Gary’s 1971 Datsun 240Z featuring the Datsunworks KN20 twin cam (DOHC) cylinder head is for sale. This S30 has been with Z Car Garage since 2008 where it received a full bare metal restoration with continuous performance development to its current form. Featured in numerous magazines, SEMA, and Japanese Classic Car Show. Fantastic fit/finish with chassis and running gear to keep up with its exotic engine. It is a magical experience to see, drive and hear the “Behemoth” in action. See more details below and serious inquiries only please contact rob@zcargarage.com

 

Drivetrain

 

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 and Z Car Garage CV Axles

-Rear Diff: R180 4.11 OS Giken LSD

 

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!

 

Body/Interior/Chassis

 

The “Behemoth” wears one of the best paint finishes we’ve done with fit/finish we feel would be hard to replicate. We collected parts for years to build. Glass was polished, unobtanium parts sourced. The interior features a fully restored dashboard with Recaro Specialist seats, power windows and a fully integrated roll cage. You can see the body restoration and chassis development here  HERE.

 

The Z has early versions of our Z Car Garage offerings like 17″ Panasport C8 wheels (NLA), full coil-overs/adjustable suspension throughout and ZCG Stoptech ST42 (328mm) Big-Brakes:

 

Enjoy The Ride

 

Beyond the show-quality features and impressive drivetrain, this Z car loves to be driven and has attended many car shows, gatherings and road rallies like the 300-mile Tokyo Calling event hosted by Breakfast Club Rally

You can see it in action on the rally in the video below:

 

Gary’s Datsun 240Z will always be the pinnacle of Z car builds for us. It is ready to be enjoyed by the next owner and all we ask is that you give it the same love and respect we have given over the last 15 years. All sale inquiries can be made through Rob: rob@zcargarage.com. See below for all of our documentation of the this Z including every video, magazine feature and blog post:

Publications

See the Behemoth in these magazine/media features:
Road & Track Datsunworks Feature

OPTION (JDM) Magazine

Marqued Feature

The Drive feature

Grassroots Mtorsports feature

Video

See the Behemoth in action in these YouTube videos:

Blog posts

See the Behemoth’s build history, events attended and more:

EVENT REPORT: Tokyo Calling 2

TUNING: Datsunworks and Turbocharged Datsun 240Z Cars making L-Series Music!

TUNING: Two L-Series powered Datsun 240Z cars on the dyno

DATSUNWORKS: Twin-Cam Power For Your L-Series Engine!

America’s Most Exotic 240z

OS Giken TC24-B1Z in Action!

Past Behemoth Updates

 

 

 

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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Our ZCG Big Brakes have been winning over Z-car enthusiasts locally and globally. Jeremy G recently purchased a set for his 1973 Datsun 240Z and performed the installation himself at his shop in San Jose, CA.

  

Big-Brake Kits Available For DIY Install!

Z Car Garage is proud to offer our Big-Brake Kit to Z-Car owners that want to perform the installation themselves. We can ship worldwide and each kit contains everything needed with a comprehensive (40-page) installation guide. Blog posts documenting all of our customers running the ZCG Big-Brakes can be found HERE. Enjoy these pictures of Jeremy’s beautiful S30 and his ZCG Big-Brake installation:

 

As mentioned, our ZCG Big-Brake kit ships with everything needed to install and retains the factory parking brake:

 

Jeremy successfully installed the BBK on his Z, complete with functioning parking brake:

  

The brakes fit behind his 15×9(F) and 15×10 (R) Longchamp XR-4 wheels:

   

Beyond ease of installation and quality components, our Big-Brakes perform by offering superb pedal feel…everyone that drives our demo Z confirms! This is a direct result of working with Stoptech to create a totally bolt-in solution requiring no M/C change or additional proportioning valve/adjustments. Jeremy was very happy as well with great feedback:

“Big thanks to Rob Fuller and the guys at Z Car Garage for working with Stoptech to make this awesome big brake kit for S30s. Installed yesterday and spent most of today running around and they feel great. Best feeling and balanced brakes I’ve ever had on any Z.”

Jeremy removed and sold his existing Wilwood setup, not uncommon once you experience just how good our Big-Brakes are!

 

A 3.5L Driver

  

The best part is that you can see Jeremy frequently Enjoying The Ride all over the Bay Area. This Z gets driven! Under the hood is a Rebello 3.5L soon to be fed by 50mm Mikuni carbs tuned by Kyushahousetaka. We dyno tuned the Z last year with 44s and this G-nosed beauty baselined at 238hp/229tq. With Rob’s tuning the Z produced 288hp/257tq to the wheels! We are really excited to unlock more power with a few upgrades, now that Jeremy has brakes up to the task!

 

It takes teamwork to make the Dream work. We want to thank Love20bee for sourcing and re-finishing these SSR Watanabe RS8 wheels for James’ 1972 Datsun 240z.

 

It has been said that “wheels make the car”. Matt and his team nailed it with these RS8s sized 10.5 (F) and 12.5 (R) on massive 275/315 width Nitto NT-01 tires.

 

While they look killer standing still, they are even sweeter in motion as seen in the video below:

 

Rob and owner James are proudly wearing Love20bee hoodies. We highly recommend Love20bee for your wheel needs. Check them out on Instagram and Hoonigan Autofocus.

 

You can see more of James Stephens’ turbocharged 1972 Datsun 240z on Hoonigan Autofocus and Speedhunters.

 

This Z also packs parts and support from numerous folks we are happy to work with including KAD Models, Stoptech, Haltech,Rebello, Os Giken, Skillard, TechnoToyTuning, Hoke Performance and Retro-Spec Carbon.

Stay tuned for a full report on zcarblog.com. More pics in the gallery below!

 
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On Saturday I joined six other cars for a morning cruise through the Santa Cruz Mountains. The two S30 Z cars with us were running our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels) and Z Car Garage CV Axles!

Glenn’s 1972 Nissan Fairlady 240z-L

 

Glenn Chiou drove his RHD Fairlady Z sporting our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels). He is an avid vintage race car driver/restorer and found our brake kit offers incredible brake feel and performance all fitting behind his favorite 15×8 zero offset Watanabe wheel:

“The most important aspect to me when it comes to braking on a street driven car is feel. Yes, stopping power is extremely important, but also is not that difficult to achieve on an early Z car that is naturally light to begin with. Feel, however, is something that has always managed to escape me and the ZCG brakes deliver. WOW, what a difference. The feel, modulation, power, sharpness was amazing. Hands down the best brakes I had ever driven on a Z car”

This is a direct result of working with engineers at Stoptech to create a totally bolt-in solution requiring no M/C change or additional proportioning valve/adjustments. All fitting behind a 15″ Watanabe or Panasport wheel (and some 14″ wheels) and retaining factory emergency brake lever! A few pictures of the Big-Brakes being installed on Glenn’s Z:

 

Glenn was having fun on the twistys on our cruise (see video below). Learn more about his Z in this Petrolicious video.

 

James’ 1972 Datsun 240z

 

James is running our ZCG BBK (1st gen, 328mm) and  Z Car Garage CV Axles in his turbocharged L-Series beast:

 

 

You can learn more about this 560whp Z on Speedhunters and see it in action on Hoonigan Autofocus. James also had a blast on our Saturday cruise:

 

Saturday Cruising

 

We started our drive in Downtown Saratoga and made it to the coast via Bear Creek and Bonny Doon Rd. Here is a short video:

 

We were happy to enjoy the company of cool cars and cool folks, also joining us:

Dustin’s 510

 

We’ve known Dustin and Courtney for many years. Dustin’s 510 4-door runs a KA24DE and sweet Longchamp XR-4 wheels. The side exit exhaust is loud!

 

Tony’s Mazda RX-2

 

Tony has had this RX-2 for many years. In addition to the full restoration it now has a full (S5) 13B drivetrain with a Ford 9″ rear end! It is mint. I haven’t seen Tony in many years so it was a joy to have him along:

Lloyd’s AE86

 

Lloyd has a very cool collection of cars and this AE86 is the latest. Although it sports an F20C drivetrain (Lloyd promised me it’s not the same car as this one), it has numerous upgrades for a better drive. Gotta love TE37s:

 

Geoff’s BMW 2002

 

Geoff’s no stranger to our Bay Area cruises and also owns a Lotus 7. He was the only German this time with his BMW 2002 on rare Campagnolo wheels:

 

I drove my SR-powered ‘67.5 Datsun Roadster and it was a great way to spend the morning.

 

Yes, that’s a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso flying by on HWY 1!

 

More pictures in the gallery below!
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