Last week the Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) Datsun 510 #46 race car arrived at Z Car Garage. Despite being against all odds, our hero John Morton drove this 510 to SCCA Trans-Am series championship victories in 1971 and 1972, putting Nissan on the map and fueling every Datsun enthusiast’s passion. In preparation for this weekend’s Velocity Invitational at Laguna Seca we dyno tested this legendary race car. Turn those speakers up and enjoy the video!
Huge thanks to Nissan and Randy Jaffe for giving us the opportunity to prepare the car. It was surreal to have it in our shop:
We spent hours admiring and pouring over all the details on this historical 510. Note the swirl chamber, BRE exhaust header, oiling system and hydraulics:
The chassis reveals hard-earned battle scars:
Note original Koni shocks, Porsche 911S calipers and oval section of exhaust, more photos in the gallery below:
Living Legends at the Velocity Invitational
Z Car Garage is really proud to announce special guests (and our heroes) John Morton and Pete Brock will be at the Velocity Invitational on Friday and Saturday. This is a rare opportunity to get an autograph and chat with these iconic gentlemen.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Trans Am (under 2.5) racing series, Z Car Garage coordinated with Nissan Corporate to have the original BRE Datsun 510 displayed with the Horst Kwech Alfa Romeo at the Velocity Invitational. See the actual race cars in person, only at the Velocity event!
Filed under: 510,Parts
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on July 18, 2022
We love to see owners installing our Z Car Garage CV Axles in their vintage Nissans and Datsuns. This 1971 Datsun 510 is owned by Jay W and he replaced his old CV Axle kit with our ZCG CV Axles.
Z Car Garage is proud to offer a CV axle conversion kit for your Datsun S30 and 510. We have sold over 200 sets of axles globally, with customers installing and enjoying them on everything from street cars to full-blown IMSA racers. These CV axles will help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts.
For years we have used aftermarket CV axles that utilize an aluminum adapter prone to loosening up over time. Despite efforts to keep things tight (Loctite, hardware changes) we had to keep an eye on them. We developed a better solution that eliminates the need for aluminum adapters and remains 100% bolt-in like a factory half-shaft. These are the beefiest CV axles on the market. They have been tested on the track by our vintage racing customers and also in high hp* street cars. Each axle has a serial # for peace of mind and the kit comes with everything you need to install on your car.
Jay was looking for CV Axles to run on his 1971 Datsun 510 with Subaru R160 diff and stock 510 bolt-in stub axles:
“I’ve followed ZCG since you launched the Z Car blog years ago. When I first saw the axles on the blog I wanted to purchase them, but I already had the WCR CVs with adapters. I got tired of checking the adapters and safety wiring the bolts. The ZCG axles appealed to me due to their overall design and race proven duties. Talking to Rob about them earlier this year made the decision easy.”
Like many enthusiasts Jay wanted to install them himself as he enjoys working on his Datsun. He kindly sent us a few installation pictures of the ZCG CV Axles (set #0403) replacing the old CVs.
We were pleased to hear Jay’s installation went smoothly:
“I work in Mountain View, so I picked them up in person. Rob walked me through the process and pre-greased the CVs so installation was very simple. I had to adjust my exhaust a bit to clear the axles, but that was pretty easy. The build quality of these is top notch, I really like the details: The hole alignment marker and clearance for a box wrench. “
More install photos can be seen in the gallery below:
Datsun 510 Dreams
We actually know Jay from the days of the All-Datsun Meet at Mt. Shasta many years ago. Let’s hear how he got into his Dimes:
“I purchased my 510 wagon in Oakland in 2005. The seller had this green sedan in his garage he purchased new in 1971. He was performing an engine compartment refresh and swap. I offered to purchase the sedan too and a year later he called me back. The car was rolling, but all the parts were in various boxes or missing. Besides a clean body the car came with a DL Potter engine and Nissan competition transmission which had zero miles on them. I fell victim to project delays and scope creep due to work, family and moving.”
“I didn’t get the car on the road until May 2020. I also enjoy doing as much work as possible myself which definitely slows down progress. The goal with this car is to build a dependable well-handling driver which is period correct in appearance but can still be comfortable for my family. Much like the BTW 510 from Car and Driver. I plan to use the cars in some driving rally’s and the occasional autox- and track days.”
The car has changed a lot over the last two years and will continue to evolve as a driving project. As of today the car has this configuration:
Suspension and brakes: 280ZX front struts and brakes, 240Z rear drums, Koni struts and shocks, 225 lb/in F and 900 lb/in R Swift springs, DPR bushings, 25mm F and 20mm R sway bars
Body: Resprayed body in early 80s, but close to factory color.
Interior
FloFit front seats, full carpet with extra sound deadening. Jay added some footwell lights which turn on with the dome light. Makes night access a lot nicer.
Enjoying the Ride
Jay has been driving his 510 everywhere, most recently on last weekend’s Breakfast Club Rally in Petaluma, CA:
Jay is stoked with the ZCG CV Axle performance and had a blast running the 510 through the Sierras on the DWA Rally in June:
“Rally was amazing, so much fun with a great group of people and cars. The 510 drove perfect and the prep paid off. Car is definitely underpowered at >8000ft above sea level. Still very fun.”
We love Jay’s attention to detail and it shows in his rally prep! Check out the skid plate his CAD designed:
Enjoy this video of Jay’s 510 in action:
Jay even made it out to Laguna Seca with his family in the 510 to watch the SVRA B-Sedan races (full report soon)! See more of Jay’s 510 on his Instagram.
Thank you Jay for your support and keep Enjoying the Ride! More photos in the gallery below:
“Just following up regarding the CV axle kit. I installed the kit right after picking it up from you in the beginning of March. Thank you for pre-greasing the CVs, and making the install pretty quick. Thanks again for making these parts, now I’m just waiting for the 510 brakes you’ll make. Also, congratulations on 18 years, that’s very impressive!”
We love to see owners installing our Z Car Garage CV Axles on their vintage Nissans and Datsuns. Julio added this 1972 Skyline to his collection and had the team at KaiserKars replace the old CVs with our ZCG CV Axles. You may have seen the Hakosuka at at events in the SoCal area and we are proud to be part of it!
We met Julio last year at the Japanese Classic Car Show where his Skyline was on display in the Hagerty booth. He pleasantly informed us that he was running ZCG CV Axles and we are happy to report that the team at KaiserKars installed them with ease at their facility in Los Alamitos, Ca:
“Our in-house technician said the installation process was very straightforward and simple, basically just a bolt on/bolt off slid right in and bolted each axle to the differential and it was finished. It went as smooth as it could go.”
The team at KaiserKars sent us a few installation pictures of the ZCG CV Axles replacing the old CVs. They shared their experience:
“We were recommended the upgraded CV Axles by a friend of ours that pointed us to Rob. The Skyline came with some rear differential knocking/popping issues, the upgrade fixed the problem. We eventually got in contact with Rob himself and he asked us a few things in regards to what was currently on the car. We think they were a kit by the previous owner but they were completely shot and beyond rebuilding.”
Skyline Dreams
The Hakosuka Skyline is undeniably a JDM icon. We asked Julio about his history with Japanese classics:
“I have been a car geek all my life, but as all guys my age, Fast and Furious, Gone in 60 Seconds, Motorweek and the Saturday/Sunday cable shows were the culprits for my love of all cars. But once I watched Hot Version/Option, and Initial D anime I was smitten by JDM cars and culture, I longed to ride in a GTR, drift an AE86 and own all the unicorn cars I grew to idolize. So far the hunt is on and I seem to be collecting them like others collect Hotwheels. The Hakosuka has been a love affair for me as I regret selling my last one in a bad deal but this one makes up for that bad memory and I could not be happier with its stance, power and aura.”
The Hako features some of our favorite parts like the Rebello 3.2L with Jenvey ITB induction:
In addition to the upgraded ZCG CV Axles the Hako also has an R200 LSD diff, 5-speed transmission, 16″ Watanabe R-Type wheels (8.5/9.5), Rubber Soul stainless exhaust system and T3 suspension. Outside, the body is VW Limestone Grey Metallic with carbon fiber flares, GT-Kai badging and re-finished bumpers in eggshell black. More pictures in the gallery below!
Thank you for your support Julio, it was great meeting you at JCCS! Also, thank you to KaiserKars we look forward to working with you! Please read below for more information on our ZCG CV Axles:
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. These are 100% bolt-in replacing your half-shafts and does not use aluminum adapters commonly found in aftermarket units. We have over 150+ CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
For years we have used aftermarket CV axles that utilize an aluminum adapter prone to loosening up over time. Despite efforts to keep things tight (Loctite, hardware changes) we had to keep an eye on them. We developed a better solution that eliminates the need for aluminum adapters and remains 100% bolt-in like a factory half-shaft.
Designed and manufactured locally with KAD Models, the ZCG CV axle kit works in both R180 and R200 configurations.
These are the beefiest CV axles on the market. They have been tested on the track by our vintage racing customers and also in high hp* street cars (powershifting, clutch dumps, etc.). Each axle has a serial # for peace of mind:
The CV axle kit is available now from ZCG for 1595.00 + freight and they come with everything you need to install on your car. Contact us at 408-452-0350 or send Rob an e-mail rob@zcargarage.com to purchase. Installation is just like doing a half-shaft: there is even a marking that shows you where to line up bolts and special hardware:
The ZCG CV Axles in action
The video below demonstrates the “looseness” associated with aftermarket CV axles that use adapters compared to the ZCG axles without adapters. Several customer race/street cars running our CV axles are also shown. Enjoy!
Enjoy this video made by our client Hazel. She installed our ZCG CV Axles on her Hazel’s 1970 Datsun 240Z
Over 150 sets of our ZCG CV Axles are installed in client’s cars all over the world:
David O. has been a Z Car Garage client since 2005. Together, we helped achieve his vision of a fully restored S30 with multi-dimensional performance: a daily driver that is equally adept at canyon runs and open track events. 17 years later David is still Enjoying the Ride and recently visited us for track day preparation.
Before we get into the build details dating back to 2005, let’s hear from David on his recent track day experience.
Take it to the Track!
David is an avid motorsports fan and driver. The Z has seen many track days since the restoration and came out of storage so he visited Z Car Garage for a pre-inspection.
We bled the brakes and made sure everything was ready for the event. He had a great time:
“It was my first time back on the track with the 240z in several years. I went out for half a day with Hagerty Insurance and their affiliation with SCCA’s Track Night in America. The people were great and it was a very “docile” track day with mandatory point-by’s even in the advanced group. It was a great way to knock the rust off after a few years off the track.”
“Rob Fuller prepped the car a few days before and she behaved beautifully. I managed a 1:59 lap but I was lifting a bit going up to turn six because I was afraid of breaking the 90dB sound limit. Of course, Z-Car got a lot of love from the other attendees. :-)”
Enjoy this video of David’s Z in action with in-car and chase footage from Laguna Seca and more:
History
We met David and his newly acquired Z in 2005. Long before the days of Facebook and Instagram, our mutual friend and Datsun fanatic Tom Dockery referred David to ZCG:
“I’ve been working with Rob since February of 2005 when I purchased my 240z from a guy in Redding. It was a true barn car. He drove it down and Rob inspected it before I bought it. I didn’t know anything about the car except that I wanted something fun to drive with a manual transmission. I’d always thought the 240z was cool because my 5th and 6th grade teacher had one – and she was very cool.”
“The first weekend I had the car it rained really hard and I found out all the seals were useless. There was about a quarter inch of water in the car and mold had already started growing. I took it to Rob, and once the seats were out, and the carpet was out, and the seals were in, Rob suggested the Recaro seats, the roll bar, and harness. It was just about that time I did my first track day in someone else’s car, and I decided I wanted to track the 240z. And that’s when I started what I call the “accidental restoration.”
Paint/Body
While we do not have in-progress photos of the restoration, there are many shots of David enjoying the finished restoration. Our man William worked his magic to apply the Nissan 112 Paint (Tennis Ball Green). David recalls his vision for the Z:
“My goal when restoring was to have a track-ready, fun to drive machine that did justice to the original car. My car was originally orange, was red when I purchased it, but I wanted something different. That’s when I went with the tennis ball green color, which was one of the original colors. It was manufactured in October of 1971, so she turned 50 just last fall.”
Engine
Full engine bay services included re-plating and powdercoating parts. The L24 was replaced with factory-spec L28 with triple-Mikuni induction. A custom cam was designed by Rob for better top-end performance. The Z put down 167hp/174tq at the wheels on the ZCG dyno:
Interior
There’s very little on the car that was left untouched – David took pride in the interior:
“I pretty much went with Rob’s suggestions (pros and cons) and learned while I went along. The gauges were all me. As much as I liked the originals, the were just too dim and difficult to read at night. I replaced them with white-backed Autometer gauges but kept the green backlighting. I also kept the original turn signals and embedded them in the new gauges. I didn’t keep the clock, and the fuel gauge is the carbon fiber reinforced glove box.”
More details like Recaro seats, Roll bar with 5-point harnesses, updated fuse box and high voltage bypass for the steering column, 260z lighted console panel and Sony bluetooth radio. Outside, Euro tail lights with LEDs:
Z Car Garage Big-Brakes
David’s Z was the first one to receive our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes. This was our initial (2008) setup utilizing Stoptech ST-40 calipers and our own brackets. We had extensive track testing with pro-driver David Ray:
We have Enjoyed the Ride with David at many events over the last 17 years. Most recently I got to catch up with him at our New Nissan Z event. His Z still looks amaZing!
Here are few events from years ago with David…some of you might remember attending these too!
2008 ZONC Blackhawk Museum Car Show
2010 and 2011 Palo Alto Concours d’ Elegance – the crowd loved his Z car!
2008 Motoring J Style…remember we had a superb turnout for the caravan starting at Z Car Garage!
2008 and 2011 Silicon Valley Auto Show at the San Jose Convention Center
Long Live The Z!
Thank you David for your support and friendship all these years. We love that you keep your Z on the road and it makes you smile behind the wheel whether its on the track or or street. Stay tuned as David will be returning to ZCG later this year for 3.1L engine upgrade! More pictures in the gallery below… …[read more]
We met Vince M in 2019 when he was looking for a shop to take care of his 1972 Datsun 240Z. Vince’s goal for this Persimmon Red (#110) S30 was to have a reliable weekend driver and replace the cracked dashboard he grew tired of looking at. We installed a new dash from Vintage Dashes, sorted all ducting and installed new Z Therapy SU carbs.
Z Car Garage specializes in restoring and maintaining the S30 Z car. We love stock examples like Vince’s just as much as modified cars. Vince contacted us and patiently waited in the queue to get his Z at the shop:
“Searching online for someone that I could trust to repair my Z, I came upon rave reviews from other owners of Rob at Z Car Garage and reached out to him. Rob asked that I email him pictures of my car, particularly the engine compartment, to determine if he could help me, and within 5 minutes, Rob called me back. I immediately recognized that I found someone who not only supremely understands Datsuns, but also shared my enthusiasm and passion for keeping my Z on the road.”
Z History
Vince’s Z Journey began when he first started driving in 1974:
“Our High School P.E. teacher doubled as our driving instructor, and while we were learning to drive Dodge Monaco Sedans, his daily driver was a 112 Yellow (Lime) ‘73 240z. I asked him what he thought of his car, and he responded: “It’s the best car I have ever owned.” That’s all I needed to hear, and soon found myself at the local Datsun dealership in Millbrae California. There on the lot was a ‘72 240z, 4-speed, white on red, with only 33,000 miles on the clock. The dealer reluctantly took me out for a test drive and this 15-year-old was forever hooked. Great styling, smooth power delivery, a flawless gearbox and only two seats, which thankfully guaranteed that my car would NOT be chosen to endlessly cruise with my buddies on Friday’s and Saturday’s, usually ending with an interior filled with spilled drinks and food.”
Vince has since owned 300 different cars, but there has always been a Z in his life. His current Z is a ‘72 240z, 4-speed, 110 Persimmon Red, white interior, acquired 5 years ago, with a California only history. The car had a cracked dash with a glued-on cover, a clock that did not work and original carburetors that badly bogged down while accelerating. It was time to get Vince back on the road.
New Dashboard
We removed the old dash assembly and performed clean-up work in preparation for the new Vintage Dashes unit. More pictures of the process in the photo gallery!
The heater box was refurbished with new heat/defrost vents, gaskets and all HVAC cable controls were lubed:
Ducting and completed heater going back in:
Since the dash was out we had access to the heater core which got pressure tested and serviced. All coolant hoses under the dash and in engine bay were replaced:
Every single bolt was replaced in the dash and the gauges refreshed. The clock was replaced and functions perfectly.
The completed Vintage Dashes dashboard and assembly ready to go back into Vince’s Z:
Dash install complete:
Vince is really happy with the new dash installation:
“As for my dash, I had several options but settled on a newly manufactured replacement dash from Vintage Dashes, minimizing downtime, and allowing me to keep my old dash in case I wanted to restore it. I trusted ZCG to take apart my entire dash and EVERYTHING connected to it. The result is a dash that looks like new (because it is) and everything connected to it working properly, including the clock, which by the way keeps excellent time.”
Engine Bay
A new set of SU carbs from Z-Therapy were installed along with all new fuel hoses and fuel filter:
Enjoy the Ride!
Vince is a great guy and a great Z car owner. He made this video showing his Z after the work ZCG performed, enjoy!
We love making our clients happy:
“My goal for this car was quite simple, I wanted a 1970’s time machine that I can use as a weekend driver, with the operative word being “use”, because in my humble opinion, Z’s are meant to be driven. Except for the carbs, the car was mechanically sound, but I wanted it to run like it should. I was also tired of looking at the dash cap, and wanted to have everything in working order, like it did in the 70’s, including the clock…”
“…In fact, everything works and runs so flawlessly, my car with 92,000 miles runs better than the 3-year- old Z I drove off the dealer lot back in 1974, a testament to Rob and ZCG. It feels good to be back in the 70’s, even if only on weekends. Thanks Rob, and long live the Z.”
Thank you for your support Vince, and yes, LONG LIVE THE Z!
