Filed under: 510
by Alvin G @ 5:10 pm on August 31, 2023
We are selling our 1971 Datsun 510 Wagon. It features a 2.4-liter KA24DE engine with five-speed manual transmission sourced from a Nissan 240SX. The car is a wonderful driver and recently completed the 300-mile Tokyo Calling Rally in Napa, Ca.
It was repainted in its original shade of green with a black vinyl interior and re-chromed bumpers by the previous owner. The interior features BMW E30 front seats, Nardi steering and rare Bluebird center console. New carpet, headliner, door cards were installed and all rubber seals were replaced.
The KA24DE uses a Megasquirt engine management system. We dyno tuned it, making 148hp/161tq at the wheels.
You can see this Datsun 510 Wagon in action with dyno runs, in-car and freeway driving in this video below:
For pricing and additional phots/details please visit our FOR SALE page
Rick’s Nissan Silvia returned to Z Car Garage for a suspension upgrade and sorting. This is not the 90’s Silvia (US-Market Nissan 240sx) we know and love, it is the ultra-rare 1965 Silvia CSP311. Only 554 examples were made from ’65 -’67 and never imported to the US.
The Silvia is special for many reasons. This car was built on the Datsun Sports Roadster chassis, meaning it is a body-on-frame platform sharing the same R16 drivetrain as the Datsun 1600 (SP311). All were hand built and right hand drive with a gorgeous interior. Fairlady owners will notice familiar gauges and switchgear–all borrowed from the contemporary Datsun Roadster.
A rare specimen indeed, fortunately owner Rick K was able to acquire this Silvia from our friends at JDM Legends and have Z Car Garage maintain it. See our report from Rick’s initial visit (inspection, dyno tune etc,) all on zcarblog.com.
Bilstein Suspension
Rick visited us earlier this year for installation of upgraded Bilstein shocks on the Silvia. We have had a great experience running these units on my personal SR20-powered roadster and the ZCG 1967 Datsun 2000 Roadster:
The Bilsteins are available Datsun Restoration Products. Theses are high-quality, fully rebuildable and most importantly custom-valved for the Datsun Roadster for touring to race applications. Rick’s custom-valved set both front and rear for his Silvia:
Installation was a breeze. You’ll notice the supplied lower spring mount. Once installed, these shocks can be removed and replaced through the lower A-arm, no need to disassemble the front suspension to change shocks:
The car was fully aligned following the new shocks:
We also sorted some minor things for Rick. Our electronics master Joshua Corwin fixed the wiring to enable all exterior lighting to function, and we fixed his license plate bracket:
Driving is Believing
The Bilstein shocks transformed the ride quality of the Silvia. Much like our experience with these on our personal Datsun Roadsters, the dampening ability of the Bilsteins is superior to off-the-shelf shock absorbers for this chassis. No more “po-going” or high-frequency jarring on the freeway. I had a blast driving this RHD gem on the Tokyo Calling Tokyo Calling Event with Breakfast Club Rally back in March and the difference was night/day. The Bilsteins are that good.
Rick was kind enough to let me experience the Silvia with the new shocks on one of my favorite roads here the local foothills. It was so much fun. Now Rick needs some nice sticky, vintage rubber to take full advantage, enjoy!
We are so happy to see Rick still Enjoying the Ride. It was a real pleasure to see Rick’s Silvia driven by his son Matthew at the local Morning Motors hosted by DrivingWhileAwesome:
The Silvia is in good company with Rick’s family C1 Corvette. He’s enamored with the Silvia and even found a way to get the unobtanium OEM hubcaps reproduced. For now, the Watanabe’s will be used for spirited-drives!
Huge thanks to our client Rick K for giving us the opportunity to enjoy this gorgeous (and rare) slice of JDM forbidden fruit. We look forward to seeing you on the road! More photos in the gallery below.
At Z Car Garage we love keeping Z’s on the road. From concours-level restorations to light refurbishments, making a client’s goals reality is our passion. Gary Roser brought his 1978 Datsun 280Z from Monterey, Ca for a full restoration, ZCG-style. Our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles along with a new drivetrain, full suspension and body restoration transformed this S30.
Our journey with Gary began 15 years ago and blossomed into a strong friendship. Gary and Rob recall their first meeting:
Gary: “In Oct/Nov 2007, after selling my ’99 Corvette I went online looking for Z Car restoration shops. I called Rob and introduced myself and discussed what he could do for me. Obviously he was very cautious in his response and made no promises. He also stated that he would have to see the car before he would consider taking on the job. My next move was to drive to San Jose and meet him in person. Needless to say I was immediately impressed with his shop cleanliness and the scope of his business. He also impressed me with his no-nonsense approach to our discussions and pulled no punches. Also, as a retired Marine, I noted with some degree of amusement his individual shop uniform. Fortunately for me he gave me a thumbs up, had it towed to his shop and off we went!”
Rob: “Gary came to ZCG when I was very young in my business ownership and asked me to restore his ‘78 280z. We were going to restore it as if Nissan didn’t have a budget. At the time we were really into the C8 Panasport wheels, doing 3L engines, KA24 5-speeds, and suspension work etc. I wanted to build Colonel Roser a car that we could both be proud of.”
He bought this Z brand new 1978 and absolutely adores it, being an integral part of his life for decades! Before going into the restoration work let’s take a look at the story behind Gary’s Z and his airborne career…
Fighter Pilot, Z Pilot
Gary: “I bought the car on June 4, 1978 at Terry Allen Autos in El Cajon, CA (just east of San Diego). The original window sticker, faded, but still readable: $9543.00. While shopping to replace my wife’s Ford station wagon with a Datsun 510 wagon I saw my black 280Z in the showroom. I needed that car like a hole in the head, as I already had a 1968 GTO convertible, stick shift, with air conditioning, that I had ordered just prior to leaving Vietnam in June, 1968. Anyway, I made an offer to buy both the Z and the 510. It took a lot of sweet talking to convince my wife that it was a good deal! I drove the Z regularly the first couple of years, putting 13,000 miles on in the first year”
“In February 1980, I received orders to move up the I 5 to MCAS El Toro, and back into a flying billet, flying A-4 Skyhawks. We bought a nice home in Mission Viejo and life was good. Then the winter rains came. We had a two car garage and the Z and the GTO occupied both stalls. It was a hard decision, but I put the GTO up for sale. I took command of Marine Attack Squadron 311 (Call sign Tomcats) in May of 1981. For my birthday, my wife got me the California License Plate: 311 TCATS which remains on the car today!”
“In the spring of 1982 I was approached by Jim Lau, the owner of The Foreign Works auto shop in Lake Forest, CA where I had been getting the Z serviced, about installing a turbo on the car. With 48,500 on the odometer, it was turbocharged with about 10 PSI of boost. I finished up my tour in 311, and then received overseas orders to Japan in July 1983. In July 1984 I returned stateside with orders to Washington, DC. I flew the family and pets to Virginia and then drove the Z across by myself. In 1986, after being promoted to Colonel, I fell in love with the new C4 corvettes, and just had to have one.” Below, Gary with his 280Z and C4 ‘Vette:
“After 4 years in DC, we headed back out to California for my final tour as Commanding Officer of Marine Air Group-42, located in Alameda. The Z Car had about 90,000 miles on her and the trip west was a hilarious adventure. As an aviator I was very used to radio communications, so I equipped all three cars with CB radios: I drove the corvette, my 18 year old son drove the Z, and my wife, daughter, and animals were in the OLDS. Needless to say, radio discipline broke down numerous times on the trip. I tried to keep everyone on a discreet channel, but the ladies liked talking to all the truckers. We safely made it to Alameda, and I spent the last two years(1988-90) flying my ass off. I had several squadrons in the air group, including a helo squadron. Not having any helo time prior to then, as Group Commanding Officer, I was able to get a little over 100 hours of helo flight time and I grew to have great respect and appreciation for their type of flying-it was a great way to finish my aviation career.”
“I retired from the USMC and moved to Monterey, Ca in the fall of 1990 to take a staff position at the Naval Postgraduate School as the assistant Dean of Students for International Affairs. I bought a 1999 C5 Corvette convertible which became my primary driver and while I maintained the Z with regular checks, she sat most of the time. I needed to get rid of one of them and agonized over that decision. The Z car was in bad shape, rust and engine issues, and tired after 113,000+ miles, but my 27 year attachment kept tugging at me, and I just couldn’t let her go. I made the decision to sell the ‘Vette, and started looking into restoring the Z car. And that is how I met Rob Fuller…”
Above: The 280Z prior to restoration in 2007. Let’s dive in to the work…
Body/Chassis
We began the restoration process with body and chassis. Gary’s 1978 Datsun 280Z had severe rust issues. Many would have written this car off due to the extensive repair it needed but Z Car Garage and Williams’ Auto Body were tasked with the job of saving it. Photos below show multiple problem areas including frame rails on both sides, lower and upper radiator support, the quarter panel just under the rear quarter windows, door jams and rocker panels on both sides. More photos of the rust repair can be seen HERE.
Gary wanted the Z painted black and William worked his magic in 2009. The result was stunning, and remains just as slick to this day:
The front/rear bumpers were re-chromed. Following the body repair and paint, PQR-15 was applied to the interior and underside. We bagged/tagged every nut/bolt for plating along with fresh hydraulic lines:
Newly plated parts and suspension being mocked up. We love the gold (hydraulic) and silver (fuel) lines against the gorgeous black paint in the engine bay:
All front and rear suspension parts were powdercoated with struts/coil overs mocked up. Note additional plated hardware:
Drivetrain
Replacing the L28 in Gary’s 280Z is a 3.1L Rebello engine using factory fuel injection. Below you can see how the unsightly stock intake manifold was transformed into a thing of beauty…
Engine bay completed. See more in-progress photos in the gallery below:
To handle the power from the 3.1L engine we replaced the stock transmission with a Nissan KA24 (FS5W71C) transmission. This was a common swap (before the CD009a came to market) performed by modifying a 280Z L-series bell housing. The KA24 unit is significantly stronger than early S30 transmissions.
When we upgraded the transmission we also installed a JWT HD clutch with aluminum flywheel. Helping put the power down efficiently is a Quaife LSD. The R200 houses a 4.11 R&P assembled in-house (by our very own Joshua Corwin). Rounding out the drivetrain upgrades are a set of Z Car Garage CV Axles (shown below)
The factory EFI was updated with a fuel pressure change and custom tuning of the MAF. Gary’s car ripped, with the 3.1L making 190hp/205tq at the wheels… fantastic for a factory EFI car back in 2007. After driving and initial break-in we performed a valve adjustment and it just shined. It was awesome to see the Colonel driving and enjoying it again!
Interior
Following the body/paint restoration Gary visited Z Car Garage and he would find interior upgrades on other client/project cars for his 280Z:
“Over the next 5 years more work was done and “upgrades” became a common occurrence. I was like a kid in a candy store-let’s do Recaro Leather seats, power windows, power door locks, and hey let’s do power steering (absolutely love it). And a whole host of other things, including Autometer gauges recessed into the dash which I saw on another Z in Rob’s parking lot of Z’s.”
A complete dash restoration was performed with full HVAC/ducting and A/C refurbishment:
Autometer gauges, fresh wiring and re-furbished center console:
The power window and door lock conversion with more plated hardware:
Recaro Specialist seats in leather are our favorite upgrade to the S30 interior. Gary enjoys modern creature comforts like Bluetooth, back-up camera, power steering and full sound system:
The A/C compressor was upgraded to a Toyota unit that we like to use. All weatherstripping was replaced:
Suspension
The chassis was treated to a full suspension rebuild with new parts, bushings, Ground Control coil-overs (Koni struts with our spring rates) and ST sway bars front and rear:
Z Car Garage Big-Brakes
Gary has our ZCG Big-Brake kit. Not to be confused with our current Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels), this Big-Brake kit was our initial setup from over a decade ago. This 328mm sized kit requires 17″ diameter wheels and the massive ST-42 calipers are finished in bright red. We actually did all the R&D in-house for this setup…using a 280ZX master cylinder and our own mounting brackets.
A few more detail shots of the Big-Brakes, they really pop behind the black Panasport wheels:
Gary also got a set of our custom Panasport Racing C8 wheels. These 3 piece, 17×8 wheels allowed fitment of a 255/40/17 tire under stock fender flares:
When ZCG was starting to build a series of RB-powered S30s, Rob brought in a pallet of C8 wheels destined for the builds. Gary wanted a set so we hooked him up and his desired black spokes with black anodized lip and hardware. They look great on his Z:
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 200 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
We built Gary a set of CV Axles, shown below:
Details
The little things are what we excel at. All window trim including quarter windows was powdercoated black at Gary’s request. This general “blacked-out” look was a point of contention:
Rob: “We had so many arguments over it…he wanted everything ‘murdered out’ and I suggested keeping the chrome/stainless, We fought tooth and nail and he always won…Gary outranks me since he’s a Colonel and I’m a civilian.”
The blacked-out theme carried on to many exterior parts like tail light bezels, side marker housings and the Z Car Garage license plate frame…even the white lettering changed to black:
The 280Z’s front/rear bumps did remain chrome after re-finishing. Below: More plating and hardware details:
HID headlights. Please check the gallery below for more detail shots, there are too many to list in this blog post!
Enjoying The Ride
With the restoration completed, we drove down to Monterey and delivered the 280Z to Colonel Gary:
Gary enjoyed driving the Z for a few years. It was hard not to grab attention with this s30…people were intrigued with the wheels, stance and of course that blacked-out look:
Gary: “Let me mention here that I get compliments on the car practically every day, many from thumbs up or yelling from cars and motorcycles in moving traffic. Quite often folks want to see the engine, and when I raise the hood, people remark that it looks like a factory install and are absolutely amazed at how beautiful it is. William’s paint job still looks amazing as well. I constantly get quotes like ” I used to have one of those, I am so sorry I ever got rid of it”; “what a beautiful Z, I just don’t see them on the road anymore”. Best one though, was “Yes, I had one until one night I wrapped it around a tree and almost killed myself, but it was my favorite car”. And when I tell them I am the original owner they are blown away.”
In ~2015 a persistent electrical issue was traced to the wiring harness which led to an unorthodox (but exciting) solution:
Gary: “I was frustrated after the electrical problems. Rob explained to me we had to use a 1978 wiring harness to make everything work. As I recall we changed out 3 wiring harnesses and even sent the computer module to San Diego to be reworked. Rob actually went to the Central Valley and purchased a 280Z for parts, so as to get another wiring harness. At that point I was thinking of other options and approached Rob about doing an engine swap, but that is a story for another day! “
Rob: “We located an unmolested harness and still couldn’t get it sorted. Colonel said ‘I love this car, but since we can’t solve this gremlin I want to do something different with it’. Years ago we were not into V8 Z cars until the LS-based engines came around. Perfect power delivery and balance…it just works in Japanese (and other) platforms. We had done Ben Sutton’s LS-powered FD RX-7 and it worked really well with incredible torque. The Colonel talked us into it… ‘There’s two loves in my life: I love my corvette and I love my Z car.’ We had to bridge the two together for him.”
LS3 V8 Power
Gary: “Well, after three tries I just didn’t see a way forward with the Nissan motor, and asked Rob about doing a V-8 conversion. He had not done an engine swap, so he was cautiously optimistic about trying one. In his typical attention to detail fashion, he did a lot of research, found a way forward, and off we went. Lots of growing pains, and a few curve balls, but the end result has been spectacular!”
Rob: “We did an LS3 swap, our first V8 S30 conversion ZCG performed start to finish. Super proud of it. There were some initial teething issues: a larger twin-fan radiator eliminated cooling problems and our upgraded ZCG CV Axles solved axle issues. We de-tuned the LS3 to give the Colonel a Z car that is fast but but also reliable.”
The LS3-crate motor came with a warranty from GM and weighs less than the L-Series engine it replaced. Engine and 6-speed transmission were installed using the Hoke Performance kit:
The larger, twin-fan radiator and A/C plumbing and wiring:
Ovalized exhaust from headers to catalytic converter help with ground clearance:
Dyno Tuning
The LS3/6-speed T56 drivetrain was dyno tuned after installation, making 405hp/410tq at the wheels, a significant increase of 115hp/206tq compared to the L-Series:
Enjoy this video with dyno run, in-car driving, cruising and fly-by action with Gary’s LS3-powered 280Z:
We love how happy Gary is with his V8-powered Z:
Gary: “The car is an absolute gas to drive. I will tell you up front that it is not a refined ride. The suspension is tight and pretty stiff, but gives you great road feel. The T-56 6 speed transmission, mated to the LS-3, required some getting used to, but is solid and efficient. The turning and maneuvering capability of the car in its two dimensional environment is terrific. It reminds me of when I did aerobatic maneuvering in the A-4 SkyHawk! What can I say about the power and torque the engine puts out-405 HP at the wheels!”
“I have had my way with a lot of other fast cars, and even a motorcycle who tried to take me on, who have no idea what is under the hood of my little Z Car. (Sometimes the wide tires give me away!) Best acceleration is in 2nd and 3rd gear. I don’t like to take it much over 90 mph, because the front end gets a little lifty. (I have over 4000 hours in fighter and attack aircraft, and I know what lift off feels like, so I don’t need to get airborne again!)”
Thank You Colonel Roser
Rob:“We have so many great stories with Colonel Gary. He’s more than a client, somebody we really admire and look up to. Such a fan of his. My father was so proud to be a Marine and Colonel understood this with his Military background.”
Gary: “I will be 81 in May and I don’t see another adventure like this one in my future so let me comment about Rob Fuller and his Z Car Garage. We have been friends now for 15 years. We have been on this journey together, through all the ups and downs and twists and turns. He has been there for me every single time, night or day. I just can’t imagine there is another car guy out there who would have had the compassion and understanding to shepherd me and my Z Car through this adventure.”
Below: Colonel Gary Roser and Rob on May 23, 2023
“Over these 15 years I have watched his business expand and grow, and am amazed at the breadth and width of his knowledge and his reputation in the auto industry. His leadership skills and the way he runs his shop is suitably impressive, and he has good people working for him. And, by the way, he is a pretty topnotch driver as well. With him at the wheel and aggressively putting my Z Car through its paces, I am reminded of my fighter pilot days when I could fly an airplane like he drives my car. In another time and place I would have been honored to have him fly on my wing.”
Filed under: 240z,Events
by Alvin G @ 2:40 pm on July 21, 2023
Z Car Garage is proud to be a sponsor for the 36th Annual Z Car Convention (ZCON) hosted by ZCCA and Group Z Sports Car Club in Ontario, Ca July 31 to August 5. This is the largest Z-car event in the US and we are stoked to participate.
We will also have a Nissan CD009a 6-speed swap for you to see, touch and feel. Don’t forget to pick up some ZCG swag/merchandise!
Highlighting the Z Car Garage booth will be our client Gary’s S30 with the Datsunworks KN20 twincam cylinder head. Our #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z will also be on display in the convention center lobby entrance all week:
The Datsunworks KN20-powered 240Z
Gary’s 1971 Datsun 240Z with the Datsunworks KN20 twincam cylinder head. 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 CD009s transmission and OS Giken 4.11 LSD.
Enjoy this video showing the KN20 Datsun 240Z in action:
The #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU 240Z
The #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z has a rich racing history and actively runs in vintage race groups with Rob Fuller behind the wheel. It is a fitting car to be displayed in the lobby as it has ties to the Ontario Motor Speedway Pace cars that Nissan/Datsun campaigned in the 70’s.
Enjoy this video showing the Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z in action:
Z You There!
We are excited to share the passion and check out everyone’s Z cars at the show. Hope to Z you there and LONG LIVE THE Z!
