The 2022 Japanese Classic Car Show was held on September 10, in Long Beach, CA. This is the original vintage Japanese-car event in SoCal and in its 17th year, JCCS has grown incredibly. Over 20k spectators enjoyed 300+ cars in displayed at Marina Green Park.

The vehicles themselves remained a fantastic blend of stock, modified and restored. This is the most important show for Japanese cars, and Z Car Garage keeps coming back every year to soak up the sun, see old friends and drool over some spectacular vintage builds. Here is Rob’s report from the show, enjoy!

Rob grabbed a last minute flight to SoCal and joined our good friend Jan Trondsen to check out JCCS. We have watched this show grow and change venues over the last 17 years and it never disappoints.

“It’s one of our favorite car shows. The people, the cars are always on point. I gotta give a huge shoutout to to Terry and Koji for the tremendous work they do throughout the year to make this event a success. I saw so many people from out of town and for good reason…it’s a must see.”

Rob was a guest of Nissan and enjoyed a “dawn patrol” viewing of the show before the general public . It was fun to see everyone setting up. We spotted two of Sung Kang’s Z car builds, FuguZ and DocZ. Last year Sung visited Z Car Garage, driving “Mrs. Butters”, our 1971 Series 1 240z shop demo car. After driving Butters, Sung wanted the exact same Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels), Z Car Garage CV Axles and KW suspension on his very own FuguZ!

 

 

Sung was so impressed with the Z Car Garage Big-Brakes that he also wanted a set on his latest 240Z build, the “DocZ”. We happily obliged, only this time we shipped the kit to the Erick of Erick’s Racing, the master builder behind DocZ. We love seeing our parts on client builds!

Rally Legend

We were happy to see Tom Knudsen’s 1970 Datsun 240Z WORKS Rally Z at JCCS. There was a crowd around it all day! We first saw this authentic time machine back in June at the ZONC 50th Anniversary Celebration.

 

 

This is chassis #2 of 4 that were built by Nissan for the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally.  It is the project of Tom K and noted Datsun expert Steve Pettersen and their restoration website is a must-visit for history and feature documentation (as shown above). The Z remains largely intact with original parts like the Nissan competition exhaust manifold and roll bar. Period-correct parts like the Ikeda Bussan rally seat and reclining navigator seat were sourced. Check out the heater-port to defrost the headlight covers, Nissan-branded acrylic windows and more.

280ZX-R

This 1979 280ZX-R is rare, with only 1009 units produced. The owner, Victor wanted a Datsun and went down to the dealership, had his mom co-sign and purchased it brand new!

Z32

300ZX (Z32) models were present in stock and modified examples

JDM Gems

This R32 Skyline GT-R impressed us with a stunning wheels fitment sporting BBS E88s. We love non-Nissan cars and JCCS showcases such a great variety that we don’t get to see everyday. Mazda RX-2s, RX-3s, Honda s600, the list goes on! More photos in the gallery below

People

We love hearing vintage owner’s stories. See more of the Erin’s father/daughter project 280Z on Instagram.

Always good to catch up with friends, local and from out of town! Positive vibes all around.

project_240Z with his survior 280Z

Special shoutout to our clients Ben and Vince.They drove down from the Bay Area together in Ben’s 1974 Datsun 260Z for an epic roadtrip:

Ben was happy with the Z’s performance and he’s sending us photos from the roadtrip soon:

“Hello Rob,

I hope all is well. I am sending you this stellar pic of you with Tom’s Works Z!!! Vince and I had a great time at the JCCS and it was great seeing you. My Z drove so well with not one hiccup! In the heat too. Thanks for building an awesome car. I am really enjoying it. Have a great day, Ben.”

 

Thank JCCS!

As with past JCCS events the day went by too quickly. Thank you to Terry and Koji for hosting another great show. Enjoy our photo gallery below.If you missed last year’s JCCS check out our report from 2021 HERE .

We love to see owners installing our Z Car Garage CV Axles in their vintage Nissans and Datsuns. This 197o Datsun 240Z is owned by Mark W and he replaced his old CV Axle kit with our 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 200 sets of axles globally, 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.

  

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. 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. Each axle has a serial # for peace of mind and the kit comes with everything you need to install on your car.

 

Mark wanted to eliminate a weak point of the stock half shafts and have a “fit and forget” CV Axle solution to run on his Series 1 Datsun 240Z. He actually visited Z Car Garage from London to pick up his ZCG CV Axles (serial # 0407) and check out the shop:

“After seeing many YouTube videos, articles and photos about the place it was finally my turn to meet the gentleman that is @rawbfuller who runs the place in person, and boy was I in for a treat. I think rob realised I was a little Z mad when I told him I was going to carry a pair of your ZCG CV Axles home in a backpack via Canada and back to London. They were al little heavier than I’d imagined.”

Like many enthusiasts, we share the same passion for Datsuns and the sports car experience. We enjoyed showing Mark a few of our fun Z cars:

“Not only did I manage to collect some shiny new parts to bring back for the 240z but Rob was kind enough to throw me the keys to their test car ‘Butters’ to experience all of their hard work first hand. What an incredible driving machine that car is and such a credit to the whole team at Z Car Garage. That not being enough I even happened to show up on a day when Behemoth was in. One of the few Zcars in the world to be running a Twin Cam head on an L series engine. Not only did I get to see this but I also got to experience it first hand, making for an unforgettable day. A huge thank you to all involved 🤘”

Datsun 240Z Dreams

Mark shared his Z car history with us:

“This is a 09/70 car registered in’71 which I bought off Ebay back in 2016 sight unseen and shipped back to the UK. It was totally stock at the time and I’ve slowly been transforming it into a fast road car while trying to retain a factory aesthetic from the outside. I’ve taken it to LeMans, Spa and toured down to Italy to visit the car factories and complete a rally with Petrolicious.”

Some brief specs:  T3 adjustable front control arms, ST sways, BC coil-overs, R32 GTR front brakes with vented disks, S14 5-speed transmission, 3.9LSD, DSI stage 3 engine, 123 ignition, OS Giken lightweight flywheel/clutch and Panasport 16X7 wheels with Yokohama AD08R tires:

The exhaust is a Zstory Racesport header going back to a JDM style muffler using their complete system:

 

Mark recently made a switch from SU to triple OER45 induction with a bespoke cold air box setup. We admire his build ethos:

“I love using cars as intended so his build ethos has been to make it functional, reliable and useable as possible with modern levels of performance with L-series charm and soundtrack. .”

 

 

Enjoying the Ride

 

More photos of Mark driving throughout Europe, Datsuns Are Driven!

 

Enjoy this video of mark’s 240z in action:

 

Thank you for your support Mark, it was great meeting 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:

Supermachine in Tokyo, Japan is running our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes and Z Car Garage CV Axles in their Series Datsun 240Z:

 

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.

 

WE LOVE RACING!  Classic Sports Racing Group (CSRG) is hosting the 19th Charity Challenge at Sonoma Raceway, September 30 to October 2. Z Car Garage is participating and supporting several client’s Datsun 510 race cars running in B-Sedan Group (John Morton Cup). This vintage racing event is totally FREE to spectators so please join us! Bring the family, enjoy cool cars and even charity rides around the track.

See the 2023 Nissan Z as Pace Car!

Z Car Garage is happy to announce the 2023 Nissan Z will be on Pace Car duty at the Charity Challenge. Big thanks to Nissan for giving us the opportunity to share the new Z with enthusiasts for a good cause. Again, admission is FREE for this event and you will have access to all spectator areas on track. Parking is in Lot 2 overlooking the paddock.

Z Car Garage Supports Six Datsun 510s!

It is our pleasure to bring more enthusiasts into the world of vintage racing. Our services do include full race support and car-preparation to help make client’s race days seamless and worry-free so they can focus on driving. One of our specialties is dyno tuning. Before a race weekend we confirm that your car is running well and make necessary adjustments while on the chassis dyno:

#88 Todd Rueppel

Todd had his first Z Car Garage trackside support experience with us at the SVRA event, full report soon!

#7 Kelvin Tse

 

#72 Tom Dockery

Tom Dockery in his  Ex-Norm Balzer 510.

 

#71 Ed M

 

Gabe’s B-Sedan:

 

Kelvin’s Ex-Ted Gruner TransAm 510

#7 Rob Fuller

ZCG owner Rob Fuller, Bay Area Datsun Dealers tribute car

    

Rob will also be racing the #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z for the first time at Sonoma Raceway.

We look forward to seeing you at the races. Stay tuned for the race schedule and a full report coming to zcarblog.com. Do It In A Datsun!

Panasport wheels for your Z car

Treat your Z to a brand new set of Panasport wheels! Z Car Garage is an authorized Panasport dealer with limited sets available for fitment on your S30 Z car. We special order this 16×7 +11 offset to enable fitment of a 225/50/16 tire on the 1970 to 1978 S30s and even S130s.

Price is $330 each or $1320 for a set of 4 wheels + freight. Includes center caps

Contact us to order: rob@zcargarage.com or call 408-452-0350. Limited availability (recent pallet pictured)

Wondering how a set of Panasports would look on your Z car? They are timeless just like your Z. Please enjoy pictures below of ZCG customer cars in jus about every color imaginable with Panasport wheels:

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Z Car Garage specializes in dyno tuning vintage cars. Our in-house dyno and expertise in carb tuning can help your engine reach its potential whether it is a street car or full race car. We love Datsun roadsters and recently dyno tuned Erik’s 1970 1600 with great results. Let’s take a look at how he got into Datsuns…

Roadster Beginnings

Affectionately named “Audrey”, Erik bought this 1970 Datsun Sports 1600 in 1995 and drove her every day while living in San Jose and Santa Monica, CA. He had lots of adventures in those days, including driving on Highway 1, Route 66, and even blowing a head gasket in the desert outside Needles, CA.

“In 1998 he got a job in Thailand and Audrey was put in storage. Stored outside for years, she suffered the indignity of being broken into and vandalized. (I’m still apologizing to her for that.)In 2000, I moved back to the USA, but had no garage for Audrey, so she remained outside, staying with friends and family. By 2003 she had finally moved inside, but a busy life and no shop space meant that she sat in the corner, patiently awaiting resurrection.”

“Fast forward to 2019: now having a great garage space and some free time, it was time to get Audrey back on the road. On the outside, she still wears most of what’s left of her original 52 year old paint, but inside and underneath it’s a different story: Her factory 96 horsepower has been doubled using the original engine, and her 4 speed transmission has been swapped for a 5 speed. The body was removed from the frame, all suspension, steering, and brakes were redone/upgraded, all electrical wiring replaced, every nut and bolt was either re-plated or replaced, and the interior restoration has begun, slowly changing from black to red.”

Erik and Z Car Garage

“Since then, Rob has been super helpful while I’ve been restoring my 1970 Datsun 1600 from connecting me with the engine and transmission rebuilders, to helping with parts restoration, zinc plating, advice, and moral support. Once I had the car assembled and the new engine broken in, I knew I wanted to get it tuned on the ZCG dyno.”

Dyno Tuning

 

Erik’s roadster is a “1600” model, originally sporting 1.6L (R16) with dual-SU induction and 4-speed drivetrain. His restoration included stroking the original motor to a larger 2150cc displacement with twin-Mikuni induction and 5-speed (u20) transmission. You can learn more about Erik’s restoration efforts and the Rebello stroker R16 drivetrain all on 311s.org HERE.

 

Our initial dyno tuning session was with Phh40 Mikuni carbs. While it made great power Rob had always suggested running a larger Phh44 carbs to take advantage of the stout Rebello cam. Erik returned for another dyno session. With the carb switch, A/F ratio and timing optimized the roadster put down an impressive 157hp/151tq to the wheels with improved driveability throughout the entire rev range:

   

Erik was stoked with the tuning results:

“After finding some compatibility issues with my carburetors, Rob helped me build and install bigger carbs (the ones Rob had told me to use all along!). Came back for another tuning session and wow – what a difference. More power everywhere, better idle and driveability, and top end power is phenomenal. Many thanks to Rob and the whole Z Car Garage crew for taking my car from good to amazing!”

Enjoy this video of the roadster being dyno tuned and road tested, volume up!

Interested in what our other Datsun Roadster dyno sessions look like? Visit zcarblog.com

Enjoying The Ride

Datsuns Are Driven! In true roadster fashion, Erik has been Enjoying the Ride in his revived “Audrey”. We got the roadster prepped for a 600+ mile road trip to the Annual Datsun Roadster Meet at Mt. Shasta back in June. The car ran flawlessly:

 

Erik has been attending local car shows and rallys including VALT Car show in Berkeley, CA and Breakfast Club Rally.

 

We had fun tuning Erik’s roadster and getting it dialed in with the new drivetrain. Eventually it will be time for bodywork and paint, but he’s too busy having fun on the road! Thanks for letting us be a part of your Datsun journey Erik, you’ve done the roadster justice! If you have a vintage car (it doesn’t have to be a Datsun) feel free to contact the shop to schedule a dyno tuning session. More photos in the gallery below.

 

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