At Z Car Garage we love keeping Z’s on the road. From concours-level restorations to light refurbishments, making a customer’s goals reality is our passion. Richard Y’s 1970 Datsun 240z is a great example of an S30 that has been maintained and restored by us for over a decade. We met him years ago when Rob was working at Scott Performance. In 2004, when we bumped into Richard at Tan’s car wash in Santa Clara he didn’t realize that Rob stayed local, opening ZCG. He brought his Z to us thereafter and we maintained it for the last 15 years.

 

In addition to being a great person and a working professional, Richard daily-drives this Series 1 240z. He is also a purist of sorts, not wanting large wheels and tires, a high-power engine or fancy brakes. His desire is to explore, drive, love and touch the Series 1 car as it was back in the day. In 2011 Richard decided it was time to give his Z some love, and the refurbishment was performed with his “vintage” preferences in mind. A few ZCG touches were added along the way.

Interior

 

Part of enjoying the daily-driving experience comes from a functional, pleasant interior. The dash was previously covered with a cap, having multiple issues underneath. We removed the dash and had it re-conditioned by Dash Restoration:

   

While the dash was out we refurbished the entire heater assembly. The heater core was cleaned and pressure tested.

  

All duct-work was resealed to allow full HVAC function including defrost at max settings. A Honda fan upgrade allows faster air flow and all cable/actuator linkages were re-done:

   Heater /motor back in place:

 

We finished restoring the HVAC by getting the vintage A/C unit functioning again. New condenser and lines:

  

Once the new dash returned we started re-assembly. All hardware was replaced and gauges were tested for proper operation:

   

A host of rare, NOS factory parts from Rob’s stash helped complete the dash. Series 1-specific parts like the map light trim and coin-tray were broken:

 

The NOS coin tray and map light trim installed:

  

We updated the sound system with a modern head unit and hatch speakers:

 

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.

   

Full weatherstrip replacement on the doors, hatch and windows. We also ensured that windows travel up/down smoothly:

  

The finished interior. Ready for Richard to ready enjoy daily driving:

The Z Must Go On

Our man William did some light paint work on car, as this was a “light” restoration and we didn’t want Richard missing his Z for an extended period.  Unfortunately in 2017 the Z suffered from a front end impact.

The car was hit bad enough that the appraisal house, Richard and all of us thought the car was totaled. Rob luckily had just acquired a Series 1 car as a donor. The front end was grafted on and William fabricated a new radiator support and front fenders to make car whole again.

Engine Bay

 

Fresh from paint and with the engine out we focused on making the bay look sharp. All hydraulic lines were plated with new NOS brake and clutch master cylinders, distribution block and booster:

  

New heater hoses, plated fasteners and new rubber isolators:

  

The radiator was upgraded to a Koyo Race unit:

 

The drivetrain itself received minor refreshing including new drive belts, overhauled and tuned SUs, and a new clutch/flywheel backing the factory 4-speed transmission:

 

A few more details and the engine bay is complete.

 

Chassis/Suspension

Although we looked at every nook and cranny nook on this Z we always kept in mind that Richard did not want everything upgraded. He lives and breathes Vintage Z. The suspension was replaced front and rear with NOS parts like new factory ball joints, steering rack bushings, etc. More pictures in the gallery!

   

Eibach springs with Tokico Illumina struts:

 

The rear diff was cleaned up:

 

The brakes were restored to factory spec with upgraded Stoptech slotted rotors and our favorite 309 pads:

  

The rear drums received new wheel cylinders:

  

Since the harness was damaged in the accident we used one from the Series 1 parts car.  All connections were degreased and cleaned, resistance checked and finally 3M wrapped.

  

The entire fuel system was gone through. Here we drop the fuel tank, boil it out and replace all rubber lines. Also visible is the ZCG exhaust system:

  

Exterior

 

The exterior had to look as good as the engine bay and restored interior. All chrome pieces like front/rear bumpers and door handles for straightened and re-chromed.

   

All of the stainless trim was straightened and polished. Shown are drip rails, all window frames, turn signal frames

  

Window and door hardware plated including latches. Re-chromed handles:

  

Little details like factory Nissan wiper blades and a NOS mirror finish the vintage “look” we all cherish:

   

 

NOS wipers:

  

Tail panel assembly:

  

A variety of NOS parts like Euro front turn signals and a full set of emblems adorn the Z:

  

Series 1 pillar emblem:

  

The final touch: 15″ 5-slot wheels offer more tire choices while resembling the classic 14″ size slots:

 

 

Ready to Enjoy The Ride

 

With a nice interior, paint and chassis work Richard’s Z is ready to be enjoyed on a daily basis. As long as you have the parts and the passion Z Car Garage will do all we can to keep Z cars on the road. Enjoy The Ride, Richard!

 

  

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Sam C lives in San Francisco and heard of ZCG last summer while at a local bowling alley near our shop in San Jose.  His 1973 Datsun 240z had been sitting for several years and after reading zcarblog he wanted to bring it back to life.

  

We performed an inspection and found that the car needed attention in several areas. Starting with the cooling system, all hoses were replaced and a Koyo race radiator installed.

  

The problematic ’73 model SU carbs were replaced with earlier Z-Therapy units. All smog equipment was deleted. An MSA header was installed and the older igntion system was upgraded to Pertronix:

   

In short, we performed a mechanical resotorationthat this car could perform as it should after years of being idle, including a new battery and recharged the vintage air conditioning system. Here are a few pictures of engine bay completed and detailed:

 

With the engine bay sorted we turned to the chassis. The entire suspension was removed, dis-assembled and media blasted before sending off to be zinc’d and powdercoated.  New parts consisted of 5-way Tociko struts with Eibach springs, MacPherson strut bumpstops, T3 adjustable rear control arms, and adjustable T/C rods and new wheel bearings. ALL bushings were replaced including the rack bushings, ball joints and front control arm bushings.

 
A set of gorgeous 16×7 11mm offset Panasports with 225/50/16 Yokohama S-Drive tires was mounted rounds out the chassis upgrades:

 

The ZCG Big Brake Kit

The pièce de résistance of Sam’s restoration is the Z Car Garage Big-Brake Kit for small wheels.  With our pre-production testing finalized, we are happy to install the first batch on several customer cars like Sam’s, Glenn’s and others.

 

 

Following our successful, larger ZCG BBK, this smaller BBK was designed with Tyler from Stoptech as a direct bolt in solution for the 1970 to 1978 S30 Z cars. We’ve been with Stoptech since the beginning and love their products, we even came up with the slogan “Stoptech or don’t stop at all”!

  

Specifics

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

As installed on Sam’s S30, the brake kit is beautiful and functional. Track tested under hard racing conditions and rigorous street testing as well. Factory parking brake functionality is retained by operating a dedicated caliper:

   

This big brake kit will fit under 15″ wheels and some 14″ wheels. Once the BBK is available in our online store there will be a complete wheel fitment guide with printable caliper tool. Datsun 510 and Roadster brake kits coming soon!

 

 

Sam’s Z was detailed by our friend at JB Mobile and the paint looks great. Thank you Sam for letting us get your Z back on the road. Enjoy The Ride!

 

 

 

We love to hear about Father-Son project cars! Liam O’s father has owned this ’72 S30 for many years and he wanted to restore it with him. They had the engine built by Rebello and a body shop perform final assembly of the the car. Liam was experiencing a heavy exhaust smell inside the cabin and it simply wasn’t enjoyable driving this beautiful Z. He contacted Z Car Garage and upon inspection we found several items needing attention.

First, we corrected some cooling issues and installed a Koyo race radiator:

  

Before we troubleshooted the exhaust/fuel smell in the cabin we fixed the exhaust system. This L-series cylinder head had square exhaust ports and the header that was installed on the engine had round ports:

 

We installed the correct, matching square port exhaust header (6 into 1) from MSA:

  

We replaced the exhaust system:

  

Next we tackled the cabin to seal out unwanted exhaust. The door seals were replaced:

 
The venting for gas tank and associated vapor hoses were all replaced. If they’re old and sweating fuel vapor you will smell fuel inside the cabin. If the car is not sealed up, you will smell exhaust. Sometimes it can be overbearing:

   

William painted hatch area to get a nice seal on the weatherstripping/seals:

  

We ended up going through the entire car, adding some nice ZCG touches along the way. The engine was treated to a major tuning session on our dyno:

 

The Rebello 2.8L street engine with SUs made 168hp/171tq to the wheels:

 

Engine bay all buttoned up:

  

More little things like painting the brake booster. We also went through the entire braking system:

 

  

It’s no mystery with the Z’s hatch design and aerodynamics that having no seal (or a compromised one) in that area will result in exhaust smell in the cabin. After we worked on Liam’s car we had reduced the smell, but it wasn’t totally gone. We have our own apparatus to run a smoke test inside the car to visualize leaks. We sealed it up and took it one step further by adding a high flow cat in the back of the exhaust system. Now Liam is driving this Z all over the Bay Area and he is tickled pink about it. So are we.

  

Long Live The Z!

More pictures in the gallery below:
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Art H. has owned this 1971 S30 since it was new! He had driven and enjoyed it for years but in the 80’s left it parked indefinitely in his garage…sometimes life gets in the way. Now retired, his family discussed moving out of San Jose to the Sacramento area and the Z had to move with them as well. Art was ready to get the Z back on the road so he met with Rob and went through the car.

 

A little background on Art…turns out he has an absolutely rad motorsports history! Back in the 70’s he was an SCCA racer, Datsun lover and tinkerer and all-around car enthusiast. Art kindly sent us these photos of him racing Formula V at Sears Point Raceway. He’s the young lad in the race-suit, long hair and ‘stache:

*Eagle eyes will note the Datsun 510 and other cool vintage cars in the paddock!*

 

The plan for Art’s Z included a mechanical and chassis restoration. As shown above, the Z had to be towed to the shop because the L24 engine had seized from sitting for decades.  Teardown revealed severe corrosion:

   

Our first task was to remove the engine/transmission and prepare the engine bay to look nice again. All accessories, hoses, hydraulic lines were removed and sorted. A/C components from back in the day removed and many parts were powdercoated:

 

The engine bay was in good condition:

 

We repaired and refurbished the heater core and removed the crazy 70’s-style stereo business:

   

The transmission was resealed and a new clutch was installed:

  

The new heart for Art was a fresh Rebello 2.8L stock-style rebuild using Z-Therapy SU carbs:

  

Other items in the engine bay included a new battery, upgraded 280zx alternator, Pertronix ignition, MSA header and Koyo race radiator. The engine bay looks fantastic now:

(More pictures of the restoration in the gallery after the jump)

Chassis work included a complete braking system overhaul with new wheel cylinders and drums. New T/C rods, rack bushings, ball joints, steering couplers and stock-style KYB gas shocks return tight handling the Z is known for.

   

The rear suspension was freshened with TechnoToyTuning (T3) control arms:

  

Stock half-shafts were replaced with Ermish Racing CV axles.  FYI ZCG will be making CV axles for high horsepower Z cars soon!

  

Full fuel tank refurbishment. Corrosion and disintegrated fuel hoses were replaced:

 

Our ZCG 2.5″ exhaust with Magnaflow resonator/muffler and slash-cut tip:

  

Finally, the only cosmetic detail we handled was to repair the rear bumper and brackets:

Art wanted to keep the stock dealer option slotted mags so we installed new 195/70/14 tires. With a rich motorsports background and a passion for cars it’s easy to see why Art loves his Z so much. It was a pleasure working with you and Long Live The Z!

 

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