Take a shop tour of Z Car Garage with Larry Chen on another episode of Hoonigan Autofocus!
In this video Larry shares what our shop is about and samples a few cars including Mrs. Butters: our 1971 demo S30 with a 3.2L, Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, CV axles and KW suspension. Don’t miss Rob indulging us in his passion for vintage racing and Datsuns. Enjoy!
And if you missed it please view the first episode featuring our customer James’ turbocharged 1972 Datsun 240z:
We are excited to offer the Z Car Garage Heat Shield for your triple-carb’d L-series Z car. This is a one-piece 304 stainless unit with laser-etched serial number. Proven on all of our L-series engine builds and dyno testing.
This heat shield will fit Mikuni, Weber, Dellorto and Jenvey induction with several intake manifolds like the Harada:
Contact the shop for pricing and ordering info!
ZCG CV Axles
Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 70 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback. We now have a new shipment in stock, order your set today!
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Panasport wheels for your Z car
Treat your Z to a brand new set of Panasport wheels! We special order this offset to enable fitment of a 225/50/16 tire on the 1970 to 1978 S30s.
To order, contact Rob at the shop:
rob@zcargarage.com or call 408-452-0350
Shop Update 2/4
I stopped by the shop today and grabbed some quick shots of a few projects, enjoy! Felix’s 300zx Twin Turbo is back for power upgrades:
Jay H has been our customer since the beginning. He has a Datsun 240z, Mazda (FD) RX-7 and this 1990 Aztec Red 300ZX Twin Turbo that he’s owned for many years. Living in a rural, wooded area the Z’s wiring got chewed on by rodents. We fixed the wiring and got the car running again but more issues surfaced. Jay loves this Z so much and it had 122k miles so he decided it was time give it some serious attention.
Z Car Garage was happy to oblige as we think the Z32 is one of the best Japanese sports car of the 90’s.
Engine Bay and Drivetrain
The engine bay was in need of major cleaning and restoration. First, we performed a compression/leakdown test and the Z passed. With the engine out now we could focus on cleanup:
We installed a new engine room wiring harness. Every coolant hose, bypass hose, vacuum hose was replaced. A new underhood insulator with clips replaced the torn oem piece.
All p/s hoses were replaced and we modified the p/s steering pump to reduce clutter and eliminate the HICAS completely:
The engine was treated to full reseal and timing belt services, more pictures of the engine build in the gallery!
With a clean bill of health we installed several performance upgrades including JWT sport 500 turbos, BDE billet half moons/motor mounts, Ashpsec inlet piping, Selin dual-MAF with HR low-profiles filters/two Z32 MAFs and Nismo 740cc injectors:
No turbo upgrade is complete without the Mike Smith turbo manifolds with EGR ( to pass emissions). Unfortunately we will install the last set of these on Felix C’s 300, and that’s it!
BDE motor mounts:
Nismo 740cc injectors:
Ashspec inlet piping:
Selin dual-MAF with HR low-profile filters:
Before the engine went back in we installed a new JWT HD clutch and aluminum flywheel:
The drivetrain was re-installed with numerous items like a new fan and engine cover:
Exhaust upgrades included a full SpecialtyZ 3″ exhaust with 3″midpipes:
Finally, a GReddy Profec boost controller was installed in the super tidy interior:
Rob dyno tuned the Z, making 384hp/348tq to the wheels:
Exterior
With the engine bay and drivetrain sorted we turned to the body and and exterior trim. Jay wanted to do a full repaint on the car so we had it had it towed engine-out to our man William. Some before shots showing the faded paint and cracked/peeling tail light panel:
At William’s the body got some choice parts to make it look like 1990 again: Wings West Pre-’94 rear wing, JDM front fascia (with shaved license plate mount) and Jspec tail lights. With the freshly painted Z back at the shop we tackled re-assembly of new cowl panels, mouldings and various trim. All of these parts really make this Z pop:
Extensive moulding/trim replacement: T-top trim before/after shown below
Door and window trim:
Jspec rear and front looking sharp!
Icing on the cake are Jay’s super cool set of old WORK Equip 05 wheels. We re-finished and polished/painted them running Bridgestone S-04 tires.
Wheels make the car and this Z looks incredible standing still and on the road:
Suspension
The chassis received a few upgrades including Stillen sways and SPL titanium HICAS delete We also replaced ABS module the clutch and brake master cylinders
One Z Car…Coming Up!
Jay didn’t have a car for the duration of the revival and he was on foot running errands near his home. We handled all of the DMV fees foe him and Rob and Alvin delivered the Z to Jay at his residence.
It was a great experience to pull up in the 510 and Z to present it to Jay, he was all smiles:
Thank you Jay for bringing your 300zx to Z Car Garage. We admire your love for the Z and passion to keep it on the road in top form! Z32s ROCK! Enjoy the extensive photo gallery below:
Jim H has a great story behind this Series 1 S30. We know the previous owner through Datsun Roadsters from over a decade ago. Jim’s kids actually found this Z for him! Full story soon. The Z received an upgraded cooling system, ZCG Big-Brakes an CV axles and 16″ Panasport wheels with Bridgestone S007a tires. He will return in the fall for a new engine and much more restoration work. Tomorrow (Saturday) Jim will take this Z to visit friends and his kids!
Greg M brought his 240z from Reno, NV. He and his wife drove the Z here for carb work, Big-Brakes and CV axle install. We handled a few other items before he takes it back home for Hot August Nights. He will return in the fall for another big project.
Triple Mikuni carbs and 16″ Panasports!
Watch the video below to hear this Z run!
Greg H’s 280z came in for engine bay restoration and it turned into a full-blown build with ZCG Big-Brakes/CV Axles, full suspension, Panasports and tuning:
ZCG Big-Brakes and CV Axles:
Robert C’s G35 Coupe. He purchased all of Erik M’s parts when he sold his G. It’s getting the entire E85 setup, KW V3s and upgraded LSD. This G will be mainly for tracking with a gutted interior and race seats.
Eric K has an Ethanol-powered Z32TT with a stock engine on stock turbos. Now he is getting a built engine identical to Rob and Gary’s, now using BB700 turbos making 650-700whp:
Race Car Tuning!
We are stoked to be preparing and supporting this DeKon Monza for the upcoming Monterey Rolex Motorsports Reunion. This is chassis #2 and it is an amazing car. You can hear it in the video below. More to come watch for updates on our Instagram and Facebook pages!
Panasports For Your Z!
We only have a few sets left before our next shipment. Contact the shop to order yours!
We might be biased but we feel the Z32 is the best Japanese sports car of the 90’s. Keeping them on the road is our passion and even in 2019 there are still some real gems out there. Felix C brought his 1996 300zx Twin Turbo in to ZCG under dire circumstances and here is how we met him.
While we were at the Spring Classic event at Laguna Seca a customer was trying to buy a ’96 Z32TT from SoCal. Rob informed this customer to hold off buying the car until inspected by our friends at SpecialtyZ. When we got back to the shop at night to unload our cars from the race weekend…that ’96 Z32TT was sitting in front of Z Car Garage!
The following morning a gentlemen named Felix called to say he had purchased this car in SoCal and on the way home it broke down. With 96k miles the odometer, this Z32 from came to ZCG with a busted fan clutch. When the fan clutch failed it made a mess of the radiator and front end. The first visit for Felix was a full inspection with a plan to remedy all problems to get him back on the road. We installed a new Koyo race radiator, our one-step colder plugs and performed full timing belt services:
Power Upgrades
Felix returned after feeling the need for more power and we also knocked out a few more items from the initial inspection. Power upgrades included a SpecialtyZ 2.5″ exhaust with resonated x-pipe and dual tips, 740cc injectors, Ashspec massive intercoolers and Greddy boost controller:
On this visit we also got the A/C working with a new condenser and drier. A new fuel pump and all fuel hoses on top of the plenum were replaced:
The engine bay was cleaned up, including oil cooler lines:
More power upgrades: Selin translator dual MAF and BDE Performance motor mounts to allow for ASH-SPEC inlet piping. Massive IC from Ash shown below:
Dyno Tuning
We dyno tuned Felix’s Z with each power modification. It came in with a failed knock sensor, causing the low baseline power levels of 220hp/223tq. The knock sensor was fixed:
Great gains with the SZ exhaust system for 313hp/334tq to the wheels:
Ash-SPEC intercoolers:
Rob’s final tuning really woke the Z up, yielding 357hp/351tq to the wheels on 91 octane, dyno video below:
Interior
Felix wanted us to sort out the interior. During this visit we installed some weatherstrip, fixed an ABS sensor code and eliminated a few door panel rattles.
Felix added LED lighting:
The highlight of the cabin: we had the seats re-finished to OEM spec!
Big-Brakes and Chassis
As every Z32 owner knows, the stock brakes just aren’t up to the task. More power exacerbates the issue and you know how we feel at ZCG: It’s Stoptech Or Don’t Stop At All. Felix’s car had larger than factory wheels allowing us to install the 332mm Big-Brake Kit using red calipers and rotors.
Stock vs Stoptech
At the rear, stock Z32 calipers were paint-matched to the Stoptech red up front. Sport kit slotted rotors with 309 pads and SS lines throughout:
In addition to their function, the Stoptechs look nice too!
Stillen sway bars front and rear and we replaced all of the power steering hoses:
The Z had outgrown its suspension and it was 40th Felix’s birthday. We delivered icing on the cake with KW V3 coil-over suspension:
Installed front and rear:
More birthday goodness: super sexy SSR GTX-01 wheels in 18×9.5 with Bridgestone S-04 tires:
Wheels/tires being mounted:
Notice the J-spec tail lights, one of our favorite aesthetic mods and it looks so good on the black Z32s. Of note is the license plate “AUDREYH”…Felix wanted to pay tribute to his Mom’s favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn:
“aka Fairlady Z since the designer named it after the classic movie My Fairlady. The actress in the movie is the beautiful Audrey Hepburn. Hence I chose AUDREYH. I figured a classic lady should have a classic name with relevance.”
The 300 is now well-sorted and Felix is loving it. He did his first track day at Sears Point (Sonoma Raceway) and had a blast hustling the Z:
“Rob and the team is a high energy team that takes their work seriously while having fun. I’m happy what they have done to the car and also ecstatic that they share equal appreciation of the Z32”
UPDATE:
Felix is Enjoying The Ride as I write this blog post! He sent me these awesome pictures minutes ago with another Japanese sports car we admire…the FD RX-7:
Thanks for bringing your 300 to us Felix and Long Live The (Twin Turbo) Z! More pictures in the gallery below:
