When we acquired our new 2023 Nissan Z the very first modification was a Fast Intentions TDX 2.5″ Cat Back Exhaust System. FI makes the best exhaust for late model Nissans/Infiniti sports cars, If you have an RZ34 this is the one to get with high quality, great fitment and a wonderful exhaust note. Enjoy our review with photos and video below.

We watched Fast Intentions grow as a company and they have never compromised their quality. Z Car Garage has installed and tested many FI cat-back exhausts on the 370Z/Q60 sports cars, the fit/finish for their 2023+ Nissan Z system is equally impressive:

OEM and Fast Intentions exhaust installed before/after:

Detailed photos of the mufflers and piping, with even more shots in the gallery below:

Dyno Proven Results

The Fast Intentions Cat Back exhaust system also provides solid power gains. We performed before and after dyno runs on our 2023 Nissan Z Performance 6MT and saw 388hp/392tq with the OEM exhaust and 399hp/394tq with the Fast Intentions exhaust. Expect even more with tuning:

Enjoy this video demonstrating the Fast Intentions exhaust on our 2023 Nissan Z. You can see and hear it in action with hot/cold start, acceleration, drive-by and in-car footage:

Enjoying The Sound

We have put a few thousand miles on our Fast Intentions exhaust and it still looks and sounds fantastic. It has been through many dyno passes, track days and mountain runs.

Running as Official Pace Car of CSRG:

For more details, visit Fast Intentions to see their Fast Intentions TDX 2.5″ Cat Back Exhaust System for the 2023+ Nissan Z. Thanks to FI for delivering consistenly high-quality parts and excellent customer service. Long Live The Z!

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John E came to Z Car Garage through a dealership connection at Dublin Infiniti. He purchased this Q50S Red Sport in 2019 with 46k miles on the odometer and it was time for bolt-on performance upgrades with dyno tuning.

We installed several parts from AMS Performance including their AMS Heat Exchanger, AMS Coolant expansion tank. Helping the VR30DDT engine breathe are AMS downpipes and a full Fast Intentions cat-back exhaust system. Photos of each are shown below.

The new AMS heat exchanger compared to the stock unit and installation:

AMS downpipes:

The Fast Intentions cat-back exhaust replaces the restrictive OEM system:

Standard exhaust tips on the FI exhaust system, we love the quality, fitment and sound of these parts:

We also installed new Hotchkis sway bars front/rear. Stock vs new below:

Dyno Tuning

Straight from the factory, the VR30DDTT is an impressive motor rate at 400 hp and 350 ft-lbs tq stock. It is actually underrated as we have seen with dyno testing. With a few bolt-ons and tuning, even more power can be unlocked from the VR30. Rob tuned John’s Q50 using EcuTek, making 404hp/435tq at the wheels. A significant improvement over the 336hp/338tq baseline:

 

Enjoy the dyno video below:

Enjoy The Boost John!

Are you ready for upgrades on your late model Nissan/Infiniti? Give us a call or e-mail!

Paul K is a local enthusiast out of Campbell, Ca and he visited Z Car Garage for basic performance upgrades on his 2011 Nismo 370z:

 

“I had always wanted a V1 Nismo and in 2018 searching online I found one at a dealer in Sunnyvale. One owner with 26k miles and garage kept. Rob has helped install Stillen dual intakes, Fast Intentions dual exhaust, and Ecutek tune. Other mods mods include Tein S Sport lowering springs and Stillen crossed drilled and slotted rotors. Many more mods planned with Rob!”

 

Dyno tuning and Stillen intakes are a great way to start the modding process and Z Car Garage is here to help! We intalled the Stillen Gen3 intakes which are CARB-legal and work wonderfully on the HR engines:

 

Before/After

 

To maximize gains from bolt-on modifications we dyno tuned the Z with Ecutek software making 315hp/260tq to the wheels:

 

We also installed a Fast Intentions cat-back dual exhaust system:

Enjoying The Ride

 

Photo by Henning Tretau

Paul can be seen all over the Bay Area Enjoying the Ride in his Z34:

“I’ve noticed a gain in performance and enjoyment in driving the car. Feels much more aggressive and responsive. Every time I’m at ZCG, it’s always an enthusiastic experience dealing with Rob and his passion for Z’s.”

 

You can see more of his Z on his Instagram. Paul was referred to us in 2019 by long-time customer Chris R, owner of this soon-to-be featured 240Z formerly known as “Skittles”:

 

Thanks for your support Paul and LONG LIVE THE Z!

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Sean M visited Z Car Garage for dyno tuning on his 2010 Nismo 370Z. We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades. Let’s hear how Sean found his Pearl White V1 Nismo Z34:

“I obtained this car through my father’s best friend. A couple of years ago, I found this car on craigslist and I wanted to jump on it very badly. I had just gotten a car six months before, so I couldn’t get it and knew it was going to be gone within the next couple of days. Sure enough, that’s what happened. I showed up at the Thunder Hill 3-Mile course that weekend, and spotted the car parked next to our trailer when we arrived. It turns out my father’s best friend bought the car, and from that moment I told him that if he ever wants to sell it, I want to buy it from him. About a year and a half later, thats what happened!”

Once he got the car Sean started modifying it immediately with Stillen G3 intakes, Z1 headers, Magnaflow cat-back, Z1 motorsports 34 row oil cooler, Z1 clutch, KW V3 Coilovers, Hawk DTC60 pads, and AEM Oil pressure and wideband AFR gauges.

“After installing those parts, I knew it was going to need a tune. Thats when I found the man the myth the legend Rob at Z Car Garage! I found them online looking for Z tuners in the bay, and after coming into Z Car Garage I knew I brought it to the right place. Rob got the car squared away with the UPREV ARC license, and with his knowledge about how hard the car gets driven he dialed it in.”

Dyno Tuning

We specialize in UPREV and EcuTek Tuning to maximize power gains from individual modifications like intake and exhaust upgrades on Sean’s Z. On the dyno, Rob UPREV tuned with gains throughout the rev range. Peak gains of 20hp/20tq for a total of 335hp/272tq at the wheels was achieved:

Enjoy this dyno video that Sean filmed:

Sean was stoked on the dyno results:

“Being a huge racer himself, he knows what it takes to keep a car maintained and up to date, and the motor running safely and efficiently. Z Car Garage is always my recommendation to fellow Z enthusiasts, as I know Rob is a wealth of useful information as well as a brilliant mechanic. After the tune, the car has fantastic throttle response on partial throttle and tons of top end!”

We also added the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.

Here is a video of the exhaust and launch control (courtesy of the UPREV ARC License):

Enjoying The Ride

Sean is an avid driving enthusiast and this Z sees the track 2+ weekends per month, running strong each and every time. It is a car that gets driven close to its limit, and is often featured on Sean’s YouTube Channel, Milburn Motorsports. You can also catch Sean and his racing adventures on Instagram.

Rob had a great time with Sean:

“We met Sean through tuning his car. He’s an awesome young man and even brought some of his friends (some we’ve also worked with) with him to the shop. It’s good to see passionate, enthusiastic young people in motorsports.  Whenever Sean is here we talk about his Z car and how much he enjoys it and how we both enjoy driving. He’s got a really cool YouTube channel that we subscribe to and he’s an excellent racetrack driver.”

Thanks for your support Sean, Long Live The Z!

Contact us for tuning!

Z Car Garage offers the ARC (Advanced Racing Controls) license. This add-on service to the existing UPREV Flash allows you to have adjustable launch control, burnout mode, and flat-foot shifting. This is for cars with manual transmission, VDC/cruise control. Call Rob for more details and to schedule your Z/G tuning appointment.

“My first dream car was 350Z. I learned about Z cars in my college days and I recall a cool kid driving one while I was waiting at a bus stop in the cold rain. We had an opportunity to buy a new car and I was very fortunate that it could be a Z. After purchasing the 370Z, 6 months later went to ZCG and the journey began. No offense to stock Zs but these are meant to be modified 🙂 My wife and I both love our Z and I thank her for  supporting my hobby 🙂 “

Bolt-on Beginnings

With only a few months of owner-hip of his new 370s Sport Touring Henry visited us for upgrades. The latest Z34s had ECU changes and no software support at the time. Henry knew he wanted to go forced-induction so in the interim we started bolt-on upgrades. In April of 2019 the chassis was treated to full KWV3 coil-over suspension with SPC F/R control arms and Hotchkis sway bars:

A few installation pictures, followed by a full alignment:

A cat-back exhaust system from Armytrix with Valvetronic sound adjustment:

Henry requested a new steering wheel install:

Stock (with a cover) removed and new carbon fiber + alcantara-trimmed wheel installed:

Time For Boost

With 12k miles on the odometer Henry was ready for boost. We ordered the Stillen supercharger kit (black), CARB-legal for piece of mind. Supporting parts included a Concept Z 25-row oil cooler (thermostatically controlled), Stillen transmission cooler and fueling upgrades. Here a few pictures of the installation:

Fueling upgrades include a CJ Motorsports stage 1 fuel return system and billet fuel pump hat, 1300cc Injector Dynamics injectors, Hellcat Wallbro fuel pump, SpecialtyZ flex fuel kit:

 

The SpecialtyZ flex-fuel kit comes with a Zeitronix gauge that we mounted in pace of the OEM clock:

Cooling upgrades include Soho Motorsports air-to-air intercooler, Concept Z 25-row oil cooler (thermostatically controlled) and Stillen transmission cooler. Also shown is the Fast Intentions crash bar with tow-hook:

Oil and transmission coolers:

We installed a Fast Intentions billet flex-plate, much stronger than the OEM unit:

Finally, we changed the exhaust from Armytrix to an ARK Grip setup paired with ART Pipes from Motordyne:

Henry loves the current exhaust setup:

“I’ve gone through Nismo OEM, Armytrix, and eventually settled with Rob and a friend of mine’s suggestion for the forced induction route: Ark grip catback system + Motordyne art pipes = the deep growl without screaming. Sort of the centered idea of the goals of my Z project – subtle power without drawing attention.”

Dyno Tuning

We wanted the most efficent blower wheel to run ethanol so the V3 SI blower wheel was installed. Ecutek software  was used for tuning, MAP-based with omni sensor.

Shown below are dyno graphs from when Henry was NA to 91 octane and E75 tunes on the Vortech. NA, the Z made 316hp/252tq and a 91 octane tune supercharged yielded 501hp/370tq at the wheels:

Rob then tuned the Z on E75 for 573hp/426tq at the wheels:

 

Enjoy the dyno tuning video!

We are very happy with the results and even more stoked to hear Henry’s feedback on the supercharger and tuning performance:

“The supercharger is very daily usable and power whenever I want!  The sc mods put together and tuned by Rob for a 7at Z is able to reach 570+ whp and 430 wtrq and still feel smooth and dramatic at the same time is absolutely beyond my expectation (I followed every ZCG 370Z blog posts and it’s a honor to be one of the highest power 370Z from ZCG, hats off to Rob) And did I mention daily-driveable? Good surprise for me. In addition, Rob has been really patient and knowledgeable for all my questions and requests and late night text regarding my Z. It really felt like we built the car together but it’s all his magic touches! I really appreciate the journey! More to come”

Wheels Make the Car

We have said it before: wheels make or break a car.  After long discussions with Henry we decided on the Ray’s TE37 Ultra Track Edition II. Finished in Blast Black and sized 19×9.5/10.5 these wheels look perfect on the Z34.

We love the little details Ray’s applied:

Enjoy The Boost!

“I love my Z and ZCG! Long live the Z! ZCG has been the place to go if you love Z cars, new or classic. Rob and the shop/crew exude passion for Z cars and you immediately know they will take care of your Z and your Z will be among its family. Rob has been great through the journey and worked with “our” Z. I am sure there is more to come for my Z with ZCG!”

 

You can follow Henry here on Instagram. What’s next for his Z? He’s playing with idea of a body kit but trying to maintain that subtle-aesthetic approach in his build. Stay tuned! Thank you Henry for letting us build your Z. It’s very cool for us as a shop trying to make 50-old cars keep with cars like this. We enjoy playing with the new stuff just as much as the classics. LONG LIVE THE Z! More pictures in the gallery below:

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