Shop Talk for
Z-Car enthusiasts!

Click here to go to the Z Car Garage home page...Click here to go to the Z Car Blog home page...
Performance Parts for Nissan, Inifiniti and Datsun Cars
Search:

TECHNICIANS WANTED!

Filed under: 240z,370z,510,Racing,Skyline,z32
by Alvin G @ 2:40 pm on August 31, 2021

 

Z CAR GARAGE IS LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS
**PLEASE SHARE THIS**

Looking for a Job? – How about a great career?
ZCG is expanding to support our vintage, late model and motorsport work. We are seeking experienced and skilled automotive technicians to join our team. This is not an average 9 to 5 automotive job:

 
-We work 4-10hr days and offer competitive pay/benefits with opportunities for growth
 
-Requirements: Automotive experience, your own set of tools, willingness to learn, and be part of a team.
 
-Nissan/Datsun experience is NOT a requirement, you just need to have passion.
 
-We are heavily involved in motorsports and the automotive community. From race cars to street cars and performance tuning…to routine maintenance and keeping vintage cars on the road, we love what we do!
 
Interested or know someone who might be a good fit? PLEASE SHARE THIS, spread the word and please contact rob@zcargarage.com or call us at (408)452-0350.

 

Check out our shop on this episode of Hoonigan Autofocus with Larry Chen:

 

 

 
 

 

 

DSC08544



EVENTS: The 34th Annual Z Car Convention!

Filed under: 240z,280Z,280zx,350z,370z,Events,S130,Z Proto,Z31
by Alvin G @ 1:21 pm on August 22, 2021

 

 

We had a blast at the 34th Annual Z Car Convention (ZCON) hosted by ZCCA in Colorado Springs. This is the largest Z-car event in the US and we were stoked to be a sponsor. Coming from the 8/17 New 2023 Z Reveal in New York, Rob and Meghan attended the the 8/21 People’s Choice Show at ZCON. Enjoy photos these from the event!

 
 

Congratulations to our client Bob Russell on his 1st place award for Stock 240Z! We will have a full report on Bill’s S30 on zcarblog.com soon

 

Both of our clients Jack and Linda made it to ZCON with their recently finished Z’s and had a great time:

 

Jack won 3rd place for Ultra-Modified Z32 with his LS3-swapped, Primadonna Z:

 

The largest Z show!

 

ZCON was a Z car lover’s fantasy… with every generation represented. There were even non-Z cars welcomed!

S30


 

S130

 
 

Mike Rogers 12-mile 1980 ZX. Here is a great video and walk through on this time capsule!

 

Z31

 

 

Z32

 

350z

 

370z

Nissan/Datsun Gems

ZCON welcomed all members of the family and there were some great cars on display:

 

Roadster, 620 and S13

 

Best of the 90’s!

 

Midnight Purple R33, Z32 and R32 all at gas station just outside of ZCON!

 

People

The legendary Pete Brock, Hiroshi Tamura and Larry Chen were just a few of the big names at ZCON:

 

Christopher Karl and Mark Lambert both received Lifetime Achievement Awards, congrats gentlemen!

Thank You!

ZCON was a success. Big thanks to Christopher Karl of ZCCA for an incredible week of friends and Z cars. Z you next year!


…[read more]




TUNING: Gordon’s 2010 Nismo 370Z

Filed under: 350z,370z
by Alvin G @ 5:38 pm on June 25, 2021

 

We met Gordon in 2013 when he came to Z Car Garage for Stillen Gen 3 intakes on his 2010 V1 Nismo Z34. He had 13k miles on the clock and that same summer we also installed a Fast Intentions exhaust system.

 

Here is the Fast Intentions TDX cat-back exhaust system and Stillen intakes:

 

The exhaust looks great from the rear:

 

Stock single muffler vs the TDX dual muffler setup:


Stillen Gen3 Intakes are always a nice addition to the HR engines:

 

The Z is Gordon’s fun car so very little daily driving…in 2015 he came in for minor paint work and an inspection with only 27k miles.

“When I first got my 2010 370Z NISMO I did a little bit of research on local shops where I might consider having some minor modifications done. The research I did pointed me to only one place that consistently had nothing but rave reviews – you had to go to Rob and his team at Z-Car Garage. Rob lives and breaths Zs. It was apparent from my first visit – Zs of all models and years everywhere. It was clear I was in the right place.”
In 2021 Gordon contacted us because his clutch was beginning to fail. A common issue is the internal slave failing due to heat. Thankfully Z Speed Performance makes a kit to convert the internal slave to external (CMAK Upgrade). Since we had to remove the transmission Gordon opted for a Z Speed Quiet clutch with steel flywheel.
 
 
 

With 33k miles no won the odometer we performed a full 30k service. The diff bushings were replaced with Whiteline units and CV axles lubed.

Dyno Tuning

 

We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. It had been 6-7 years since Gordon’s last UPREV tune. On the dyno, Rob re-tuned the Z with gains throughout the rev range. Peak gains of 22hp/15tq for a total of 309hp/254tq at the wheels:

 

Gordon is thrilled with the power gains:

“The final piece was an Up-Rev tune. So Rob worked his magic with the tune and the results were amazing on the dyno. The car was just awesome. Rob and the team have done some regular maintenance work on the car over the years, including a recent replacement of the factory clutch with a higher performance clutch w/ a lighter flywheel. We also added a new set of Continental Xtreme Sports. It feels like a new car. I can’t say enough about Rob and his team. They truly are Z best…”

 

Thanks for your support Gordon, Long Live The Z!

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.





 

Our customer Randy Jaffe’s incredible Nissan/Datsun collection is featured on the latest episode of Hoonigan Autofocus with Larry Chen. Join Randy and Larry as they walk through his collection and discuss street and racing cars from the past. This is a diverse collection you won’t want to miss, enjoy!

 

 




TUNING: Gentry’s Nismo 370Z

Filed under: 350z,370z,Performance
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on June 11, 2021

 

Gentry Stein visited Z Car Garage from Chico, CA for dyno tuning on his V1 Nismo 370Z.  We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. Gentry contacted us before searching for the right Nismo Z34 and eventually found this super clean V1, #528:

 

On the dyno, Rob Uprev tuned the Z making great mid-range to redline gains. Peak gains of 9hp/7tq for a total of 322hp/267tq at the wheels:

Gentry is thrilled with the power gains:

“My experience at ZCG was absolutely awesome! Rob’s passion for Z’s can truly be felt while at ZCG. I felt confident knowing my car was in the best possible place it could be to get dyno tuned. Rob even took videos of the car for me while it was on the dyno. The car made great power throughout the whole powerband, and it’s even more of a blast to drive now! The throttle feels alive, and the torque gain is really felt from 4K-6.5k RPM. I’m excited every time I sit in the drivers seat of my Z.”

 

Yo-Yo World Champion

Fun fact: Gentry is the World Champion of Yo-yo. He provides some insight into his desire for a 370Z and career in Yo-yo playing:

“In early 2020 I was specifically looking for a V1 Nismo Z34 in white. I wanted a car that I could daily drive and also take through canyons and coastal roads. I don’t care about a fancy interior with luxurious amenities. I wanted something that looks sexy and is fun to drive, and to me that’s an exact description of this car. Ive driven some other popular cars, but this car feels rewarding on a different level. I love what they did with the body kit of the Nismo too. You know you have the right car when you can’t help but look back at it every time you get out of it.

 

My Z story really starts with my love for Japan. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Japan 5 times over the last 6 years for work and play, and have developed some incredible friendships that have allowed me to experience Japanese culture and values. I started playing with yoyos when I was 8 years old, which is when I met one of my mentors who is from Japan. From then to now as I’ve turned that passion into a career, much of my success is due to what I learned from that mentor as well as my other connections and experiences in Japan. The month preceding winning my first World Yo-yo Championship was spent training in Nagoya and Tokyo. I experienced the special level of care that goes into everything in Japan, whether it’s design, food, human interaction, work ethic, etc… This has played a major role in inspiring me and helping me develop into the person I am today. This level of care is also felt in their Z cars when looking at and driving them. I have such a respect and appreciation for Japan and their culture, and I feel proud to drive a car that was born from the same place as many of the building blocks to my own life success.

 

As for my goals with the Z, I plan to continue to drive the hell out of it. I’ve put 15,000 miles on the car in my first 10 months of ownership. It’s literally been 15 thousand miles of fun and I’m looking forward to more of that. I’m pretty content with the way the car is setup. The car is riding on KW V3 suspension, has a Wavetrac limited slip differential, polyurethane differential bushings, K&N drop in air filters, Motordyne Shockwave exhaust, and special sauce from the fresh Z Car Garage tune. I also just did a full paint correction and ceramic coat myself to keep the car looking as good as it drives.

Thanks Z car garage for being part of my car’s story!”

 

Follow Gentry on Instagram and check out his instructional videos over on YouTube. When you are ready, you can even purchase a yo-yo at his shop.

 

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.

 




« Newer ArticlesOlder Articles »