Nissan’s Z32 Twin Turbo is a sportscar that has truly stood the test of time. Its curvaceous lines have aged gracefully and the venerable VG30DETT powerplant is still capable of producing impressive numbers today. We love them and specialize in keeping these beauties on the road and in the hands of proud owners like Jas D. He picked up this 1990 300zx Twin Turbo last summer and visited Z Car Garage for a thorough inspection.

 

Though bone-stock with an amazing 44k miles on the clock it needed some attention. We went through the hydraulics and performed full 60k-mile services.

 

Jas wanted to improve power and handling and we happily obliged with a comprehensive list of upgrades this year.  Starting with the drivetrain, the original transmission was replaced with a brand new(!) unit from Nissan:

 

The clutch had seen better days so we replaced it with a JWT unit including their heavy duty aluminum flywheel:

 

A JWT ecu w/boost jets manages uprated NISMO 740cc injectors and the Selin dual MAF. Improved breathing comes from Ash-SPEC inlet piping and dual JWT pop chargers:

 

On the exhaust side, restrictive original downpipes were replaced with these beautiful Specialty Z 3″ downpipes. Note the divorced wastegate piping:

 

Following the new downpipes are more parts from SPZ including 3″ mid-pipes and a cat-back exhaust system to replace the OEM setup:

 

OEM vs SPZ:

 

 

With all of the speed parts installed next we tackled chassis improvements. Lots of goodies here so let’s begin with brakes followed by suspension:

We love Stoptech’s products and use them on our own vehicles.  Z32s are relatively heavy and with higher hp the stock caliper/rotors can be taxed quite easily. Jas took it up a notch and ordered a Stoptech 4-wheel Big-Brake Kit for his beloved Z.  Shown above is the ST40 caliper (front) squeezing 332 mm rotors and at the rear are ST22s on 328mm rotors.

The installation:

 

Yes, they are pretty but also very functional! Speaking of aesthetics(that are functional, too), the new calipers are nicely framed between the spokes of these sweet VOLK TE37SL wheels.  We like your taste, Jas.   The lightweight TE’s were wrapped in Bridgestone S-o4 tires:

 

Several suspension upgrades improve handling and replace old/deteriorated parts. Stance coil-overs were installed while Stillen sway bars front and rear help reduce body roll:

 

OEM vs Stillen sway bar mount/bushing and end-link details:

 

More suspension parts include SPL T/C rods,   Z1 upper control arms and new steering rack bushings:

 

The Z looks fantastic with the new footwork:

 

Jas came back to Z Car Garage in Septemeber for a few more upgrades. We installed 4.08 Leader gears, Ash-SPEC Massive SMICs, 2.5 IC tubing, and  SPZ Hi-5 upgraded clutch. The BDE low-profile Z32 motor mounts are a smart alternative to OEM that allows more clearance larger for intakes:

 

After the addition of larger intercoolers and piping we re-tuned Jas’ Z picking up power throughout the rev range for a total of 369hp/387tq to the wheels:

 

We think Jas’ 300zx Twin Turbo is the perfect addition to his stable. It is now a balanced sportscar with just the right personal touches. Long Live the Z32!

Lots of pictures in the gallery, enjoy!
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I love driving my Datsun Roadster every weekend but last Saturday I had the opportunity to drive Rob Fuller’s 1971 Datsun 510 for my birthday.  This is Rob’s first 510 from his youthful days in Georgia (see vanity plate). Without giving too many details, he restored the car and performed an S13 SR20DET drivetrain swap in 2002.  We will give this Dime a proper feature on the blog soon, but for now, let’s drive!

 

I called up a few of my roadster friends to do a quick blast up Skyline to Alice’s restaurant. Both Mike (silver) and Raul’s (white) roadsters are 1967.5 year cars with SPL and SRL drivetrains, respectively. With HWY 9 construction finished the twisty roads we once enjoyed were now even smoother.

 

We headed South on 84,  looped back up to Skyline via Old La Honda Rd and eventually took a break at the vista point off 9 towards Big Basin.  Driving the Go Green 510 was buckets of fun. Seating/steering wheel position, suspension and visibility all make for a totally different experience coming from a roadster owner. I was impressed how well the car has held up over a decade after it was reborn.

 

After our fun run my brother and I did some lead-follow videos with my roadster and the 510. Two SR-powered vintage Datsuns Enjoying The Ride! Turn those speakers up:

 

Cruising around town and experiencing the rush of 400hp being transferred through 205mm-width rear tires was absolutely addicting.  Thank you Rob for making my birthday especially enjoyable!

 

Saturday 10/11 was the last gathering of Canepa Cars and Coffee until they resume in April 2015. We drove our Datsun Roadsters to this final event and there was a superb turnout of cool cars. As in the past, Canepa never disappoints. Here are few highlights and check the gallery for even more pictures.

The brisk run up HW 17 to Scotts Valley is always exhilarating, especially on a weekend sans traffic! We had a blast chasing our fellow roadster owner and friend Mike B in his pretty 1967.5 SPL311:

 

When we arrived, Canepa’s parking lot was already filled to the brim. Mandatory Datsun content: We found another roadster and a 240z with ZCG license plate frame!

 

Mopar Madness! Panther Pink Challenger, Limelight green Superbird and Plum Crazy Challenger remind us of the coolest colors to come from the factory!

 
In an absolute sea of 997 GT3 Porsche’s these stood out: 997 TT on Volk TE37s, RUF 993, and gorgeous 356:

 

Canepa as usual were gracious enough to open their entire facility to the public. Touring the showrooms and shop areas with soft pretzels and strudels in hand was a great way to start the morning!

 

Back in the parking lot, more interesting cars show up. This Ford hot rod had the coolest cup-holder I’ve ever seen:

 

Below L to R: This little Fiat Abarth was setup for dirt rallying. 1 of 2 super clean BMW E30 M3s. Honda N600! My favorite Testarossa, 512TR:

Finally, I had the pleasure of driving back down HW 17 with this Ferrari 250 GT Lusso. The lines on this car are amazing, and it was quite nerve wracking (for the owner too I’m sure) to snap some rolling shots of this multi-seven figure piece of history!

 

I was super stoked to get a peace sign from the driver, Enjoy The Ride!

 

Many more pics in the gallery. See you at Canepa Cars and Coffee next spring!

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George M built his Vortech-supercharged G35 coupe to participate in Hill Climb events while remaining an adept street car.  To ensure he could come back down the mountain we upgraded his brakes with a Stoptech big-brake kit:

 

Up front, the OEM Brembo calipers and rotors were replaced with Stoptech’s 380mm rotors 6-piston calipers:

At the rear, 355mm rotors and ST22 calipers. Note how everything still fit nicely behind the factory wheels:

 

Stay tuned as George will visit us later for power upgrades including a new MAF/injectors followed by dyno tuning.

 

 

Matt found Z Car Garage by referral from a local car wash. He had installed a few bolt-ons and needed a tune so we UPREV’d his 370z. Baseline numbers were 294hp/238tq and after tuning 309hp/253tq:

 

The dyno shows significant gains in hp and tq throughout the entire rev range. We are big fans of UPREV tuning and it consistently works well when optimizing individual mods. We will have more examples this week on both NA and FI cars so stay tuned!