Filed under: 240z,Parts
by Alvin G @ 2:40 pm on April 27, 2022
We love to see clients installing our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes on their Z Cars! This is Mike’s 1972 240Z with original matching L24. It was bone-stock and sitting for 16 years outside until he rescued it year and a half ago. Mike is a professional automotive paint technician and this Z will be restored with correct 115 metallic blue paint.
Client’s often ask if their wheel will clear the ZCG Big-Brakes and we offer a a caliper template to help with fitment. Sometimes it’s best to physically test fit the actual wheel desired. Mike sent us a pretty rad Star Shark wheel from Washington and we confirmed clearance of the Big-brakes:
“I chose the Colin Project Star shark wheel 14×8-13 for some JDM nostalgia, the look, and a bit more aggressive stance. They are wrapped in BF Goodrich 225/60r14 tires. I very much wanted to upgrade the brakes with the Z Car Garage Big-Brake Kit after seeing Larry Chen’s Ole Orange Bang done by Rob and ZCG team. Sent Rob a wheel for an accurate verification of fitment, and Huzzah!! They Fit! Very, very excited about this. You can’t just put any brake kit on this car. This is a kit that you can have confidence in because the research and development has been done.”
We are really stoked to see Mike’s restoration progress. Thanks for your support Mike and Long Live The Z! You can see more information on our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes and see a list of clients (over 100!) using them on our blog.
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 Carlo O and the old half shafts were replaced with our ZCG CV Axles. You may have seen this TSR Fabrication-built Dime at events in the SoCal area and we are proud to be part of it!
We saw Carlo’s 510 last year at the Japanese Classic Car Show and noticed he was running ZCG CV Axles with an R200 LSD. Great to hear that these parts earn Mario Lozano’s approval and he installed them with ease at the TSR facility in Gardena, CA. Carlo is stoked:
“The ZCG CV Axles were recommended by Mario of TSR Fabrication and we chose them based on anticipated power levels as well as reducing the vibrations associated with my half shafts. Installation was smooth as butter and easy as it gets. Performance has been great, they are quiet and definitely substantially reduced vibrations.”
Datsun 510 Dreams
Carlo dreamed of having a Datsun 510 and it had to be built by TSR Fabrication.
“I purchased my 510 in 2004 right after I graduated from high school. I was 17 and I remember searching for months, waiting every every week for a new Auto Trader. No online tools or social media like today. I would check DimeQuarterly every night. Finally found one about 7hrs from home. My Dad and I had a great adventure trying to get it, and no matter what condition I going to buy it!”
In addition to the upgraded ZCG CV Axles this is a full TSR Datsun 510 build. As a young enthusiast, Carlo worked several jobs and saved up to enlist the help of Mario Lozano at TSR Fabrication in 2016. Years later the result is a full, TSR Datsun 510 with SR20DET-power and all the goodies they are known for.
The body color is Nissan (350Z) LeMans Blue with 17×8 forged AG wheels. More pictures in the gallery below!
Photo by Ricardo Hernandez
Inside, a custom interior from Fast Ed’s features Recaro EVO seats wrapped in Aston Martin leather, Mercedes grey carpet, suede headliner, limited edition S15 gauge cluster, roll cage and custom billet parts like the sun visors:
The engine bay and chassis sport a full list of TSR specialty parts like their titanium heat shield, full stainless exhaust, JRZ suspension, Brembo 13″ brakes, TSR custom airbox, overflow tank, intercooler, radiator, turbo plumbing, stainless fuel lines and full adjustable rear crossmember:
Datsun 510 enthusiasts worldwide are very familiar with Mario Lozano, owner of TSR Fabrication in Gardena, CA. Mario has been creating high-quality, functional and artistic parts for Datsuns over the last few decades, but that is just scratching the surface of his accomplishments and project scopes. We have known Mario for many years and recently caught up with him to discuss his passions (not just Datsuns), current work and future offerings:
Time flies: (L) Rob and Mario at the 2021 JCCS, (R). Alvin and Mario at the 2005 All-Datsun Meet at Mt. Shasta
Mario was a track athlete in school, heading for competitive (Olympic) levels until injuries sidelined that trajectory. Academics then became his focus and this is where a passion and love for Industrial Design was founded. Cars came second and Mario loves 510s, building them for fun while helping the Datsun community. Mario’s personal, SR20DET-powered Datsun 510:
While he is synonymous for fabricating high-end Datsun parts, Mario does so much more! From working directly with major OEMs (like Ford and their Mach-E wheels) to F1 and Indy cars…even helping senior citizens with their welding projects! Mario’s favorite material to work with: stainless steel (RathGibson US Mil-spec only).
We asked Mario what his favorite part on Carlo’s 510 was, starting with the full stainless exhaust system. He is truly an artist:
The custom airbox and titanium heat shield (It’s 13 years old!)
Mario is especially proud of the JRZ suspension and Brembo brake systems he designed and fabricated:
“I worked closely with JRZ (we are on V.4) and it transforms the car. Carlo’s wife would refuse to ride in his 510 before the suspension upgrade as it was too bouncy. Afterwards she said it rides like a Camry but handles and brakes…now she wants the same for her 510 Wagon! Smoothest 510 that simply does not feel like a 510.”
What can we expect from TSR for Datsun owners? Mario has been offering Carbon Fiber hoods since 1999, but materials have come a long way. These parts are like jewelry and CF trunks are next. A new rack and pinion steering setup, engineered for 510 use with electronic power steering. Finally, Mario is really excited to offer active JRZ suspension!
Thank you for your support Carlo and Mario, it was great seeing you at JCCS! 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 200 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:
We love to see owners installing our Z Car Garage CV Axles on their vintage Nissans and Datsuns. Ray H added a set to his 1971 Skyline that he acquired from our friends at JDM Legends. Ray also visited Z Car Garage for dyno tuning and alignment services which transformed this Hakosuka.
Ray has been a ZCG client for many years. We first saw his Skyline at the 2019 Golden Week Kyusha Festival where I spoke to him about visiting ZCG for some upgrades and tuning.
Fast forward to 2021 and I spotted Ray at the Driving While Awesome gathering. He pleasantly informed me that he was running our ZCG CV Axles (serial # 00356) and we are happy to report that he installed them himself!
“I have been wanting to go with CV’s for a while on my SR 510. I have been following a few suppliers since they first started showing up about 10 years ago. I did notice that people were having problems with them wearing out and also that there were a few redesigns. On my Hako, I desperately needed to a wheel bearing and half shaft u-joint replacement as it was making some awful clunking noises back there. So, when I started seeing your blogs about the CV’s I was immediately interested. Knowing Rob, I knew these had to be good!”
Ray sent us a few installation pictures of the ZCG CV Axles replacing the old CVs and the R180 STI LSD:
“It was just an optimum time to get these when I had my entire rear suspension out for a rebuild and upgrade. The installation was pretty straightforward.” So far all good, I don’t think my modest power has put these to the test but its nice to know something has been well engineered and its one thing I wont have to worry about, not mention they look bitchin!”
For more information on our Z Car Garage CV Axles please read below. Before we share the dyno tuning results, let’s take a look at how Ray found his Skyline…
Datsuns From the Beginning
It is worth noting that Ray is a die-hard Datsun (510) enthusiast with ties to the old Nor-cal 510 club from decades ago. In the groovy group photo above, Ray is in the back row, last 510 on the right! Here it is, his first Datsun 510 circa 1981 (below, left) and same car with flares and a Cartech turbo kit in the FAR Performance parking lot!
Ray shares the story of his Skyline:
“I have always loved the 510, my first car in high school and still own 3 currently. When the internet started to become a regular thing I noticed these awesome looking boxy cars by Nissan sold only over there and I think Europe. I eventually stumbled upon JDM Legends website about 10 years ago and started inquiring about how much they cost and how to get one. Erik at a couple different times offered me a chance to buy one, however timing was just not right for me at the time. Fast forward a few years and Velocity channel (now Motortrend) starts promoting a show with Hakos running around! I instantly got the bug again and thought “these things are going to explode in value, If I don’t get one now I never will”.
Much to my amazement, I got a call within a month. He said “I got a line on a couple in Japan, one sounds exactly what you looking for”. He sent me pictures and I think I agreed to buy it the next day, still remember July 4th, 2018! Took about 3-4 months to get to Long Beach, then immediately to Utah. Once it was in Utah, Erik and Josh went through the whole car so it was a ready to go.”
“I flew out to Utah after he had it for a month to go over additional upgrades. First off, he said this was one of the cleanest, most solid chassis he’d ever brought over! It really goes to show, you get what you pay for. I cant stress enough, pay the money up front, it is so worth it to get a solid car with everything on it! The additional work they performed included, flaring the front and ordering wider Watanabes, modern fuse block conversion, new spoiler upfront, Mauricio did the paint match! I picked up in November of that year and trailered it all the way home.”
Since picking it up from JDM-L, Ray has been driving the Hako frequently. Quick specs:
1971 Nissan 2000 GTX , finished in white as GTR tribute
Engine:
2.8 L series straight six, Late 5 spd transmission, N42 head, Triple Italian Weber 40’s, Headers with Fujitsubo exhast, All original mechanical linkage.
Suspension:
Watanabe 15×9.5 -26 rear 15×8.5 -6 front, Toyo RA1 225/50/15 rear 205/50/15 front, Modified rear crossmember with FotoFab camber/toe brackets (510), QA1 double adj.rear shocks, ZCG CV’s, Subie R180 3.9 LSD, Finned aluminum rear drums, New Nissan bushings, bearings, driveshaft U-joints, brake cylinders, T3 280ZX front strut with coilover and aluminum hubs and Koni yellow adj. struts.
Exterior:
Protec over flares and front spoiler
GTR front grill and badging
Complete chrome trim and new weather strip
Interior:
Power windows, GTR shift knob and emblem, Stock Seats, Nardi steering wheel, Coco mats, Stock radio. All functioning and complete switches and dash.
Ray also has several 510s including a ’72 510 2dr (S15 SR20DET) “SaRafina”, ‘72 510 4dr “Mossy” and ‘69 510 2dr “project Scotty”. Follow Ray and his Datsun adventures on Instagram.
Dyno Tuning
Ray was experiencing some driveability issues and considered changing his triple-Weber induction to triple-Mikuni to resolve it. We suggested bringing it in for Rob to diagnose, tune and also provide alignment services. Before hitting the dyno, Rob and Josh identified the major culprit-the throttle linkage was not allowing wide-open operation.
The throttle-linkage was fixed and Rob was able to dyno tune the L28 with the triple-Webers for best AFR/timing. The results were astounding: baseline was 53hp/83tq and after tuning 162hp/169tq to the wheels!
It’s not unusual to pick up 10-15whp with Rob’s dyno tuning of your vintage car, but Ray gained a whopping 109hp/86tq. After driving the Hako after ZCG tuning/alignment he was ecstatic:
“My experience at ZCG and the dyno – Freakin awesome! Way exceeded my expectations! I’ve already had many people ask me “can he get me in there, I need that”. It’s actually kind of a bummer, that he is so booked up, I’m sure there are many people that would love to get there car in there and unlock some potential! My Hako is so much more driveable now, tracks straight with the alignment and the power gain, amazing! Like I told you, my Solex 44’s are ready, but I just want to enjoy this now for a while.”
Enjoy this video we made of the Skyline in action: dyno passes, in-car testing with Rob and Ray’s first drive/reactions. Volume up!
Evening shots with Ray in amazement after his test drive…
Alignment Services
Z Car Garage offers full alignment services for your late model and vintage car. Ray’s Hako was fully-aligned by our lead technician Josh who has many hours of street and race car setup experience. Caster was optimized here for better steering/stability.
Enjoying The Ride
We were super stoked to see Ray so happy with the Hako and he continues to drive and enjoy it.
“As I get up here in age, it is very important that my collector cars run! I’m no longer interested in endless project cars. Now I just want to get out there and drive! This leads into my praise for JDM Legends, like ZCG they just get it. Erik Bizek, like Rob, has a crazy passion for these vintage cars which I love.”
Thank you for your support Ray, and for letting us be a part of your Hakosuka. We look forward to working with you again and seeing you on the road!
We have many more photos in the gallery and 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 200+ 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:
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:
Filed under: 240z,Parts
by Alvin G @ 6:46 pm on February 22, 2022
The annual Nostalgic 2 Days show is possibly the coolest indoor retro gathering in Japan. We are really happy to see this Supermachine Series 1 Datsun 240Z on display, featuring our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes and Z Car Garage CV Axles.
Held inside the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center 2/19-20, Nostalgic 2 Days is a trade show/classic car display/swap meet with the latest tuning houses and even manufacturers taking part in celebrating the vintage J-Tin we love. Supermachine’s Series 1 looking fantastic:
Supermachine purchased and installed our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels), complete with parking brake. They added a custom touch to the Stoptech calipers too:
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.
Supermachine installed a set of our ZCG CV Axles, including a photo of the factory half shafts for comparison:
More photos from the Supermachine display at Nostalgic 2 Days:
Thanks for your support Supermachine, and congratulations on the Nostalgic 2 Days display!
