the 530hp beast to the test straight from the dealership!

This was Allen B’s 2nd time at ‘Seca and he came armed with sticky Toyo R888s on SSR-Comp wheels at all four corners of his Vortech’d Z. I love that car. Tom D’s Twin-Turbo G35 sounded wicked on the front straight. This car has been boosted for over 40k miles and he is still tracking it, daily driving it, and enjoying it!
Scott S continues to amaze us all at his driving ability in the Green Machine. He tested several sets of race rubber including some BFG R1s, but ended up going back to that sweet, sweet, Hoosier. Scott was running 1:46s on them, even with some braking system issues.

I drove my Z in the Point-by group and also had my friend Chis W drive the Z in the Solo group. That’s right, double-duty for my Z again! Big thanks to ZCG for track-prepping the car to handle the beating! Between Chris and I the Z had no issues at all. Brakes were awesome. Stoptechs were made for ‘Seca. Chris was a beginner and this was his first time driving at an open track event. My friend Glynn D instructed him throughout the day and Chris went from being a spectator to competent lapper. He had a blast. There might be a Z-car in his future now. Here are a few pics of him courtesy of GotBlueMilk.com

At the end of the day the crew from ZCG dropped by and we gave everyone ride-alongs. The last session of the day is one that is always bittersweet for me. Half of me is tired from the day of driving but the other half is wishing it wouldn’t come to an end. Laguna Seca will do that to you 🙂  So keep an eye on the blog for upcoming track days and see what it is all about. You will love your car even more.

Stay tuned for video footage from the track. Lots of photos in the gallery too!

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Do you think ZCarGarage is too far away from you? Here is Rob to tell you a story of one owner’s long distance relationship with Performance With Passion: proving that no distance or commute is too far to give your Z/G the love it deserves 🙂
Terry L is a Z-car fanatic and his stable includes a 280zx Turbo, 300zx Twin-Turbo, and this ’93 300zx. Look closely though and keen observers will notice that there are no T-tops on this Z32. This is a low-production “slicktop” model and the absence of those removable glass roofs equal weight savings and much improved rigidity.

Terry lives in Arizona but his brother is a local Z guy in Morgan Hill. Guess what his brother owns? A Nismo 350z and a 300zx! The two visited the shop by chance and Terry eventually became part of the ZCG crew. Although he lives and daily drives the Z in another state, it comes to the shop yearly for service. We have worked on it for a few years now and this slicktop is one special beast.
Full suspension upgrades include Tokico 5-way shocks, Eibach springs, and Stillen sway bars. Powertrix adjustable T/C rods, camber arms, and upgraded rack bushings round out handling duties. The drivetrain was given a thorough overhaul with several upgrades along the way.  A 2.5″ SpecialtyZ cat-back exhaust system(extra resonator from the H-pipe to quiet things down), JWT cams and headers help in the breathing department.

This combination of modifications really makes an improvement in response and it is definitely felt in the seat. 215hp/187tq to the wheels put this NA motor well past the 222hp(crank) from the factory:

While the drivetrain was out a new engine harness was installed and the entire engine bay was detailed. Full 120k services were also performed.

There are many more of engine pictures in the gallery for your detailed viewing pleasure, but for now check out the before/after shots:

Before:                                                                                            After:

Even the interior got some attention with a host of new OEM interior panels and stereo parts.
We love all Z cars, and Z cars love us. Terry might be from out of town, but he knows the place to be for all things Nissan.
Long Live the Slicktop!

 

more photos in the gallery:
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Here is Rob to bring you a Vortech-Supecharged G35 update:
Deric is a mathematics teacher at a local high school and owner of this 2005 G35 coupe. I met Deric at ZCG and he was ready to increase the G’s performance or move up to a GT-R.  I let him know that the GT-R was amazing but he could certainly turn up the boost (pun intended) on his daily driven G sports coupe. We arranged a time to meet and made a plan for success. We hooked Deric up with a Vortech Supercharger and supporting cast of headers, cams, full exhaust system, and a ZCG oil cooler.


A full complement of DEFI Gauges in a color-matched gauge pod were added inside along with a custom mounted Link unit.

After a few weeks of tearing up the streets Deric’s automatic transmission started to disagree with all of the new horsepower and torque being produced. A plan was made to build Deric an “All out war” transmission. Sam at GTM was given the order and funds to proceed with a built gearbox. During a short few weeks at the wheel Deric noticed that the G was having trouble keeping up with the power….Slowing down became harder and the tires had this issue where they would smoke when smashing the gas in the lower gears. You will never guess what happens next…Boom…Axis wheels and Stoptechs all the way around for this bad G!!!

Next in line was a Stillen front bumper upgrade to get more air over that intercooler during the hard runs from light to light…Deric’s G had become a 3-Dimensional Sportscar enthusiast’s dream.
Before/After Axis wheels, Stoptechs, and Stillen front bumper:

Big power, crisp shifts, traction, and stopping with ease….Any student or faculty member leaving campus didn’t stand a chance…From time to time I would hear reports from Deric on how much he was enjoying his ride. He even bought his wife matching wheels for her Z. This family is serious about Nissan performance.
Latest news on Deric’s G…We switched engine management to UPREV, installed 600cc injectors and a Pmas MAF. All of the Vortech FMU components were removed, and the fuel pump and supercharger pulley were upgraded for more boost goodness 🙂
Dyno plots below showing the stock motor: 215hp/211tq, initial Vortech tune: 355hp/295tq,  and final tune: 388hp/311tq at the wheels.


Deric ‘s G is driven daily and this G is HOT for teacher!!!

More photos in the gallery, enjoy!
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