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Happy Friday from Z Car Garage! Today we are installing engines into a Hakosuka and R32 Skyline. Sebastian’s Hako is getting a 3.0L stroker engine to complement the suspension refresh and Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (Stoptech).
Kurt’s R32 R32 Skyline GT-R is getting a fresh RB26 motor and turbo upgrade to complement the new KW coil-over suspension:
Our Datsun forklift is putting in work! Full reports on both Skylines coming to zcarblog.com!
Vintage cars may remain with their loving owners for years, change ownership or even get spotlighted in the media at some point. Our “where are they now” series features past Z Car Garage vehicles with updates on their status. In this fourth installment we catch up with Joe’s 1973 Kenmeri Skyline, now residing in Los Angeles, Ca.
Let’s go back in time to 2017…our client Alex McDowell decided to part with his 2000 GT-X so we listed it on our FOR SALE page. Joe F from SoCal contacted us immediately and jumped on a plane to visit Z Car Garage. Rob picked Joe up from the airport in the Kenmeri, tossed him the keys to enjoy it for a day…and he was sold.
We had great times with this KGC110 Skyline driving to many local events in the Bay Area. JDM Legends did a great job.
Enjoy this video of the Kenmeri driving and on the dyno at ZCG:
Just 4 days after we listed this 1973 Nissan Kenmeri Skyline it found a new owner with Joe in Southern California:
“Just want to say thank to Rob and the guys at Z Car Garage. Had a great experience purchasing my 73 Skyline Kenmeri from them. Class act all around and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a quality top notch classic JDM car!”
Here is the Kenmeri arriving:
Joe immediately started Enjoying The Ride in his Skyline and making appearances at local events!
Joe added his own touches to make the Kenmeri his own with 15×10/12 Work Spirit 33 wheels built by Love20Bee, custom suspension and a full repaint in BMW Alpine White:
All the factory chrome parts blacked out along with Mizuno Works rear wing and front spoiler. Joe’s build was showcased Super Street Magazine with photos by Marvin Recinos:
Inside, Joe added Recaro seats. He left the engine alone as it was properly strong making all the right noises when it left Z Car Garage! Ps…we love that Joe also kept the Z Car Garage license plate frame on!
We are happy for you Joe, thanks for visiting us and making the next chapter of the Kenmeri awesome. Always check our FOR SALE listings here on zcarblog.com, FB and IG. Stay tuned as we have a very cool group of cars coming up for sale from the collection of Randy Jaffe!
April 3, 2024 -Nissan hosted an informal tech talk at Z Car Garage to discuss the new Nissan NISMO Z and their GT4 racing efforts. A great time was had by all, enjoy photos from the event and don’t forget to catch this weekend’s Z racing action at Sonoma!
Rob Fuller of Z Car Garage recaps the evening:
“Thanks to Nissan for giving the opportunity to host the event. Recently appointed Nissan Motorsports Press Officer Dean Case provided food/drink and Motorsports Manager Greg Nelson talked about the Nismo Z and GT4 race program with close to 65 people attending.”
It was rad to see our clients and attendees show up in their sports cars. Four Nissan Z (RZ34) outside the shop, including Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC) president Linda William’s Proto-Spec Nissan Z (background). Pall drove his R32 Skyline GT-R:
Inside the shop, Greg Nelson sparked interest in the GT4 program, now with several race teams choosing the new Nismo Z as their contender. Guests were welcome to sit inside and check it out. More photos in the gallery below!
ROB: We also had a special appearance from Emy Kissick who is a talented young person racing in the Spec-Miata series and also checking out colleges in the Bay Area. Super cool to meet her. Speaking of racing, if you are in town this weekend make sure you check out the GT4 Nissan Z cars running in SRO at Sonoma Raceway! When the 350z debuted there was few Z33s racing, and now there will be FOUR GT4 Nismo Z cars. Last year they had two podiums. Thanks to Nissan for continuing to be a part of Motorsport and the magical times you are creating with the New Z.”
We had many client cars on display for attendees to enjoy, like Larry Chen’s SR20DET-powered 1970 Datsun 240Z (above) and (below) the #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z:
On the lifts: Kurt’s R32 SR32 Skyline GT-R, Sebastian’s Hakosuka Skyline and Paul’s Nissan 30ZX Twin Turbo and David’s 1972 Datsun 240Z
Yes, this is the Championship-winning 1988 Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo at Z Car Garage. Driven by Geoff Brabham and John Morton. The car that de-throned the Porsche 962 in IMSA racing with 8 straight wins. Full story coming soon to zcarblog.com!
Check out the NISMO Z racing in the Pirelli GT4 America Series this weekend at Sonoma Raceway! Details for the April 6th Nissan car corral hosted by ZONC and ZCCA and disscounted tickets can be found in the QR code on the flyer below:
Thanks to the following attendees for sharing photos with us: Bruce Hotchkiss, ZONC, Matthew Knine-Lijon, Pall Kornmayer, Koichi Kanda, WautoJ, Cooper and Heather Durham.
Happy Friday from Z Car Garage! We love to see clients Enjoying the Ride in their Z Cars. Jeremy G stopped by the shop with his white Datsun 240Z and snapped the photo above. Tony K took his Z out for nice evening drive in Sacramento. This Z has a long history with Z Car Garage having received upgrades like a 3L with triple-Mikuni ph44s, 280Zx 5-speed transmission, suspension refresh, our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles and Z Car Garage Heat Shield. You can read all about it HERE.
Ryan B is enjoying his LS3-powered Datsun 240Z on the Targa California rally. Expect a full report on this S30 soon on zcarblog.com
The #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z at the shop today:
Long Live The Z!
Mike R acquired this gunmetal (KH2) 1991 Skyline GTR from Toprank International Vehicle Importers in 2019. Z Car Garage is familiar with the Norcal Skylines group and fellow R32 owner Kurt W referred Mike to us in addition to an endorsement from Top Rank. Mike’s first round of upgrades included a Project Mu Big-Brake kit, Ohlins coil-over suspension, Haltech ecu, Greddy FMIC, sorting and dyno tuning. All of this work is documented in our 2020 blog post:
Following that initial visit, Mike added R34 GT-R Seats, and a sweet set of Volk Racing TE37 SL custom gloss black wheels (18×10.5 +15), wrapped in Michelin PS4S tires (265/35/18). A Haltech IC7 digital dash was added to monitor vital engine parameters, tying into the CAN box of Elite system:
Mike was happy with the upgrades we made but like many of us the desire for more power inevitably hits:
“The car has been running flawlessly and the goal with these mods is to support the addition of a single turbo kit that ZCG will be installing this August. The turbo kit consists of a Full Race Twin scroll T4 manifold that will be mated to an EFR 8474 turbocharger. Twin Tial 44mm external wastegates will bleed off the excess exhaust gasses.”
(Below)Borg Warner EFR 8474 0.92 with T51r mod and Full Race T4 twin scroll Exhaust manifold:
Remade in USA throttles and Nismo plenum. Fully built cylinder head with GSC S1 cams, SuperTech valves, springs, retainers, guides:
PRP crank trigger kit, Radium Dual Catch cans, Custom Intercooler piping with Tial q50 bov and Nismo oil cooler:
HKS Super Turbo Titanium exhaust:
Mike’s R32 came back to ZCG in 2022 for a few more items including:
ATS Carbon twin disk clutch (shoutout to @wubbs18)
New oem timing belt and pulleys
PRP alternator kit
Kansai Service Towhook
OEM Valley cover powder coated with R34 ornament plate
Mines Alcantara shift boot, parking brake handle and boot
Enjoy this video of Mike’s R32 GT-R in action with dyno runs, in-car and drive-by footage. Volume up!
Several dyno tuning sessions were performed during the upgrade period. 515hp/437tq on 91 octane was achieved with significant mid-range gains:
Mike was pleased:
“Big thanks to @zcargarage for seeing this project through to the end and making the car come to life. We had a lot of headaches and setbacks over the past 11 months, but they did an incredible job end result speaks for itself! Couldn’t be happier. 🤘”
“Ethanol delivery is handled by a full Radiumengineering fuel system. Fuel hanger surge tank using twin 525lph to feed the rail and a 340lph to feed the hanger. All new hoses with a -8 feed line. Radium fuel rail with Rail mounted adjustable fuel pressure regulator. All feeding Injectordynamics ID1700XDS injectors. Haltech Flex fuel Sensor and Bosch Fuel pressure/temp combo tied into Haltech Elite to bring it all together.”
On the dyno with E85 the R32 put down 624hp/479tq at the wheels, and Mike continued to enjoy the car:
“So the car has been on flex fuel for a few months now. Made 600 whp and 480tq. Still just keeping the boost around 20psi. Tons of room left in the setup. Been enjoying the shit out of the car is it currently sits. Maybe some minor cosmetic stuff in the near future, but for now….just drive.”
We were happy to see Mike Enjoying the Boost and spotted his R32 in action at the Tokyo Calling and Breakfast Club Rallies in Northern California:
Catch more of Mike’s R32 on his Instagram. Overview of major work is below with more photos in the gallery. Thanks for your support Mike!
. Custom 4” intake
. Full Race T4 twin scroll Exhaust manifold
. Borg Warner EFR 8474 0.92 with T51r mod
. Turbosmart gen4 twin port IWG
. Custom Intercooler piping
. Greddy 29f Intercooler
. Tial q50 bov
. Nismo plenum
. @remade_in_usa_ restored throttles
. Radium fuel filter, fuel rail, afpr, and pulse damper
. ID1050x injectors
. Hellcat fuel pump
. Fully built cylinder head
. GSC S1 cams
. SuperTech valves, springs, retainers, guides
. Greddy adjustable Cam gears, timing belt
. PRP crank trigger kit
. Fluidamper
. Two six engineering power steering pump kit.
. RHD Auto power steering reservoir
. Nismo Oil Cooler
. PWR radiator with Samco hoses
. Haltech Elite 2000 pnp
. Haltech WB1 canbus wide and 02sensor
. Haltech IC7 digital dash
. Haltech 3 port boost solenoid
. Radium Dual Catch cans
. HKS Super Turbo Titanium exhaust
