We are really happy to see our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes and Z Car Garage CV Axles installed on this Datsun 240Z from Supermachine in Yokohama, Japan.

 

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 Big-Brakes

     

As fellow S30 owner/racer Glenn C mentioned in his review, on top of braking performance, pedal feel is extremely important and our Big-Brakes deliver. This is a direct result of working with Stoptech to create a totally bolt-in solution requiring no M/C change or additional proportioning valve/adjustments. All fitting behind a 15″ Watanabe or Panasport wheel and retaining factory emergency brake lever! A few details below:

Calipers: Stoptech ST42 4-piston front & rear race calipers (Alum 6061 mil-spec Type III anodized)

Rotors: 280mm x 20.6 with Alum 7075 hats

Pads: Stoptech 309 sport street pads

Blog posts documenting all of our customers running the ZCG Big-Brakes can be found HERE.

A few closer detail shots of the calipers, rotors and hardware:

  

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:

 

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, restorer and Datsun Historian Glenn Chiou is running our ZCG CV Axles in this IMSA GTU 260z race car!

  

Racer Brad H is running ZCG CV Axles in his IMSA GTU race car:

 

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.

  

Thank you for your support Supermachine! We are proud to be a part of your build with solid parts choices like the Jenvey ITB EFI-fed L28 with Kameari header, Haltech ECU, Sachs coil-overs and Techno Toy Tuning suspension.

 

Can’t wait for the finished product. You can see more of this build on Instagram.  Long Live The Z!

 

Z cars may remain with their loving owners for years, change ownership or even get spotlighted in the media at some point. Our “where are they now” series features past Z Car Garage vehicles with updates on their status. Kicking it off with our very first foray into the world of online auctions is this 1972 Datsun 240Z known as “Melo Z”.

 

Melody’s Z

In 2012 our client and friend Gary S acquired this Z from its original owner, a very enthusiastic lady named Melody. She purchased it brand new from Berkeley Datsun in September ’72 and enjoyed driving, even using it to complete the Bob Bondurant driving school – check out the plaque on the dash. Melody unfortunately had back problems and underwent surgery in 1988 so the Z was put up on jackstands in her garage where it remained until 2012.

 

Originally Persimmon Red, Melody had it repainted metallic brown in 1975. Despite the color change this Z was remarkably original down factory-stamped chassis bolts, engine bay decals, interior and more. When we got it back to the shop it was clear how well-preserved the car was with 30k miles. Melody provided all records including the Datsun warranty card:

 

Bring a Trailer

 

Z Car Garage got the Melo Z running in top form. Gary enjoyed it for a few years but felt it was too nice and unmolested to modify. Around 2015, Bring a Trailer’s online auctions were gaining popularity so we considered listing it. You can view the April 2015 BaT auction for Melo Z here.

This was our first time listing a Z car on BaT. It was both exciting and nerve wracking. If you want to be entertained check out the rad auction comments. 7 years ago people could not fathom $20k for an S30…now look at the prices! Bonus side bar…Melo Z did not sell and was bid up to $19,750 but our reserve was, wait for it… $20k. So much has changed in the Z car world and community. Although it did not sell on BaT, there is no denying their presence and reach in the market. BaT remains THE best place to list your classic car for sale, bar none. We thank them for accepting our Melo Z listing and in the end it went to the right owner!

We are also proud of our listing virtually starting the trend and setting the bar for future, high-dollar z listings. This comment said it all:

“Every auction listing should come with a video like that. Awesome.”

Indeed, I included multiple high-res pictures in all lighting conditions. Underbody/chassis/rust-prones areas. A driving video both in-car and from outside and cold-starting. I also went to great lengths to answer specific questions about the Z, like showing the lighter and clock functioing:

 

The 96 auction comments ranged from praise to laughable…look how far the Z audience has come 7 years later on BaT with skyrocketing auction results. Melo Z has come a long way too, now with a well-deserved (and pampered) lifestyle….

 

At Home With Griot’s Garage

 

Though it dd not sell on BaT, there was a silver lining. A day later Rob got a phone call from founder of Griot’s Garage, Richard Griot. He reached out to Z Car Garage to express how impressed he was with the Z. Rob and Richard made a deal and it went to the right home as Richard sent it to his own Griot’s Motors restoration shop for the next chapter in Melo Z’s journey:

“The car was so original to begin with it was a perfect candidate to put back in its original state…. (Though we did change the interior from white to black, but saved everything in case someone want the white again…”

 

The team at Griot’s Motors performed a “sympathetic” restoration at their facility.  Melo Z’s metallic Brown paint was restored to its original 110 Red Persimmon, and put aside the original white interior for black:

 

They even maintained Melody’s personalized plaques and stickers earned at Bob Bondurant’s School of High Performance Driving.

 

Melo Z is truly in good company now. Really glad that Richard Griot is the current owner:

 

Tune in for another “where are they now” client Z car we are happy to see again!

 

 

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!

 

Aaron’s 2018 Infiniti Q50 3.0t Red Sport came to Z Car Garage for bolt-on performance upgrades and dyno tuning. We no longer install customer-supplied parts but made an exception for Aaron as a new client.

 

He had us install his AMS intakes and exhaust system from GTHaus. AMS air intakes compared to OEM:

  

AMS Air intakes installed:

 

The GTHaus exhaust system with GTC (electronic valve control), mid and Y-pipe installed. Down pipes are stock:

 

 

Aaron loves the aggressive sound from the new exhaust system and ability to quiet it down for cruising. Hear it in action in the video below.

 

Dyno Tuning

Straight from the factory, the VR30DDTT is an impressive motor, rated at 400 hp and 350 ft-lbs tq in Red Sport trim. With a few bolt-ons and tuning, even more power can be unlocked from the VR30. While were waiting for parts Aaron had the Heat Exchanger installed somewhere else. Unfortunately its very common to improperly bleed these system so it fought us a bit on the dyno. We bled the system correctly to ensure that the heat exchanger could function as we adjusted ignition/fueling curves and of course the boost.

 

Rob dyno tuned the Q using EcuTek. Baseline power was 325hp/340tq at the wheels. With the AMS parts, exhaust and tuning final numbers were 406hp/434tq, gains of +81hp/94tq! Dyno and exhaust video below:

 

Enjoying The Boost

 

With full bolt-ons we installed Aaron was very pleased with the results. This was all done in time for his birthday so we know that he spent the day enjoying the boost in that Majestic White Q50S:

“The car runs great after the tune and new bolt ons. I can tell a lot of care was spent doing the install correctly and testing the tune. It really is a fun car with the Ecutek boost that can double as a daily driver. I will be back soon for some more mods and more power!”

 

Thank you for your support Aaron! The VR30DDTT is a very cool engine and we are excited to see it with a 6-speed manual in the new Z. We love all things V6 and twin-turbo!

 

Z Car Garage is excited to collaborate with Datsunworks and develop their brilliant KN20 dual-overhead cam (DOHC) cylinder head designed for the Nissan inline-6 L-Series engine. This is a Honda K-series derived cylinder head with superior flow rates and modern valvetrain components effectively transforming your SOHC L-series into a high-revving DOHC engine.

 

We have installed the Datsunworks head into our client Gary’s Datsun 240Z (affectionately called the “Behemoth”) and it is currently in the tuning/testing stage. In conservative tune it made 350hp/248tq at the wheels. Recently we joined photographer Naveed Yousufzai at a photoshoot for full feature on Marqued.com. Check out the story and amazing photos by Naveed with amazing shots at Marqued HERE.

 

The photo shoot left us breathless and we really appreciate how the small details are captured like the Behmoth’s integrated roll cage, Recaro seats, 6-speed shift knob and 10krpm tach…check out the feature!

 

This video shows behind the scenes action of the photoshoot for Marqued.com. I tried to capture the incredible induction sound the KN20 creates. For the first time we cruised on the freeway together with the Behemoth…it was the “trifecta” with 240Z, 510 and Datsun Roadster. Turn up those speakers and enjoy!

 

For more information (and video) on the KN20 and visit our previous post HERE