Z Car Garage is expanding to support our vintage, late model and motorsport work. We are seeking an experienced and skilled automotive technician to join our team. This is not an average automotive job. We work 4-10hr days and offer competitive pay/benefits.
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.
Interested or know someone who might be a good fit? Share this, spread the word and please contact rob@zcargarage.com or call us at (408)452-0350.
We love to see our products being installed and used on customer cars. Datsun enthusiast Pat S is running our Z Car Garage CV Axles in his 550whp RB26-powered Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-X.
Pat installed our CV Axles himself on his 1973 Kenmeri Skyline and reports that it went smoothly. Here are a few pictures he sent us:
We were stoked to hear Pat report the improvement over his standard half shafts:
“Testing out my new axles from Z Car Garage…no more clunking, no more vibrations, just smooth as glass. Strong as hell too”
Here is the video of Pat “testing” out the new CV Axles, enjoy!
Pat is also a member of the Wild Cards, a group of enthusiasts based in Southern California. You may have seen their crew featured on the Hoonigans:
As if the Rb26 wasn’t enough, the extremely rare Riverside Super River wheels re-finished by Izanami captivated us:
Here is a fun fact about Pat: we were both participants at the All-Datsun Meet at Mt. Shasta back in in 2004! This 3-day event featured a full track day at Thunderhill Raceway before heading up North. Pat drove his SR20DET-powered Datsun 510 (blue, front row):
We enjoy helping Z cars owners get their cars in top shape to Enjoy The Ride. David P purchased this 1975 Datsun 280z on the East Coast and the exotic shop it was at had difficulty with it. David moves between San Francisco and Massachusetts and wanted us to sort his Z out before hitting the roads here. Our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes and Z Car Garage CV Axles along with tuning and aesthetic upgrades transform this Z.
Affectionately called “Triple Six”, the Z arrived at our shop from the East Coast via Masney Auto Transport (Thanks David). David had not seen the Z in person yet since purchasing and it needed some attention, Z Car Garage style.
The car was not running upon arrival and Rob had many suggestions after the initial assessment. From David:
“When Rob called to tell me that my car had made it there I said ‘Ok great. Can I tell you what I want done?’ to which Rob replied ‘Nope’. He said ‘I want you to come down here, drive my car and then say to me, OK I want you to do to my car whatever it was that you did to yours’, and after driving his car I did say those exact words.”
ZCG Big-Brakes and CV Axles
Indeed, we had David test drive “Mrs. Butters”, our 1971 Series 1 240z shop demo car with full suspension and our ZCG Big-Brakes:
“I drove Rob’s unassuming, Safari Gold 240Z, that he appropriately named Butters, and God damn was it fun! I was surprised when he told me it had 275 horsepower, not a small number for a car that’s so small and light, its just that it felt much more powerful than I ever thought a sub 300 hp car could feel.”
After the test drive he was sold on our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes and Z Car Garage CV Axles! Butters has a way of doing this to our customers 🙂 Read below for a brief description of these parts:
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 engineers at 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 some 14″ wheels) 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:
We removed David’s brakes and installed our ZCG Big-Brake kit. Up front:
Our Big-Brakes utilize the OEM brake master cylinder and booster along with the factory hydraulic system. We installed a new master cylinder for David and fixed the wheel/hub area:
At the rear, the aftermarket disc setup was replaced with our ZCG Big-Brakes:
Factory handbrake functionality IS retained! A few close-ups of the front and rear setup:
Panasport Wheels
Complementing the new brakes on David’s Z are Panasport wheels! We replaced the generic aftermarket wheels with 16×7 Panasports and Bridegstone S007a tires in 225/50/16.
The new brakes fit nicely behind the new Panasports: We dialed in the spring set on the coil-overs and adjusted them for the best ride quality.
Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 100 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
David received axle set #324. Stock half shafts (L) and ZCG units shown below with more pictures in the gallery:
Details
To ensure that David could pick up his Z from us and start Enjoying The Ride immediately, we performed clean-up work on the interior and sorted the turn signals and headlights. Aesthetically he wanted to change a few things like the front end. We installed a Euro front bumper with Josh fabricating some brackets to make this 280Z look great:
David was blown away by the suspension and braking upgrades:
“I was completely convinced that Rob was not only the right one, but probably the only one that could bring my 1975 280Z up to its fullest potential. I say the only one because of the custom built Z car garage suspension and brakes that Rob uses. We agreed on a comprehensive upgrade to my Z that would be completed in two stages. The first stage was completed this past March. The 45 year old suspension was, to say the least, upgraded. Because Rob believes in a holistic approach, the suspension work also included the proper brakes, wheels and tires. All of the components were specifically chosen to work together in order to produce a car that handles phenomenally and almost unbelievably well.”
Engine
The triple-Weber L28 simply received an ignition timing set, making 161hp/160tq at the wheels:
Enjoy this dyno video below with sweet L-series music:
Part Two
David reports that his Z went from junk to handling better than a 911. Here he is (above) Enjoying The Ride on Skyline near Alice’s Restaurant. What’s next for Triple Six? Full engine upgrade!
“The second stage, that we will be starting soon, will be the engine work. The goal is to get 300hp out of the old in-line six. Rob’s love the cars that he works on is evident in the quality of his builds. A true craftsman in every sense of the word.”
We look forward to working with you David, LONG LIVE THE Z!
Paul Ferrari has been in our life since 2002. Prior to launching Z Car Garage, as a young man Rob worked on Paul’s 1991 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo. Paul is super enthusiastic and he is similar to Rob—there’s never enough power.
Our journey with Paul’s Z32TT spans almost two decades. It made plenty of power back in an era where it was uncommon; nowadays 500hp is easy to achieve with current performance parts. From a NA-TT setup to full disassembly and restoration with lessons and tricks learned along the way…Paul has been a devoted friend and customer. Folks like Paul contribute to the success of Z Car Garage and we love when customers see ZCG as “their own” garage. Let’s take a look at how Paul found his 300…
Z32 Destiny
Paul recalls how we acquired the Z in December 2002, after passing on a MkIV Supra:
“When I first saw the Z in the seller’s driveway…It was one of those moments that is burned into my memory! I was amazed! The look! The stance! Even the license plate, “500HP”! It had all the typical import performance parts of the era: JWT Sport 500 turbos and test pipes, Stillen intercoolers, Stillen “dual pop chargers”, RCE 550 injectors, JWT ECU, HKS EVC, Apex’I Super AVC-R, Greddy Turbo timer, and OZ 17 inch-5 spokes. There was no doubt in my mind; this was going to be my car. It was so sexy, sleek and fast!”
He reached out to Rob for a commensurate pre-purchase inspection and eventually purchased the Z:
“It only took a few phone calls to dealerships and other import shops to zero in on a guy named Rob Fuller at Scott Performance. I think Rob’s name was mentioned in 3 out of 4 calls. It was well known, even before Z Car Garage that if you needed someone to look at your performance Nissan that Rob was the guy you wanted looking at it.”
In 2004, Rob started his own performance shop, Z Car Garage. Paul Ferrari was one of many customers that followed and he certainly had the itch for more power. This led to the first high performance engine build, circa 2004:
We had Rebello build the VG30 with H-beam Rods, forged pistons, rebuilt the bottom end and heads, ordered JWT Sport 700 ball bearing turbos along with a set of big JWT cams, bigger intercoolers, bigger injectors and a laundry list of miscellaneous items. It was good for 570hp/483tq at the wheels. Paul enjoyed it but shortly after he had run it on high boost without race fuel causing engine failure…
“Proof of my escapade that day still hangs on the wall between the shop and the office at Z Car Garage in the form of a stout, but severely bent H beam Rod attached to a piston with broken ring lands. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think mine was the first installment ever on the Z Car Garage wall of shame. ”
The NATT is Born
Rob offered Paul a loaner motor out of a naturally aspirated Z32. Through some interesting twists and turns in Paul’s life, he was even a ZCG employee at the time. The crew discussed hanging his turbos on it, and to install the turbo cams since they were still at the shop. We all agreed, and it would be affectionately called the NATT (Naturally Aspirated Twin Turbo). It was surprisingly good, and still a fond memory for many of us.
Paul’s life changed and he moved out of the Bay Area. With his life in transition eventually the NATT was pulled, and the Z sat in storage from 2008 to 2012. In this period we had the engine refreshed by Rebello, and had the car sent off to Williams Autobody for paint and installation of a new Veilside EC-01 front bumper and Karuma rear spoiler.
“During the time my car was mothballed, innovations at Z Car Garage never ceased. And since my car was just sitting, Rob and I were able to add almost everything to my build sheet. Some of these innovations disappeared as fast as they came, some stayed. CZP 2.5 inch intercooler piping, larger throttle bodies, Bell intercoolers, a 4.08:1 Leaders gear set and KAAZ Limited slip diff; smaller exhaust housings and modified impellers on the turbos, Mike Smith high flow cast exhaust manifolds, a Selin dual MAF, ASHspec dual inlet piping, and several items from Specialty Z. ”
Final Form
In 2012, Rob had started using Haltech ECU’s to unlock the power of his builds and was getting amazing performance results across the board. He’d also been experimenting with Turbo exhaust housings, and modified impellers, cam profiles, and cam timing, along with a whole host of innovations for S30’s to Z34’s. We called up Paul and asked him to drive Rob’s newly-built Z32TT ( with tuning thanks to Seb of SpecialtyZ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0UT3lwlZw4
Paul recalls the experience
“So, he calls me one day and says, ‘Man you need to come down and drive my Z. You’ve got to experience the gains we’re getting with these Haltech’s.’ That car broke loose at 70 plus and went beyond 100 faster than anything I’d ever driven, and far faster than any Ferrari I’d ever ridden in, and for me, from that moment on, that’s all I could talk about and think about. During the era that my car was mothballed I had sold a house, changed careers, retired, moved to a different city, and had taken up off roading and traveling in a big way, so by the time I was able to house my Z, it was ready to be finished up and delivered. And along with all the innovations that had taken place I was now going to have My Monster.”
Drivetrain
We removed the NATT from his Z and began the epic build, applying all the tricks we learned starting starting with a fully built Rebello 3L. The list includes: Sport 500 cams, HD springs all new lifters, and lots of headwork…
…3″ downpipes, 3″ mid pipes, SZ 2.5″ cat-back exhaust, BB700 turbos, BDE engine mounts, Ashspec inlet piping, Tomei exhaust cam gears, BDE cam gears, Mike Smith manifolds with EGR, SZ big IC piping and massive intercoolers, brand new transmission from Nissan, SZ high-five clutch/flywheel and a Haltech plugin Platinum Pro ECU with boost solenoids and map-based tuning:
More build pics in the gallery below! Here is the fresh, hot-rodded VG30DETT installed:
Rob dyno tuned using Haltech, a Greddy boost controller and 100 octane yielding 630hp/539tq at the wheels:
Chassis
In addition to the full engine build, the entire car was restored from interior to exterior. The chassis was treated to Stoptech ST40 front and ST22 rear calipers, Volk SF Winning 18″ wheels with 245/275 Bridgestone RE-71R tires, new driveshaft assembly, Leader gears(4.08) with Quiafe LSD, Tein coil-overs with EDFC Active Pro controller, SPL tension rods and titanium HICAS eliminator and a full wiring harness.
The exterior restoration included all new mouldings, new front glass, all new cowl panel, and every weatherstrip piece that is available from Nissan. The interior is just as pristine as the exterior:
Paul was pleased with the Z, as delivered in 2017:
“When I took delivery, Rob wouldn’t tell me the horsepower I was making till well after I had had several months to drive the car. He eventually told me 630 HP, and 540Lb/Ft TQ on a relatively conservative tune at near Sea Level in San Jose. It’s strictly a VP110 car now. Here at home in Reno at 4500 feet above Sea level the tires easily break loose on the freeway going 70, at this elevation it is truly amazing!”
Enjoying The Ride
Paul is very serious about motorsports and he is into LS-powered sand rails and Haybusa-powered buggies etc. so he has a 55 gallon of 110 race fuel at his house. His Z is tuned for 110 octane and he regularly tracks the car at Thunderhill Raceway. We love to see him Enjoying The Ride! Track photos by Gorilla Tornado Photography
“I track the car on club days, and I run it around the mountain roads of Tahoe and Virginia City, and take it to Cars and Coffee events. I’ve gotten it up to 160mph, and maybe 170mph, and at the time of this writing the car is 29 years old, so I don’t think that’s too shabby! It doesn’t need to go any faster, and neither do I. It sits beautifully in the garage on a Battery Tender, along side a fuel jug full of VP110, waiting for its next rip. It gets washed even when it doesn’t need it just for good measure. It still rips and it still makes my heart race like nothing else. ”
Enjoy this short video of the z in action:
“I found a Z Car that would not only invigorate my life but would lead me to the doorstep of such a long quest as a customer, friend, and supporter of Z Car Garage! I am honored and privileged to have been a part of the history of Z Car Garage. I have a deep respect for Rob, the guys that started with Rob, and the guys who have cycled through in the shop, and I am privileged to have met so many great guys and gals that are passionate about performance Nissans.”
Thank you Paul Ferrari for being a part of the Z Car Garage family. It has been, and continues to be a rewarding journey working with you. LONG LIVE THE (twin turbo) Z!
The Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC) is one of the oldest Z car clubs in the nation. We are proud to be a part of this group and support its members, like former ZONC president Ken C. Ken brought his 1970 S30 to Z Car Garage for a dyno tune and minor sorting. In true do-it-yourself fashion Ken performs most of the work himself, even installing a set of our Z Car Garage CV Axles in his garage.
“When I was 19 and in the Air Force I saved up for a Pinto, saved more for a Maverick…then I saw a 240z. I always wanted a 1970 and got this one in 1985. I drove it everywhere including Maine. I do 99% of the work myself with lots of details/upgrades like a huge cooling system (custom shroud) to support the A/C, rebuilt steering rack and all lightning.”
We recall seeing Ken’s Series 1 240z at the ZONC Annual Car Show in Brisbane, CA where he picked up an award for his efforts:
You can imagine how honored we were to have Ken let us work on his Z that only he’s allowed to work on. He had built a Rebello 3L with 5-speed/stock clutch and wanted us to do final sorting:
“Rob has always supported ZONC, done good work for its members so I trusted him to help get my Z in shape. It was running too rich, stumbling and it would die when A/C was turned on.”
Rob dyno tuned the L-series with SUs gaining more hp/tq and eliminating the hesitation Ken reported. The dyno plot shows his old L24 from a ZONC dyno day at the shop vs the current Rebello 3L now making a stout 183hp/191tq at the wheels. Enjoy this dyno video with sweet L-series music:
ZCG CV Axles
Z Car Garage is proud to offer a CV axle conversion kit for your Datsun S30 and 510. We have sold over 100 sets of axles, with customers installing and enjoying them on everything from street cars to full-blown IMSA racers. These CV axles will help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. Full details can be found HERE
Ken had purchased a set of our ZCG CV Axles and installed them himself.We love to hear from customers that are using our products and he reports that the axles were easy to install and well-engineered. Thanks Ken, and nice work:
“The ZCG CV axles—much smoother happy with less vibrations, best CV axles I’ve ever seen. It took me about 90 minutes to install. Super simple and easy and Rob is of course always supporting his own products with great service.”
Please contact the shop or visit our website to order your CV Axles!
Time To Enjoy The Ride
Ken continues to enjoy driving his Z, to shows or cruises and around town:
More inspiration for the Do-it-yourself’er…Ken is also restoring this ’72 S30 back to its stock blue/white in his garage (and kitchen)!
Thank you Ken for entrusting your Z to us. Ken is an avid baker and makes his own jerky, we also thank him for the cookies (which he’s known for) and snacks he provided to the ZCG crew. LONG LIVE THE Z!
