Big thanks to Ann Devor and Paul from ZONC, the event was fun and the turnout was great. 32 cars showed up at ZCarGarage this morning! The line-up included Z32s, Z33s, Z34s, a 280zx, several 240z cars, a 510 wagon, and a GT-R:

We left ZCG around 9:30am and headed up highway 17 to Scotts Valley to visit the Canepa Design Museum and Showroom. Rob’s newly street-ported Mazda RX-4 wagon made it’s debut and impressed everyone in the twisites 🙂 bap, bap, bap, bap! David Swig drove his restored 240z(for sale). An ’08 350z was rockin’ some clean Volk LE37s in gold on Pikes Peak White and the Green Z came out to play as well:

The museum and showrooms at Canepa were amazing. My favorite cars had to be the Brad Frisselle 240z and the Lambo Miura. But the 300SL gullwing and the BMW M1 were also catching my attention! Then there was that Porsche 959 in the corner. Oh, and the Kurtis 500! It was a candy store. Check the gallery at the end for more pics.

 

This 80’s Porsche had a significant Canepa modification: a complete drivetrain from Porsche 962 race car!!!

From the showrooms we visited the shop area. It was incredibly clean and tidy. We also got a taste of many types of cars Canepa works on from restoring Cobras, prepping vintage muscle race cars, souping up SUVs, and maintaining uber-exotic cars like the Bugatti EB110.

After touring the museum we drove to Boulder Creek to grab lunch at a local brewery. Then it was off through more twisty roads as we winded our way through Big Basin and down in to Saratoga via highway 9.
It was good to meet some new Z owners and you can count on more events with ZONC and ZCG in the future. So check the blog for event updates and enjoy the ride!
…[read more]

 

New products continue to enter aftermarket for the 370Z, here is Rob to tell you about a new supercharger kit for the 370z!

ZCG was traveling south to the JCCS show we decided to take a detour and visit Rancho Cucamonga to visit GTM to check out their new Supercharger kit for the 370Z. Sam was nice enough to meet with us on a Saturday afternoon and give us a tour of the facility and it was impressive. The shop is amazing with late-model Nissans everywhere!!

This shop also includes an in-house machine shop, dyno, and alignment rack. After showing us around Sam allowed me to take the Shop Demo car for a ride. Having installed a Stillen supercharger already it was nice to check out Stillen’s competitor in the Forced Induction battle. First impression was quiet, nice driveability, and nice torque once the engine hits its sweet spot.
The boost takes over and seems like it keeps getting stronger as the rpms increase. Sam was surprised when I requested we throw it on the dyno.
Here is a short video Alvin took of the dyno run:

 

With the engine heat soaked and the temps in the shop close to 100 degrees the Z put down some good numbers: 380hp/305tq

Sam also shared some plots of pervious pulls with cooler temps, with readings of ~425hp/340tq.
Nice power and big torque.

Impressed! Excited to install one of these soon! Any takers?
Long live the Z
Rob

Hey all this event is going to be awesome with 23 cars signed up so far! Come join the fun and meet at ZCarGarage at 9am Saturday morning.

ZCarGarage and Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC) have arranged for a full tour of the amazing Canepa Design Museum and Showroom facility along with a beautiful drive through the Santa Cruz Mountains. The tour is impressive with a full look at how restorations are done on Porsche 959s to vintage race cars that you see at the major Historic Racing events. It is truly a candy store for automotive fans!

 

For a .pdf of the flyer just click below
Canepa Design Tour

Wondered when Nissan’s flagship supercar would be “refreshed”? Here are a few pics of the 2012 GT-R with subtle changes to the front and rear facias. Is it me or does every automaker have those fancy LED light strips in front now? 🙂

Check out more pics and a YouTube track test over at NA GT-R Owners Club

 

The first time I saw this pretty Datsun 510 was at the BlackHawk Nissan show last year, but I never met the owner. Fast forward to the TurnZ event in June. Finally spoke to owner, Matt G about his car very briefly. And only 2 weeks ago we hung out at the JCCS show and drove back up to Norcal together for almost 400 miles…I had to share his 510 and the story behind it with you.

This 510 was purchased on eBay in 2005, and during the 4 years following has undergone a complete restoration. Virtually every nut, bolt, bushing or seal has been replaced with new or like new used parts. The normal body rust that existed was
replaced with like metal, welded in place and rust proofed. The body was then seam sealed and rust proofed from the inside out and professionally prepared and painted by William’s Auto Body. All work done by Matt except for a few things!

 

The drive train and brakes were improved over stock equipment and a 1995 240SX 2.4L(KA24DE) engine and transmission where swapped in and a Greddy turbo kit added. Matt prepped the engine with oversize 9.0:1 forged WiseCo Pistons,  Forged Connecting Rods, and the head received a mild port and polish and early 1992 Intake and Exhaust Cams (longer duration).  ARP Head and Main studs, and a Cosmetic Metal head gasket keeps things tight.

 

The Greddy Turbo Kit(12psi) is made for the 240SX.   Custom piping, a proper recirc’d BOV, custom BMIC(that’s right bottom mount!) Bell intercooler with super trick air scoop (spring loaded for driveways, speed bumps, etc). The exhaust system is 2.5”  done in stainless by none other than Dan Gallmeister of DGR Fabrication and is finished by a dual-tipped Magnaflow muffler. Fuel duties are handled by custom bent 3/8 “ aluminum supply and return Lines, 300zx in-tank pump, Aeromotive regulator, and Nissan 370cc injectors.

 

Matt’s hard work paid off when he dyno’d the 510 at ZCarGarage on one of it’s Dyno Days. It made good power, spinning the rollers to the tune of 262hp/264tq to the wheels!

~300hp in a 2000lb car must be fun:)

 

To put all the power to the ground Matt modified the suspension both front and rear. Up front there are Energy Suspension bushings, 280ZX Struts with Tokico adjustable coilovers and adjustable camber plates.
In rear,  a penultimate rear crossmember with Proshock adjustable coilovers.
Braking is accomplished with 4-wheel discs, 280ZX fronts with vented rotors and 280zx rears with solid rotors. A 280ZX 15/16” master cylinder and custom e-brake handle complete the setup.

When we drove down from JCCS show I noticed the awesome stance on Matt’s 510. Great job restoring it and driving it because DATSUNS are driven!