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

-Transmission: Nissan CD009a

-Rear Diff: R180 4.11 OS Giken LSD

 

L-Series Music

Rob took me for a spin in both cars. It was exhilarating. Volume UP and Enjoy!

 

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

 

Last Friday we made some glorious L-Series music with two of our client’s Datsun 240Z cars. Gary’s Datsun 240Z, affectionately named the “Behemoth” has accumulated some mileage on the Datsunworks KN20 cylinder head and the dyno confirmed the same power level.

 

Khang’s 1973 Datsun 240Z was completed in October and he returned with 1,000 miles on the 3.2L L-Series. We adjusted the valves and double-checked power levels.

 

Happy to see both builds healthy and confirm power output. Enjoy the music from the both L-Series engines, sporting Jenvey ITB EFI managed by Haltech 750 Elite ECUs backed by the CD009a Six-Speed transmission. LONG LIVE THE Z!

 

 

 

 

 

Road & Track magazine just published an article about the Datsunworks KN20 cylinder head! You can view it HERE. It is a great read with interviews from founder Datsunworks founder Derek Minetti and Z Car Garage owner Rob Fuller:

 

The article provides origins of KN20 as we as technical information. Z Car Garage is excited to collaborate with Datsunworks as we build and test more KN20-powered Z cars. To see and hear the KN20 in action visit our previous post HERE

 

  

 

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.

 

Datsunworks founder Derek Minetti is the pioneer behind the KN20 DOHC cylinder head. This is a custom (very limited production), 6-cylinder head derived from Honda’s venerable K-series 4-cylinder engine. The KN20 offers superior head flow rates combined with modern valvetrain components to effectively transform your L-series single-overhead cam into a high-revving, dual-overhead cam engine. The power potential is impressive.

Gary’s Datsun 240Z

 

There are ten KN20 heads in the wild with only three installed and currently running in cars. Z Car Garage has two KN20 cylinder heads. This KN20 is serial #SN10 and it has been installed into our long-time client Gary’s Datsun 240Z, affectionately named the “Behemoth”. ZCG is always exploring the boundaries of powertrains and Gary’s Z has seen a few engines including an RB30DET, OS Giken TC24 and now the Datsunworks.

 

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

-Transmission: Nissan CD009a

-Rear Diff: R180 4.11 OS Giken LSD

 

Pictures of the initial engine installation, with more in the gallery:

 

For further information on the KN20 cylinder head we urge you to visit the Datsunworks blog:
Datsunworks Blog

Performance

 

We are still in the tuning phase so Gary’s car is on a comfortable (conservative) setting. With the Datsunworks head it made 350hp/248tq at the wheels on 91 octane:

 

Even in a testing stage it is absolutely thrilling to drive. Gary’s car is a full ZCG-style restoration so it has the chassis to harness the power. The sound it makes is a sonorous tone only the K-series derived KN20 head creates…with a gnarly exhaust note to match. The ITB induction also provides a healthy wail…it’s a sensory overload and revs seem to climb endlessly.

 

To illustrate the Datsunworks experience we captured some video of what it is like to drive around town…the 6-speed and EFI really allow this car to be docile, especially when cruising on the freeway and at part throttle. Drop a gear and its becomes a wild animal. Not going to lie…it gave me goosebumps both as a passenger and spectator.

Watch the video complete with multiple dyno passes, street acceleration and fly-bys. VOLUME UP!

 

 

Potential

 

Z Car Garage is stoked to be a part of the Datsunworks KN20 development. It is a clever design that pushes the envelope for L-Series engines. Sharing this experience is also part of the fun so we anticipate having a KN20 setup in a dedicated shop 240Z for clients to test drive and further evaluate. Although each application is different, we envision offering a bolt-in setup for your six-cylinder L-Series engine. The power potential is tremendous with the KN20…both NA and forced induction. We thank Derek at Datsunworks for giving us the opportunity to work with this innovative product.

 

Stay tune for more updates and LONG LIVE THE (TWIN CAM) Z!

 

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