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EVENTS: All-Japanese vintage rallye with Breakfast Club!

Filed under: 240z,280Z,280zx,510,Events
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on February 3, 2022

 

On Saturday, March 19 the Breakfast Club Rally is hosting another fantastic vintage car rallye in Sonoma, Ca. This time it is only for Japanese cars!

To register and see more details, please visit their website HERE

 
 

I have run with this group and it is a total blast, you can see my previous event reports HERE

Z you there!




ZCG PARTS: Z Car Garage CV Axles on Z31 Race Car!

Filed under: Parts,Performance,Racing,Z31
by Alvin G @ 9:23 pm on January 22, 2022

 

We love to see our parts installed and used on client’s cars. Race car driver and restoration specialist Jim Froula of Racecraft is running our ZCG CV Axles in this Nissan IMSA GTU 300ZX race car!

 

Jim installed CV Axle set #269:

The George Alderman Z31

 

Over a 49-year competitive career, George Alderman was one of America’s most successful sports car drivers, racing in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) events.

 

In the 60’s and 70’s George would race a variety of cars. He won the IMSA Baby Grand championship in 1971 in a Datsun 510 and in the 80’s he drove Z cars in the Camel GT series. His Z31 would run both turbo and NA classes for IMSA.

 

Out of 70 starts he had 50 top-tens, 27 top-fives, and 5 wins, all while successfully running his Datsun/Nissan franchise. (Below) a 1988 promotional photo of the  Z31 in front of Alderman Nissan, in V6 IMSA GTU class trim. Find more history on this Z as documented on Alderman Machine.

 

Restoration at Racecraft

 

Jim and the RacecraftNW crew restored the George Alderman 300ZX. As usual, Froula’s painstaking efforts and diligence result in a faithful restoration. Original frame (left) and restored with chassis parts:

 

ITB induction on the NA VG30E powerplant:

 

Bodywork going on, and look at those Panasport C8 wheels!

 

Jim Froula also built this Bluebird SSS Coupe and Hakosuka Skyline, both are running ZCG CV axles on the race track:

 
 
 

Thanks for your support Jim! We are excited to see the Z31 back on on the track.

 

Z Car Garage CV Axles

Over 150 sets of our ZCG CV Axles are installed in client’s cars all over the world. For more information please visit our detailed post our HERE. Below are just a few examples of race cars running out CV Axles:

Race car driver and restoration specialist Jim Froula of Racecraft is running ZCG axles in several of his cars:

Set #246 – installed May 2018 on the “Harry Stewart #52” Datsun 510:

 
 

Set #247 – installed April 2018 on the 260z

 
 

Set #248 – installed on Adam Carolla’s “Greg Sorrentino #90” Datsun 510.

 

 

 

 




TUNING: Two L-Series powered Datsun 240Z cars on the dyno

Filed under: 240z,Datsunworks,Performance
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on January 11, 2022

 

Last Friday we made some glorious L-Series music with two of our client’s Datsun 240Z cars. Gary’s Datsun 240Z, affectionately named the “Behemoth” has accumulated some mileage on the Datsunworks KN20 cylinder head and the dyno confirmed the same power level.

 

Khang’s 1973 Datsun 240Z was completed in October and he returned with 1,000 miles on the 3.2L L-Series. We adjusted the valves and double-checked power levels.

 

Happy to see both builds healthy and confirm power output. Enjoy the music from the both L-Series engines, sporting Jenvey ITB EFI managed by Haltech 750 Elite ECUs backed by the CD009a Six-Speed transmission. LONG LIVE THE Z!

 

 

 

 




EVENTS: New Year’s Day Drive 2022

Filed under: 240z,280Z,510,Events,Great Drives,r32
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on January 1, 2022

 

Happy New Year! Today we kicked off 2022 the right way with a New Year’s drive on a beautiful California day. Our friend Geoff assembled a group of cars and we were pleasantly surprised to see several Z Car Garage clients and friends in attendance! Thank you to everyone that braved the chilly morning temperatures and truly showed that Datsuns Are Driven! Enjoy photos and video from the cruise below.

 

I drove my 1967.5 Datsun Roadster and it was a cool 36F at 8:30am as I hit the freeway for the meeting point in San Jose. It was so good to see familiar faces and cool cars. Geoff briefed the group and we rolled out 16 cars strong heading up HWY 17 to Bear Creek Rd. Let’s take a look at the group:

Jim’s 1971 Datsun 240Z

 

Jim’s 1971 Datsun 240z is now sporting a Rebello 3.2L with triple-Mikuni carbs on a Harada intake, Recaro Specialist seats, CD009a 6-speed transmission, our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels) and Z Car Garage CV Axles!

 

Dirk’s 1973 Datsun 240Z

 

Dirk’s 1973 Datsun 240z is back on the road with a fresh engine,  Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels) and Z Car Garage CV Axles and Silvia 6-speed transmission. Full report coming to zcarblog.com

Glenn’s 1972 Nissan Fairlady 240z-L

 

Glenn Chiou drove his RHD Fairlady Z sporting our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels). He is an avid vintage race car driver/restorer and found our brake kit offers incredible brake feel and performance all fitting behind his favorite 15×8 zero offset Watanabe wheel:

 

Vince’s 1973 Datsun 240Z

 

Vince’s 1973 Datsun 240z is Enjoying The Ride with our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels) and Z Car Garage CV Axles.  He scored this Z from our friends at Bring a Trailer!

Mrs. Butters

 

Rob and Meghan Fuller drove Mrs. Butters, our Series 1 shop 240z. This Series 1 S30 features a 3.2L with triple-Mikuni induction, Z Car Garage Big-BrakesZ Car Garage CV AxlesZCG Heat Shield, 6-speed transmission and full KW suspension (releasing soon).

 

Jose’s Z

 

Jose M was happy to join us in his Z. After 8 years, Rob and Jose re-connected at our  2023 Nissan Z Viewing.

 

Felix’ 1996 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

 

Felix joined is in his 1996 Z32TT. This 300 will also get an updated feature on zcarblog.com.

 

Pall’s Nissan Skyline GT-R

 

Pall’s R32 recently visited ZCG for Haltech ECU and dyno tuning.

Datsun 510s

 

We had three Datsun 510s in Wagon, 2-door and 4-door models!

Mark’s 1972 Datsun 510

 

We upgraded Mark’s 510 with our Z Car Garage CV Axles. These CV axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to standard half shafts, while eliminating the need for aluminum adapters.  Mark got ZCG VV Axle set #320 and he loves them:

Nick’s Datsun 510 Wagon

 

Z Car Garage’s very own Nick F drove his L-Series powered 510 wagon with SSR mesh wheels.

Dustin’s Datsun 510 4-door

 

We’ve known Dustin and Courtney for many years. Dustin’s 510 4-door runs a KA24DE and sweet Longchamp XR-4 wheels.  Hagerty produced a video featuring the local Bay Area Datsun couple you can see it HERE. Dustin also installed our Z Car Garage CV Axles himself on his 510!

 

Kurt drove his Subaru GC8 with full STi drivetrain. We’ve got more updates on his R32 Skyline GT-R soon! Eric drove his Infiniti FX35 and Henry brought his Stillen Supercharged 370Z. Ben also attended in his 1974 Datsun 260Z.

 

Our fearless leader Geoff in his Lotus 7 and my Datsun Roadster. Also joing us was William in his (964) 911:

 

Enjoying The Ride

 

Bear Creek Rd. up to HWY 9 to the look out was surprisingly traffic-free. At the lookout we could see clear across the Santa Cruz mountains to the coast. A few late-model Porsche’s stopped by.

 

Enjoy this video of the drive and all cars particiapting:

 

 

From the lookout we drove up Skyline (35) and down Alpine Rd. Recent rains have made lush forests:

 

After a short re-group we took 84 up to Alice’s Restaurant and chatted for a bit. It is always busy here and the eye-candy endless. My J-Tin radar was treated to Mark 3 and 4 Supras, S14 240SX, R35 GT-R, MR2 and DC2 Integra:

 

This Model A had a hot-rodded 4-cylinder Flathead. It’s a small world and through Geoff we were introduced to the owner, John B. John races a Jaguar Special with CSRG!

 

Thanks to everyone that came out. We hope you get to the Enjoy The Ride this year, let’s make 2021 amazing. DO IT IN A DATSUN!

More pictures in the gallery below!

 




Holiday Fun: Gary Visits Z Car Garage

Filed under: 240z,Events,Performance,Racing,z32
by Alvin G @ 4:58 pm on December 28, 2021

 

It is always great to see friends over the holidays. Gary Savage stopped by Z Car Garage from Florida and shared these photos from his visit, enjoy!
(above) Randy Jaffe’s BRE Datsun 240Z.

 

Our 1971 shop demo Z, Mrs. Butters, featured on Petrolicious. In addition to a 3.2L, triple-Mikuni engine this S30 proudly wears Z Car Garage Big-BrakesZ Car Garage CV AxlesZCG Heat Shield.

 

Joel Anderson’s IMSA GTU Z.

 

Ryan’s LS3-powered Z proudly wears our Z Car Garage Big-BrakesZ Car Garage CV Axles. Full report soon!

 

Shop office and front parking. Stay tuned for more project updates and features on zcarblog.com!

 




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