We had a great day test driving and tuning two Z Car Garage-built S30 sports cars. Here are a few brief details of each build followed by video with dyno runs and road testing. LONG LIVE THE Z!
James’ 1972 Datsun 240Z
James’s 1972 S30 At the heart of this beast is a turbocharged L-series managed by Haltech. Chassis upgrades include custom full-length subframe connectors, CD009a 6-speed transmission, KW Suspension, ZCG CV Axles and Big-Brake Kit (328mm) behind RS-8 wheels restored by Love20bee. Larry Chen featured James’s Z on this episode of Hoonigan Autofocus. Inside, a stack instrument cluster was integrated into the gauge pod, viewed from leather Recaro Pole Position seats:
Recent upgrades to “Medusa” include a new tubular exhaust manifold, intake manifold and down-pipe from from ProtunerZ. We will have more installation photos and dyno results coming soon to zcarblog.com!
Gary’s 1971 Datsun 240Z
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. This KN20 is serial #SN10 and it has been installed into our long-time client Gary’s Datsun 240Z, affectionately named the “Behemoth”.
Here are few details on the powertrain setup for this Z:
-Rebello 3.1L Engine
-KN20 Cylinder head SN10 (but the performance level goes to 11)
-Induction type: Jenvey ITB EFI with Injector Dynamics injectors
-Engine management: Haltech Elite 750
-Header: Equal-length, custom fabricated by RacecraftNW
Filed under: 240z,510,r32,Z31,z32
by Alvin G @ 9:42 pm on March 25, 2022
On Saturday, March 19 we attended the Tokyo Calling event hosted by Breakfast Club Rally. Z Car Garage participated with a group of client cars and enjoyed a wonderful day of driving through the foothills of Sonoma, Ca. The event also featured 200 Japanese classics and 90’s-era wonders to appreciate during the morning social gathering and rest stops. Enjoy our report with mega-photo gallery and video!
Breakfast Club Rally
The Breakfast Club Rally (BCR) started almost 2 years ago, now running its 27th rally event. What started out as a small group enjoying weekend drives blossomed into a full-on Cars and Coffee (still unofficial) meet just before rally participants head out according to run group (rally map available to pre-registrants only). The monthly BCR is always free/open to all makes and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to enjoy the beautiful Northern California roads and scenery. You can see my previous BCR reports HERE!
The BCR: Tokyo Calling event was a little different: this was an all-Japanese, mostly-vintage rally and we did not want to miss it. I assembled a group of Z Car Garage clients to participate and we left the shop at 5:45am to make the 7am starting point in Sonoma. Our cars:
Linda’s 1972 Official OMS Pace Car Duplicate. Fifty were originally produced by Nissan Motors to commemorate the DATSUN 240Z being selected by the Ontario Motor Speedway to Pace the 1972 “U.S.A.C. California 500 Championship”. ZCG made it a runner, full report soon!
Our guest Jonathan Buhler (Sr. Specialist Corporate Communications at Nissan) piloted “Mr. C”, our stock, one-owner Series 1 Z.
Photo by Vijay Sankar
Leading the caravan to Sonoma was yours truly in this 1965 Nissan Silvia. Huge thanks to our client Rick K for giving us the opportunity to enjoy this gorgeous (and rare) specimen. Full update on this Datsun Roadster-based gem soon!
Tokyo is Calling before the Rally!
Our crew arrived at the rally start in Sonoma and it was already filled with fabulous J-Tin. BCR hosted a “social gathering” from 7-9am (usually 1 hr) so we could take in all the glorious cars. The vibe was tremendous, despite a 5-minute drizzle and cloudy sky.
I am always on the lookout for Nissans and Datsuns:
First up, this 1967 Datsun 2000, owned by Ian S. One of the most sought after Datsuns, these “half-year” models were introduced mid-1967 offering a 5-speed transmission and 150hp twin-Mikuni carb’d 2L engine…hot stuff for the era. This is SRL #601 (out of ~1000 cars) and it was fully restored years ago by Les Cannaday in San Diego. Ian is meticulous about maintaining this car, but it is no garage queen. The (655) Off-white paint with red interior is one of my favorites. Yes, it even sports a factory Nissan hardtop with all the stainless trim!
I counted 6 roadsters. Pat S. owns this 1970 Datsun 2000. He had it dyno tuned at Z Car Garage, full report soon!
Alex’s Datsun 510 Wagon (LS-powered!), 520 and 620 trucks:
So many cool cars please check the gallery for more photos! Next, let’s check out some non-Nissan/Datsun action…
Honda
Honda was well-represented from Kei cars to late model DC2 Integras and S2000s. A few NSXs, CRXs and EF hatches rounded out the display:
Will’s clean EF hatch:
Toyota
Supra (A60 and A80) and even first gen MR2s, a lone Celica and AE86s!
Trucks and Vans
Mitsubishi and Toyota 4×4 vans galore! Let’s not forget everyone’s favorite little red firetruck: Todd Lapin’s Daihatsu Hijet
This was the wildest truck….2JZ-powered and S550 IRS:
Rally On!
Photo by Alex Nibyt
The rally started at 9am and I was tasked with leading our group. There was no cell phone reception but I was armed with a turn-by-turn rallye printout. I managed to hustle the little Silvia through the vineyards and foothills to our half way point of Calistoga…RHD and rarity aside this thing was a blast to drive.
One of the perks of BCR events is their team of professional photographers at various stages capturing epic rolling and detail shots so people can focus on enjoying the drive. I encourage you to visit each of these photographer’s photo albums to see shots of your rides :Alex Nibyt, Gregory Veizades, Blaine Olguin, and Vijay Sankar.
Arriving at Calistoga was another opportunity to see cars I missed at the starting point. The sky cleared and it was sunny. Folks took a snack/coffee break here in the quaint town. I was just admiring each vintage ride cruise by…like this FD RX-7 with Greddy AeroHatch!
Caught up with our friend and fellow racer Glenn Chiou who chose to drive his FD RX-7 with co-pilot Ricky Silverio of Japanese Nostalgic Car magazine. Spotted our client Mark in his Z32TT as well:
It was JDM overload at this halfway resting point…Ricky helped me spot a Lancer EVO 2!
After chatting with folks we resumed the rallye. This final stage was mostly forested ending with a cruise through vineyards. Jonathan managed to drive a “D” hubcap off the Mr. C 240z…he heroically recovered it mountain side…a picture captured the proud moment!
The rally concluded at renown Sonoma Raceway. Total mileage for our San Jose crew thus far was 220miles. BCR arranged parking for participants in the paddock right next to the cafe for lunch, as their clever motto is #DoneByNoon. Even better: we were treated to live drifting and road-course action. It was a superb venue to enjoy cool cars and great company.
I could not resist to get a Z Car Garage client group photo:
Here is a video we captured from the day, enjoy!
Thanks BCR!
Many thanks to the organizers, we had a blast and I urge you to register for their next event, especially if you are in the South Bay area like me and want to see what driving bliss lies North. Here are a few thoughts from Rob re-capping the Tokyo Calling event:
“With the shop so busy it good to be out to enjoy Bay Area car events like DrivingWhileAwesome (DWA) Cars & Coffee and now BCR. I had a blast. Great organization of the event and some of friendliest people. Exceeded my expectations. Jonathan Buhler from Nissan came out to enjoy the rallye with us. We put him behind the wheel of Mr. C, our one-owner Series 1 Z. It was fun to have both Safari Gold cars together. I loved the vibe at all of the rally stops and seeing the non-Nissans….super cool. MR2s, Subarus, CRXs, just so much good stuff, Happy I went and will make it out to another BCR event.”
The Drive Home
Our adventure was not over as we had to travel another 90 miles South to the shop. We caravanned back, traveling through the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and through San Francisco. I’m sure traffic had a field day with our group of Datsuns/Nissans:
At the shop, Jonathan took Mrs. Butters for a test drive and he had a great time before catching his flight back to Nashville. Below (right) is the GO Green RB25DET-powered 240Z that inspired Jonathan to build one of his own…we had to grab a shot with the model I made 🙂
Rick’s Silvia is safe and sound after completing the 300+ mile road trip. Thank you to all of the Z Car Garage clients that made the journey with us. Huge thanks to BCR for extending their hospitality to our crew, everyone was thrilled. Here’s to the next rally and always, always #DoitInADatsun!
Matt M called Z Car Garage for an inspection after he purchased this 1972 Datsun 240Z from Denver, Colorado. Once at the shop, we found that it needed some work for Matt to really Enjoy The Ride. Our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes and Z Car Garage CV Axles along with a full suspension refresh and engine tuning make it just right.
Z Destiny
Before we explore the upgrades, let’s take a look at how Matt found his Z car…
“My love affair with the 240Z began in 1972. A school friend of mine said, “Do you want to come with me to Laguna Seca to watch the CanAm and Formula 5000 races this weekend?”. I was all in and early that Saturday I pedaled my bike over to “Roger’s” house (a friend of his older brother) who offered to give us a ride. Unbeknownst to me, Roger had a gorgeous dark blue 240Z. Since there were three of us and I was the tag-along, that meant I rode in the back. Luckily, at that point in life my 6’2” frame was struggling to get over the five foot mark.”
“I can’t claim that it was the most comfortable ride, but it was definitely the funnest ride I’d had in a car. On a lonely stretch of highway 68 out of Salinas we pushed Roger to go 100 mph. He obliged his two early teenage passengers only briefly before slowing down for fear of a ticket. I was hooked though for life. What set the hook even deeper was getting to watch John Morton and the BRE race team tear up the field in their Datsuns that day.”
“Fast forward four decades that spanned a long career in the Marine Corps, some government work, getting three kids through college…I found myself regularly searching the classic car sites for a 240Z. I saw a ‘72 for sale in Denver. It had two previous owners besides the car shop that was selling it and looked to be in good shape. It was July of 2020 so we were in full pandemic mode. It didn’t matter, I was in Denver the next night to see the car. The next morning I drove the car and bought it. The brakes were horrible, the clutch was worse, it needed tires, but the engine ran well.“
Matt driving home West from Denver. Winnemucca, NV
“When I got home I sent a note to a guy I worked with that was building out a 510. He told me about Z-Car Garage so I did a little research before calling Rob at the shop. After reviewing detailed pictures of the car, Rob said he’d work on it. That was a critical turning point for this 240Z. Rob doesn’t typically sugar coat his words, which I love. After going through the whole car he said, “It’s a nice paint job, but the car needs a lot of work before I would consider it even safe to drive.”
After a few conversations we settled on a plan to make Matt’s Z amaZing. Let’s start with the engine bay…
Drivetrain
In February 2021 Matt came in for an inspection and we found a few items that needed attention immediately. We performed a compression/leakdown test to make sure the engine was healthy. A list of items that were addressed/replaced: all new cooling hoses, sparks plugs, new plug wire set, fuel filter, valve cover gasket, valve adjustment, 280ZX alternator/starter, clutch hydraulic service, ceramic-coated MSA 6 to 1 header to our ZCG exhaust system and Z therapy carbs.
More pictures in the gallery! Pertronix igntion with Blaster2 coil and our favorite JWT aluminum flywheel with HD clutch:
Dyno Tuning
With fresh Z Therapy carbs and MSD Blaster 2 coil with Pertronix ignition Rob set the AFR/timing for best performance and drivability. Rob dyno tuned the L24 making 101hp/119tq baseline and now 132hp/139tq at the wheels:
Enjoy the dyno video below:
S30 World Fuel Tank
We found sediment in the fuel tank and decided to start fresh with a new S30 World reproduction unit. This a great product we are really happy with coming from owners Gustav Oplasnik and Chris Visscher, Z enthusiasts/restorers:
Chassis and Suspension Upgrades
With Matt’s Z at the shop we proceeded with upgrades to make it a fantastic, reliable driver. For our clients that are cruising with occasional “spirited” driving we installed our “Stage 1/light street” suspension. New parts from Techno Toy Tuning included adjustable T/C rods and rear lower control arms. We really appreciate Gabriel and his staff at T3. They make some of the best suspension parts out there for Z cars.
A full front suspension rebuild included new rack bushings, front control arm bushings, ball-joints, tie-rods, new wheel bearings front and rear (OEM genuine Nissan seals/parts), KYB strut inserts, Eibach lowering springs trimmed Macpherson bumps stops for full travel and a ST sway bar set. Powder-coated suspension pieces and plated hardware throughout:
ZCG Big-Brakes and CV Axles
Brakes: every vintage Z car that we build here gets the ultimate setup: our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes for small wheels. Everyone that drives our 1971 Series 1 240z shop demo car is 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 Matt’s brakes and installed our ZCG Big-Brake kit with a new brake master cylinder from Nissan, brake booster and parking brake assembly.
New brake master cylinder from Nissan and stock vs Big-Brakes. New brake booster and vacuum hose set from MSA:
At the rear, the factory drum brakes were replaced with our ZCG Big-Brakes. Factory handbrake functionality IS retained!
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 90 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
Matt’s stock half shafts (L) and ZCG CV axles installed:
Matt is throughly impressed and happy with all of the chassis and engine upgrades:
“The Z-Car components, especially the big brakes and CV axles, perform flawlessly. Most importantly to me, every ride I take brings me back to my youth and the fun I had dreaming about owning one!”
Panasport Wheels
Complementing the new springs and shocks on Matt’s Z are Panasport Wheels with 225/50/16 Toyo R1R tires. The Z was fully aligned afterwards:
Recaro Seats
We replaced the stock seats with our favorite vintage style seat, the Recaro Specialist in leather:
Matt recalls his love for Recaro:
“I love the seats. I remember seeing Recaro ads when I was a kid. I used to subscribe to Motor Trend and Sports Illustrated. I’d see cars in Motor Trend with Recaros. There was a running competition between the Motor Trend that spotlighted the Brock Buster 510, and the swimsuit issue with Cheryl Tiegs.”
One of our favorite upgrades to the interior of an S30 is our ZCG sound deadening package. Usually found in our full-blown ZCG restorations, the result is a less tinny sound and almost Germanic-like “clunk” when you shut the doors.
Enjoying the Ride
We loved seeing Matt at the car corral during the Velocity Invitational at Laguna Seca. He’s super pumped about his Z and we are too:
” I see people pulling out their phones to take a picture when I am stopped at traffic lights. When I parked it recently in the car corral at the Laguna Seca’s vintage races, it got more visits than any of the Mclarens, Vettes, Porches or Lamborghinis.”
Welcome to the Z car family!
“The pandemic and supply chain mess definitely extended the timeline, but it was well worth the wait! I smile every time I drive it now. The Z-car brakes are fantastic, Rob installed a tuned exhaust, built out the suspension system, drivetrain and put in a new clutch. He cleaned or fixed more things than I can list. I got an early reveal (which Rob wanted to avoid) because they needed to make sure I fit into the new Recaro seats. The early reveal just made me more anxious to drive it. When I drove it for the first time about a week later, it was everything I had hoped for.”
Thank you for your patience and support, we loved working with you Matt! Happy that you are a Z car owner, welcome to the family and LONG LIVE THE Z!
Happy Birthday to Joel Anderson who passed away last year. Joel would have been 80 years old today and we miss him dearly. See Joel’s racing career and learn how he helped us enter the world of vintage racing in our tribute HERE
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!
