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Our client Sung Kang’s RB26-powered Datsun 240Z is featured in the popular Japanese magazine, “Option”.
In 2020 Sung visited Z Car Garage, driving “Mrs. Butters”, our 1971 Series 1 240z shop demo car. After driving Butters, Sung wanted the exact same Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles and KW suspension on his very own “FuguZ”!
You can view the OTION magazine article HERE.
WE LOVE RACING! On March 3-5, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) hosted their SpeedTour season opener at Thunderhill Raceway. Z Car Garage had a great time racing and supporting several client’s Datsun 510 race cars running in B-Sedan Group. Enjoy our report with in-car footage and photos.
Z Car Garage offers full trackside support and in-house race car preparation so you can focus on driving. Our client Todd R is a great example of ZCG trackside support in action. He’s been racing his Datsun 510 privateer-style for the last few years and hired us for the first time last year, check out his experience HERE. For the SVRA event at Thunderhill we supported our clients Tom and Gabe:
Tom’s Ex-Norm Balzer 510:
Here is Tom’s race report:
“The weekend was a little bit of mixed bag. Friday went well with some stellar setup tuning to adjust to the RA1 tire (first time with them on track). Saturday was a bit of disappointment with fuel pressure issues, but Rob, Nick and Copper stayed focused and the smoking gun (Fuel cell foam was long past its prime). Problem resolved and Sunday was a success. Starting from the back of the grid (after DNF’ing the Saturday qualifying race) provided some passing fun, finished the race chasing Mark Nettesheim in his newly rebuilt Maroon ands Silver #37. We stayed nose to tail until he spun on T3 on the last lap, providing me a window to slip by. Great fun.”
Gabe’s B-Sedan 510:
Rob was in his Bay Area Datsun Dealers 510:
Rob’s race report:
“It’s been a few months since we’ve been in our B-Sedan vintage race cars. We headed up to Thunderhill Raceway for new event, SVRA’s first time hosting a season opener. Weather was spotty with fear of rain all weekend but the Datsun Gods blessed each session with a nice, dry track. Usual suspects Meghan, Corwins, Nick and Cooper all helped support our clients Tom and Gabe. So we were the trifecta of B-Sedan awesomeness in group 8.”
“Tom’s car fought us a bit but with help from Nick and Cooper we were able to get it back on the track for Tom to enjoy the rest of the weekend. We need more Alfas and 2002s out there…we are the huge 510s fan and biggest advocate for rhem but it would be cool to see a wide of variety of cars racing. I was able to win one of the races and Gabe was in the front of the field. Really proud of him going from mid-pack to top 5 racers. He will only get faster.”
Watch this video from Rob’s 510 in the B-Sedan Group 8:
You can see more race videos from the SVRA event on Rob’s YouTube Channel. Give the guy a thumbs up and subscribe while you are there! (Below) Rob Fuller, Troy Ermish and Jim Froula, Gabe and David all on the podium:
Special thanks to ZCG crew Nick and Cooper for kicking ass all weekend to ensure our cars were safe and running in top form. We had a great time and it was nice to see new faces and old friends like David Carroll. He won OPTIMA’s Search for the Ultimate Street Car in his LS-powered Z!
Interested in joining the vintage racing fun? Z Car Garage can help you prepare and support your race car at the track. We can also help you find a vintage race car! Contact Rob at the shop at 408-452-0350 or e-mail rob@Zcargarage.com for more details. Catch all of our race reports on zcarblog HERE and stay tuned for our race report from the 3/25 CSRG race event! More photos in the gallery below:
Our client Gary’s S30 with the Datsunworks KN20 twin-cam cylinder head is featured in the popular Japanese magazine, “Option”.
Supporting the 3.1L engine are our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles, Jenvey ITB EFI with Haltech Elite management, Nissan 6-speed CD009a transmission and OS Giken 4.11 LSD. You can view the article HERE.
Big thanks to photographer Akio Hirano and Hideo Kobayashi for taking the time to visit Z Car Garage on their trip from Japan. Long Live The Z!
We love working with owners that have a long history with their Z car. Stan K is the original owner of this early Datsun 240z (VIN# 511, 11/69 build), purchased brand new in 1970. The car had been sitting in storage for decades and Stan contacted us to revive it with mechanical sorting.
Stan shipped his car to our shop from Rocklin, Ca and we began work in 2020 to get it back on the road. Our Z Car Garage CV Axles along with refurbished brakes, suspension, interior and engine all transform this Z back into the sports car Stan remembered enjoying. Let’s get into the mechanical restoration of HLS30-00511 in one of our favorite colors, Safari Gold.
The Z had been sitting in garage since the early 90s. Stan was getting older and his son was getting to be of age where he could enjoy it. The idea was for Stan and his family to do a mechanical restoration, allowing us to get it back on the road for the next generation to drive. We performed a full inspection when it arrived, and it was in rough condition from being parked for so long:
Unfortunately the engine had failed, so we built a Rebello 2.4 “stock” rebuild, retaining the factory block and cylinder head since it was such an early S30:
Before the rebuilt engine was installed the engine bay was cleaned up, before/after and many more photos in the gallery below:
Rebuilt engine going back in and ZCG went to work, performing all the things we do when getting these Z cars back on the road: refreshed entire cooling system, heater core, updated the starter and charging system to 280ZX spec and a fresh set of Z-Therapy carbs with Pertronix ignition and all of tune-up items:
We replaced the intake/exhaust manifold gaskets and installed an MSA coated header with our ZCG Exhaust system. The original 4-speed transmission was resealed. Before/After drivetrain and engine bay work:
Rob dyno tuned the Z, making 133hp/137tq at the wheels:
Enjoy this video of the dyno runs and L-Series music!
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 200+ CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
Stan has CV Axle set #377. Stock half shafts (L) and ZCG units. Also shown are the T3 control arms:
The differential was resealed with new front/side seals:
Rob shares his thoughts on going through Stan’s entire braking/hydraulic system:
“I couldn’t believe how Stan K’s car went from resting in its slumber in his garage to running on the road once again. After the phenomenon of Z Car Garage Big-Brakes it was really odd to go back to an entirely stock braking system…re-doing factory calipers, rotors, re-packing wheel-bearings, shoes, wheel cylinders, drums, it was really cool.”
We decided to start fresh with a new S30 World fuel tank. They make a wonderful Series 1 replacement. Great product coming from owners Gustav Oplasnik and Chris Visscher, Z enthusiasts/restorers.
We also replaced all vapor hoses and hatch weatherstripping to eliminate fuel smell in the cabin:
Topping off the mechanical restoration was a suspension refurbishment with adjustable T/C rods, new ball joints, springs and shocks:
Since our 1971 shop demo Z Mrs. Butters used to run on the Series 1 OEM wheels we knew exactly what tire to run on Stan’s…185/70/14 Vredstein Sprint Classics. Rob also found Stan a set of Series 1 “D” hubcaps from our stash of parts:
A fresh set of NOS Hatch vents was installed:
In addition to the mechanical restoration we also freshened up the interior. The highlight is a full dashboard replacement using a Series 1 reproduction piece from Vintage Dashes. We have now performed several Vintage Dashes installations and we thank Ivan Jaramillo for making a cost-effective product for Z cars. Here are a few in-progress photos showing the old-cracked original dash being removed to prep for the new 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:
All gauges were dissembled and cleaned up so the view from the steering wheel is minty fresh:
New dash fully assembled and ready to re-install:
Stan’s Z received our ZCG door treatment with our door seals and weatherstripping: all the things we do to make those doors sound less “tinny” and shut like a German car:
The seats were weathered, so once again Rob’s stash of parts yielded a fresh set of seats:
This Z is back to its former glory, with everything we know to update/improve without taking away the value of a Series 1. Stan’s Z has a full mechanical restoration so it can be enjoyed by his family and next generation of Z enthusiasts. On the cosmetics side, with a full detail you can see how the factory paint comes back like nobody’s business:
Our time with Stan’s Z was during COVID so his family was not able to come down to the shop and see all the progress. A bit of sad news, by the time we finished his beloved 240Z, Stan passed away. His widow, son and daughter came down to Z Car Garage. His son did not know how to drive manual so Rob gave him a quick lesson:
“I taught his son how to drive stick and use specific items like the choke lever. We all cried, tears of sadness and joy celebrating Stan’s Z. He might have crossed over but his Z car will remain here for his family to enjoy. Long Live The Z. Long live the passion. Thanks Stan K.”
Life is short. Enjoy The Ride fellow Z car enthusiasts! More photo of Stan’s 1970 Datsun 240Z in the gallery below:
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To celebrate their 100,000 listing, Bring a Trailer is auctioning their 1973 Datsun 240Z, prepared by Z Car Garage. Finished in Lime Yellow (#112) paint over black vinyl upholstery, it is powered by a numbers-matching Rebello Racing-built 2.7-liter straight-six with triple Weber 40 DCOE carbs. Additional modifications include a 280ZX five-speed manual transmission, an R200 limited-slip differential, ZCG Big-Brakes, ZCG exhaust system and 16″ Panasport wheels with new Michelin tires. The total sale amount for the auction will be donated to the Piston Foundation, a nonprofit that will use 100% of the funds to help young technicians build rewarding careers in the collector car industry by funding programs in the skilled trades. View the auction HERE.
Z Car Garage built and maintained this Z for the previous owner since 2009 and updated it to BaT-preferred spec in 2018. It has since been used as an event car by BaT staff, with whom it has participated in many rallies, cross-country road trips, displays, and other events in the ensuing five years. Enjoy this video showing the Z in action and see below for more details:
The Bring a Trailer Z features our ZCG Big-Brake kit:
The straight-six was bored and stroked from 2.4 to 2.7 liters by Rebello Racing and was installed at ZCG in 2011. Triple Weber 40 DCOE side-draft carburetors with K&N filters are mounted to its E88 cylinder head. Additional engine bay modifications include a polished valve cover, an MSD ignition system, and an inline fuel pressure gauge. Engine number L24-131094 is stamped on the block and matches the chassis plate. Rob dyno tuned the Z, making 203 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels:
A replacement 280ZX five-speed manual transmission was also installed by ZCG in preparation for the sale. An aluminum flywheel and a heavy-duty clutch were fitted in 2011, while both clutch hydraulic cylinders were changed in 2018. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a custom-built driveshaft and an R200 limited-slip differential with a finned rear cover.
Factory black vinyl bucket seats were reinstalled, as was a stock steering wheel. The air conditioning system was converted to use R134a refrigerant in 2009, and was recharged as part of the February 2023 service at ZCG. An Alpine CD/MP3 player feeds aftermarket three-way 6×9 speakers mounted in a ported box in the rear of the trunk. Diamond-patterned vinyl trim is retained on the center tunnel and in the cargo area, while embroidered mats protect the carpets on the floors.
The Z has been stored indoors at BaT Headquarters in San Francisco when not in use. Details concerning the initial purchase and an ensuing cross-country drive from the Bay Area to Road Atlanta are chronicled in this seven-part feature from early 2018. The car has also been used in events such as:
